The Morning 5. While a gradual refinement is noticeable from House Of Balloons to Echoes Of Silence, a lack of breathing space between the tracks does them no favours. The Weeknd has earned this moment, and watching him smirking pridefully through entertaining an audience of millions was an incredible bookend to the borderline anonymity of the mixtape trilogy days But Trilogy as a whole sets up a narrative that was previously only implied. Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) is vocally fantastic, one of the best, if not the best. © 2021 METACRITIC, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. Album Review: The Weeknd 'Trilogy' "'House of Balloons,' 'Thursday' and 'Echoes of Silence' are now officially the past. Required Cookies & Technologies. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. Dec 10, 2014 - Music Reviews: Trilogy by The Weeknd released in 2012 via XO, Republic. Like all of the new songs, it's strong enough on its own but arbitrary in terms of sequencing and has only minimal relation to the LP it was included on. And given the "new rock revolution" early in the 2000's, which created nothing new at all, it stands to reason that many who came of age in that era don't hear rock as a progressive form. The Weeknd is running the show at this point. Trilogy has some classic-level music on it, but obviously the idea of his three mixtapes coming together is a bit unnecessary. The success of The Weeknd is a testament to meticulously planned marketing stratagems and an apt manifestation of post-modern music myth. But there's one catch: If you weren't checked out completely during 2011, you've already heard the vast majority of Trilogy, for free. On House's "The Party and the After Party," Tefsaye sings, "They don't want my love/ They just want my potential." Coming Down 8. However wasted an opportunity it is as an introduction to The Weeknd, Trilogy is still a staggering, near-perfect portrait of hedonism’s inherent depravity and bareness. It's a morning-after record for a night that never ended, where people have to go into their day shift with no sleep, where club stars still live with parents and the parents find drugs in the laundry. Let's go! It's a continuation of the purple-tinted R&B and hip-hop hybrid forged by The-Dream and Drake, with eye-of-the-quiet storm assurance of Sade and Aaliyah and industrial and trip-hop touches that range from Nine Inch Nails to Tricky. I one day decided to listen to. Generally favorable reviews If you turn your ear right, Trilogy is the most in-depth exploration of male sexual neuroses this side of Pinkerton. Individually I gave him a 9, 9 and 8 to mixtapes, Three mixtape's in one album, that truley is raw. I don't want to. These fucking eyes that I'm staring at I paid a decent price too! You're better off dedicating yourself to each album's meaty serving of revelry and regret in turn. Tesfaye's narrator celebrates his own irresistibility and embraces the poisonous justifications of victimhood. Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) is vocally fantastic, one of the best, if not the best. The sound Three mixtape's in one album, that truley is raw. Critic Reviews Pitchfork is the most trusted voice in music. Sat 10 Nov 2012 19.05 EST. Whatever its limits, however, Trilogy remains a striking piece of work. Look. Artists of Tesfaye's age had formative years where Timbaland, the Neptunes, Missy Elliott, D'Angelo, and Aaliyah were at the peak of their powers. My favourite track's at the moment is (based on three songs of each mixtape) : What You Need, The Morning, Wicked Games, Life of the Party, The Zone, Valerie, Montreal, Same Old Song and Next. 602537197934; CD). Trilogy comprises three albums – House Of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes Of Silence, released in that order over the course of 2011 and reissued here by Universal Republic. If you can't catch how the guitars hit a little harder and the drums have a bit more pop on "High For This", you'll definitely notice how the sample from Aaliyah's "Rock the Boat" has been wiped from "What You Need". - It is composed of re-mixed and remastered versions of his 2011 mixtapes House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence, and three previously-unrelease Ultimately, Trilogy is more of a sonic landmark then it is a new work. Is it perfect? At least it was; on Trilogy, it's followed by "Till Dawn (Here Comes The Sun)". And the future is The Weeknd’s to take." In an accelerated, self-aware age, the two are inextricable and yet one still wonders just how 22 year old Ontarian Abel Tesfaye has pulled off such an achievement. The pleasure on House of Balloons felt consensual; here, it feels codependent. 7.0 | Paste Magazine I have to say that this album is a soothing and lengthy piece of genius that only The Weeknd himself has the potential to craft. Just as perfect is the closing title track, which finds Tesfaye alone in a quiet room, letting the past reverberate, hitting bottom because he simply stops digging. Echoes of Silence benefits considerably from the Trilogy context and now seems on equal footing with House of Balloons and Thursday. You can sense the shift when talking to new bands. It's easy to overlook new music that drops at that point, especially in this case, where the lack of immediate hooks suggests that it could have been a rush job. The Weeknd is unbelievably spectacular for someone whom debuted on YouTube -- in all aspects. Three mixtape's in one album, that truley is raw. For at least a few months of 2011, it wasn’t even entirely … This is the best R&B release of the year. It was promoted with three singles and the Weeknd's concert tour during September to November 2012. High for This 2. But it came just a few months after. Abel Tesfaye's three mixtapes as The Weeknd released from last year are compiled together in this remastered three-disc album with three new tracks. No, but no release is. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. They eventually start a complex relationship around each others' abuse. The Weeknd is unbelievably spectacular for someone whom debuted on YouTube -- in all aspects. I don't want to listen to many artists for almost 3 straight hours. Twenty Eight DISC 2: 1. Which isn't easy: in spite of Tesfaye's diaphanous voice and the lush production, these are heavy records, with tempos that slow to a codeine drip for five minutes or more. In a nutshell, Trilogy is the story of a man introducing his friend to drugs. But the arresting music redeems that potentially alienating emotional view. “Valerie,” (Disc 2) is an intimate and personal track and a … Over Trilogy’s three hours, we descend ever deeper into the antihero’s decadent universe: Tesfaye pours Alizé in his cereal over bleary synth washes on “The Morning,” and that’s about as PG as he gets. Ultimately, the Weeknd's music creates a world. II (1972-1976) [Box Set], Idiot Prayer: Nick Cave Alone at Alexandra Palace, Music title data, credits, and images provided by, Movie title data, credits, and poster art provided by, I left my girl back home And she'll never fucking know that The Trilogy collects three of the Toronto singer's 2011 mixtapes, but some editing might have better introduced him to the world outside Tumblr. Some of it's up to demographics. Individually or as a 'whole' collection, it works and is utterly absorbing. This is the best R&B release of the year. This is some of the best music of the young decade; judging by its already pervasive influence, it's safe to say Trilogy (or at least House of Balloons) will be one of those records that will be viewed as a turning point when we look at the 2010s as a whole. three separate but delicious pieces of black candy for your consumption. He makes repeated mentions of "potential," and being "next," fixating on those particular words like he's holding onto something a girl told him in 7th grade. I don't love her no more Read reviews and buy The Weeknd- Trilogy [Explicit Lyrics] (CD) at Target. It's more ambitious in its way, incorporating influences far from the R&B mainstream and generally just sounding like it has something to prove. They eventually start a complex relationship around each others' abuse. "You never thought I'd go this far," Tesfaye sings on "Same Old Song". A really good artist, while youre in to his music there's no escape. It has the only Weeknd songs you might play at a celebration, and the only point where the illicit behavior feels alluring. Hard to pick just one standout track from this group of 30, as all of them really standout in their own way. The sound of it is dark and creepy, many consider him as a darker version of Michael Jackson, for me it's just Abel, the storytelling and lyrics is way to diffrent but vocally I can agree to some point. For one, the lyrical and thematic callbacks make clear that Echoes was meant to interact with what preceded it, to serve as an epilogue and appendix in addition to a denouement. Let me see that ass Released 9 November 2012 on X♥O (catalog no. "You never thought I'd go this far," Tesfaye sings on "Same Old Song". As Juicy J helpfully reminds us out of nowhere at the end of "Same Old Song", Echoes was released near Christmas, a refractory period between the publication of year-end lists and the turn of the calendar. More importantly, it's easier to tune into the final third's resounding depression after having been tenderized by the preceding two hours. I first purchased this album around my 15th birthday shortly after it was released. What's this? gave it 8.1 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus. That line could be a reference to marathon drug use or the progressive demoralization of his narrator, which bottoms out amidst the pall of gang rape coursing through the very uncomfortable "Initiation". Trilogy compiles them with remastered sound and adds three new songs. The themes of The Weeknd’s music are generally about his struggle with drugs and alcohol, coupled with his perpetual inability to stick to one girl. So while there is great music here, digesting each mixtape, specifically House of Balloons, separately is more worthwhile. Wicked Games 6. and a real ride for a. Hard to pick just one standout track from this group. The sound of it is dark and creepy, many consider him as a darker version of Michael Jackson, for me it's just Abel, the storytelling and lyrics is way to diffrent but vocally I can agree to some point. The inclusion of Michael Jackson's venomous "Dirty Diana" on Echoes (renamed "D.D.") Trilogy's triumph is in how it makes its three hours feel necessary to fully embrace it all, to acknowledge its existence inside ourselves and to vicariously live through it as art. In it, people acknowledge their humanity as expressed by their desires to fuck, to get high, to resent one another, to hurt, to not care about tomorrow. Leaving his three mix tapes practically untouched, Trilogy gives any first time listeners a genuine look into the transformation of an unknown artist into someone who is breathing new life into R&B. Even at its most oppressive (in particular the songs from Thursday), every haunted note of Trilogy seems blissful. 19 As a whole it is a definite buy for someone that enjoys, the other new wave of R&B artists like Miguel and Frank Ocean. In the space of a single year, the R&B singer/producer managed to release three full albums of free music that captured the blogosphere’s attention, interest and eventual adoration. Accordingly, the album is an hour-long exploration of people acknowledging a point of no return. Trilogy does remove some of the Weeknd's mystique – lyrical formulae become apparent, and examples of engaging melody recede as the collection advances. In light of this, The Weeknd and his label have taken his mixtapes off the free download, combined them into one mega-album with the addition of three bonus tracks (one at the end of each mixtape) and dubbed it Trilogy. 8.0 | State . AllMusic Review by Andy Kellman Abel Tesfaye , aka the Weeknd , released three free mixtapes, aka albums, in 2011. Outside of Drake's guest verse on "The Zone", there's not much indication that the songs take place in a club of any sort. The Weeknd: Trilogy – review (XO/Universal Republic/Island) Killian Fox. I paid a decent price too! Those borrowed hooks mean that House of Balloons is the part of Trilogy most affected by the remaster. Artist: The Weeknd Title: Trilogy Condition: Used Very Good Format: CD Release Date: 2012 Label: Republic UPC: 602537197934 Genre: Soul/R & B Album Tracks DISC 1: 1. But presentation matters to the Weeknd. I can't really identify with half of the lyrical content which is at times disconcertingly menacing but the tone of the whole trilogy gels with the subject matter brilliantly. If there's one quibble, it's that as Trilogy enters its second hour, Tesfaye's lyrical ambivalence begins to sound a bit one-note. The title is a loaded metaphor; Thursday is a day for the most dedicated partiers, the one that separates a lost weekend from a week full of blackouts. The sound. Metacritic's 11th Annual Game Publisher Rankings, Neil Young Archives Vol. On House, the Weeknd introduce an aesthetic that, over the course of the rest of the three tapes, gradually evolves into something deeper and less based in traditional songcraft. Listen to House Of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes Of Silence in one go and you'll find that the music remains impressive. the weeknd's trilogy uses the party as a metaphor for america's decadence and catastrophes. Trilogy has some classic-level music on it, but obviously the idea of his three mixtapes coming together is a bit unnecessary. But the Weeknd show a flair for melody that allows every richly atmospheric song on House to stand on its own, boasting strong (and sometimes borrowed) hooks that embrace repetition without feeling manipulative. House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls 4. Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? The production is really good and fitting to his voice. "Montreal" boasts a frigid and concise hurt as well as a pop sensibility that went missing from the previous half hour, "Outside" incorporates intriguing Eastern overtones, and "The Fall" integrates Clams Casino's brand of beautifully wasted hip-hop, which ascended in parallel to the Weeknd throughout 2011. If you turn your ear right, Trilogy is the most in-depth exploration of male sexual neuroses this side of Pinkerton. But for all its doomy R&B nihilism—"House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls" combines sex, drugs, and Siouxsie samples—"D.D." Choose from contactless Same Day Delivery, Drive Up and more. Trilogy’s three discs remain best enjoyed as separate entities. This set gathers the three 2011 mixtapes from Toronto R&B singer Abel Tefsaye and adds three new songs along with new mixes and mastering. And it sounds better than ever. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: Season 1, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers: Season 1. The Weeknd’s emotional range starts at regret and ends at lament, and the new tracks on Trilogy don’t do much to change that. It was released on 13 November 2012 through XO and distributed by Republic Records. I one day decided to listen to the entire 2 hour and 40 minute total length, 30-track, 3-disc album. Trilogy, a Compilation of songs by The Weeknd. View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2013 Box Set release of "Trilogy" on Discogs. [xrr rating=3.5/5]One thing you can say for Abel Tesfaye: he’s a man with a plan. And it's where people who only hours before were perfectly fine to snort their life away simply cannot fucking stand to be around each other for another minute. What You Need 3. Trilogy received generally positive reviews from critics, who reinforced the previous acclaim of the mixtapes, although some found it indulgent. What had been seductive has become menacing. Trilogy is a compilation album by Canadian singer The Weeknd. In a nutshell, Trilogy is the story of a man introducing his friend to drugs. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 79, based on 19 reviews. And of course, for those who have some indie rock inclinations, Beach House and Siouxsie samples don't hurt. It's not unprecedented for someone to put out three albums in a year, but Trilogy suggests an ambitious and rigorously planned Work of Art. The Party & the After Party 7. I first purchased this album around my 15th birthday shortly after it was released. If you checked out completely in 2011, Trilogy has all the makings of a blockbuster: 22-year old Toronto native Abel Tefsaye along with producers Illangelo and Doc McKinney developed a state-of-the-art R&B template and scored several radio hits; they're associates of megastar Drake, and have played sold-out club shows and rapturously received festival appearances. The beauty behind Trilogy is the slow-tempo beats and lyrics of "sex, drugs, and druggy sex" that are put together to make a truly amazing yet relaxing and mind-blowing piece of art. 'Trilogy' is the present. Trilogy's triumph is in how it makes its three hours feel necessary to fully embrace it all, to acknowledge its existence inside ourselves and to vicariously live through it as art. It's the point where the Weeknd's 2011 stops and it's a perfect way to end things. A highly recommended buy (physical copy is the best way to go)! While the previously available versions of House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence already felt definitive, a three-hour immersion provides a new way in, assuming you are willing to take it as a single piece. The Weeknd's emotional range starts at regret and ends at lament, and the new tracks on Trilogy don't do much to change that. This is evident in the project's early anonymity, the unified typography, the striking photographs, the ambitious videos and, most important, the fact that Tesfaye called his three releases of 2011 a trilogy. That's a lot for a single artist to take on. Indeed, they sequence so seamlessly into the larger body of his work that they complete it and close it off. Trilogy is a mirror of the dark fantasyland it presents; sexy, addictive and dangerously inviting Read Review. Genre: Alternative R&B. The Weeknd deals with a darker side of his life on the track “Wicked Games” where he talks about drugs, sex, lust and pain. The Weeknd - Trilogy review: Merely a collection of Tesfaye’s three mixtapes that never makes a convincing argument for why it’s necessary. The only characteristic exclusive to this compilation that differs from the originals is the shockingly poor and uneasy mastering work.