1. iamxo

   Sep 10, 2013

   10

   The Weeknd talks about love and lust in this album and it turns out to be pretty awesome. This is a perfect mix between his previous mixtapes and the new direction he's going into. Kiss Land proves that The Weeknd is capable of producing a totally new sound while keeping the same dark-themed music that his fans are so used to.… Expand

   • 1 of 2 users found this helpful
2. N10

   Sep 10, 2013

   10

   It seems like critics really want to put out reviews as fast as they can, it's like a rally. Let it grow on you, take you're time it's just been a day since it offically have released. A record you really need to sit down with to really appreciate as a whole. Small details here and there in the production did alot for my listening experience too, not big just some tiny instruments. Sonically it's rich and cinematic, I mean it all ends with track 10 "Tears In The Rain" (a one of the many references to the 80's movie Blade Runner) so you kinda get where he's trying to get with his sound for his big major label debut album.
   
   Like Janelle Monáe's new release, both are heavily influenced by SCI FI, the SCI FI heads of R&B. Monáe with Metropolis, The Weeknd with Blade Runner. And like his Ridley Scott and Harrison Ford influences it all begins with "Professional" a dreamy, catchy and heart broken set, both sonically and lyrically, the vocals are well executed and a great first play into the album. Quietly from the first piece of the album we're in this atmospheric world created and signed by Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd), it all stays in the lane of the first track until the boombastic and synth heavy pop song "Belong To The World". A good song with some clever lines, tough it's a preference of what you find as 'good' when he sings "I'm not a fool I just love that you're dead inside I'm not a fool I'm just lifeless too". My opinion, it's one of the most original and strangest hooks I've heard in years, laughable or lovable, I personally like it.. a lot.
   
   Right after the centerpiece we have the little hip hop anthem "Live For" with a feature from fellow Canadian, their very own, Drake. Well, let's put it like this, when it came to Drake on this record he really sounded to bring big, HUGE, inspirations from J. Cole's "N***as Know" that was included earlier this year on his sophmore "Born Sinner". Similiar rhymes, lines.. and topic at certain points, and even flow wise. But hey, the verse was not bad, just a bit suspicious about it that's all. Sounded like a re write of Cole's with just some lines off the board, not a better verse though either. The track was quite fitting to what it all built up too and it's a more up tempo track than most of it. Overall it's a fun song.
   
   Wanderlust, a song which could have made it to a Michael Jackson singel in the 80's, a great track and one of the best songs on the album, loving it. The fun parts are over, now with the titel track "Kiss Land" and tracks there after it's all pain, depression, misogyny, he's voice starts cracking up. I guess, John Carpenter and those great horror directors did this kid a favor, cause at the end, The Weeknd has released a excellent debut album. Don't miss out my favorite one of the album, "Adaptation", it reminded me of "The Prince of Egypt" while track #2 "The Town" had some vibes of the 90's cartoon/animé televsion "Sailor Moon".
   Probably gonna get mixed opinions from both critics and listeners in this day in age where living in now, give it some time and I think it's gonna lead a new wave of artist's with it's sound and topics. See "Kiss Land" as one of Marvin Gaye's most influential records "Here My Dear" which didn't get the same acclaim as his previous releases, but look at what it did to quiet storm and contemporary R&B as a genre, The Weeknd can be doing the same thing for PBR&B or whatever we gonna call this.
   
   Literally have been playing it from start to end about 20 times, more or less, and I've gotta say, "Kiss Land" is The Weeknd's most ambitious and interesting work yet. The top album of it's genre with Monáe and James Blake for sure, they will definitely be fighting for my album of the year.… Expand

   • 4 of 6 users found this helpful
3. ekahsay

   Sep 10, 2013

   10

   I really enjoyed the album, including the production quality, the lyrics, and Abel's vocals. The Weeknd is really evolving as an artist and really finding his stride after the success of 'Trilogy'. He never disappoints.… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful
4. WEEZYSTUNNER

   Sep 10, 2013

   10

   Just let it grow on you, it's quiet well made. Really nice production as well, gives listeners a feeling of elation unique to the Weeknd's music. Pretty good follow-up to his Trilogy.… Expand

   • 3 of 4 users found this helpful
5. Daisuke72

   Sep 10, 2013

   10

   The Weeknd tries a new sound and it works out perfectly.
   
   In Kissland instead of the normal drugged out and raw Weeknd we get a more vulnerable and personal artist. It's a very cohesive project in where the outro will literally having you feel his pain, it was clear that this was music written from the heart, not for critical acclaim and that's what make's it even better. How personal it is.… Expand

   • 3 of 4 users found this helpful
6. iamtrent424

   Sep 10, 2013

   9

   A very well crafted album, with good songs and lyrics. I do admit that the lyrics isn't the best but overall I thought the album had some good lines. I love the type of songs he produced. It sounds much different from his previous album, but it's still as good, may be better.
   
   For this album I was expecting a much better album than the last one but ended up listening to an album thats on the same level as the first album. This album isn't better or worst. The thing that I like about The Weeknd is the features. He doesn't have a lot of feature on this album. The only major feat. on this album was Drake.
   
   I am looking forward to more of The Weeknd albums in the future.
   
   I give it an 8.5/10… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful
7. mick4210

   Sep 16, 2013

   7

   While it doesn't really touch his previous work, this album did grow on me after a few listens. At first i was gonna give it a 5 or 6, but there is a pretty good album here. The content isn't as dark as his mixtapes, which shows he can be more versatile, but it doesn't really hit me as hard as his mixtapes did. I feel what he is talking about (the tour life for the most part) but i prefer the darker r&b he had on his mixtapes (exception being the title track "kiss land", which feels like its straight from House of Balloons). Some songs' production ends up sounding too similar for some of the album too. His party/dance tracks (Wanderlust & Odd Look) are amazing and I would like to hear that style from him in the future. Reminded me of Frank Ocean's "Pyramids". Overall, this was a good debut album for The Weeknd, and I'm excited to see how he goes on from here.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful

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