Beauty Behind the Madness proves that the Weeknd can thrive in the mainstream, and while the lyrics aren't overtly profound, he's proven that he is more versatile than previously thought, which is perhaps of greater importance at this stage in his career.
As a cohesive album, Beauty Behind The Madness showcases artistic growth and sonic progression through danceable pop deliveries like 'In The Night' and grand acoustics like 'Shameless'.
Beauty Behind the Madness leaves one feeling just as estranged from Abel Tesfaye’s depraved character as previous releases boasting less adhesive tunes.
This is the same old monotonous Weeknd melancholy, only distilled through a huge pop filter. Which certainly makes it listenable, and a little bit nicer, but far from the innovative mainstream breakthrough album we were promised.
All the songs from this album are #1 in my personal favorites. He combines his dark lyrics with some serious catchy beat. BBTM is one of TheAll the songs from this album are #1 in my personal favorites. He combines his dark lyrics with some serious catchy beat. BBTM is one of The Weeknds' best and will go down in one of the best albums from the last decade. And lets not forget, this is the album that gave Abel his fame.…Expand
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What caught me most about this album was the indirect story that it tells. Abel starts off being Abel by describing his world ("Real Life"), then proceeds to meet a girl and describe his view on love and relationships to her ("Losers.") They strike up typical visits in which Abel continues to be Abel about it ("Tell Your Friends") and describes how she is when he and crew are around ("Often"). However, Abel's attitude changes. He begins to develop feelings and wants her around more ("The Hills"). Eventually, he admits up to her that he is beginning to have feelings for the girl ("Acquainted"). He then describes how she makes him feel and that she may be the "death" of him ("Can't Feel My Face" the death of the old Abel). He then tells her that he has no reserves about how she makes him feel and doesn't want to hide it ('Shameless") and that she has willfully made him feel this way ("Earned It"). However, she still has her reserves and doesn't seem ready to commit to him ("In the Night") and Abel begins to realize that he loves her for the fact that she reminds him of himself and how he has been ("As You Are") and also begins to realize that he can't escape the dark side of himself ("Prisoner"). Upon sadly realizing things aren't going to work out they end it and go their separate ways ("Dark Times"). In the end he is left wondering and wishing the best for a former love he missed out on ("Angel").…Expand
I been following since the House Of Balloons days, and after Kiss Land album (wich i like), i doubt that he can be successful and maintainsI been following since the House Of Balloons days, and after Kiss Land album (wich i like), i doubt that he can be successful and maintains his unique style. But he proves that he can make a good pop commercial album with quality and don't change his essential style.
Songs like Real Life, Often, The Hills, Acquainted and Shamless prove that. He has good radio songs friendly like Earned It and Can't Feel My Face.
He makes three artists collaborations with which we are not used, and lose his vibe. The Ed Sheeran colaboration is amazing, same for the Lana Del Rey. And he proves in the past that can make good collaboration with R&B and rap artist, but now he moves on another level and he doing so great.
It's difficult to say if this is the album of the year or not, but he has more 10 on individual tracks than any other album of this year. Maybe Kendrick Lamar album is more complete with the whole package, but on individual tracks this is the album!! There aren't bad songs on it.…Expand
Is a great pop album, that's the problem, its POP. His sophomore album has a great vibe and vocally are outstanding, but the lack of lyricallyIs a great pop album, that's the problem, its POP. His sophomore album has a great vibe and vocally are outstanding, but the lack of lyrically commitment and the poor rnb resemblance. Its a shame,…Expand
Rating:75/100
Favourite Tracks:Can't Feel My Face,In The Night,Often
Least Favourite Tracks:Earned It (I was so sad when the Tracklist wasRating:75/100
Favourite Tracks:Can't Feel My Face,In The Night,Often
Least Favourite Tracks:Earned It (I was so sad when the Tracklist was revealed and earned it was there),Prisoner,Angel
I loved it up until 'Earned It' and then he kind of recovered it on the two tracks after but then oh wait he lost me again with 3 uninteresting tracks for he last 10 minutes. I was really looking forward to this album after hearing 'Can't Feel My Face' and 'The Hills' (Yh I'm not a true Weeknd fan I know) as I thought Abel was going to put out a darker, more pop influenced album and Yh he kind of did for some parts of the album but there are other parts that aren't really catchy enough to be pop. They kind of go back to 'Kiss Land' Weeknd; just weak r&b songs with mediocre songwriting. I'm not saying there's any great songwriting but the tracks I like have other redeeming factors like some really atmospheric production or a really melodic chorus that I can't get out of my head. I did like most of the album though because of the reasons mentioned. I thought it was a clever move to get Lana Del Ray on a track as she's kind of like the girl he's always **** going on about and it seems like the perfect collaboration but still those two on a track does make me want to kill myself. I think this album would go hard in the car. Well, some of it. You can't really pin it to a certain emotion or place because of how diverse and experimental the album is but that ultimately leads to a very uncohesive project. That might be the reasoning for the title 'Beauty Behind the Madness' and you know that's cool but I'm not finding the beauty. Just Madness would have been more fitting. I guess die hard Weeknd fans will dig all of it but I can't really see a casual Weeknd listener hearing this and loving the **** out of it.…Expand
Hate his pop music, it's kinda sad how he used to be good and then bam! He turned mainstream. This album was plain bad. Sorry Weeknd, but IHate his pop music, it's kinda sad how he used to be good and then bam! He turned mainstream. This album was plain bad. Sorry Weeknd, but I guess the new fans can replace your old ones. :/…Expand
