Dawn FM
by The Weeknd
  • Record Label: Republic
  • Release Date: Jan 7, 2022
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 1131 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,029 out of 1131
  2. Mixed: 43 out of 1131
  3. Negative: 59 out of 1131
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  1. Oknice
    Jan 7, 2022
    6
    First of all, big fan of The Weeknd, been listening since 2008 when individual albums from Trilogy were released.
    Was really excited for this album, but listening through the whole 16 songs I personally only liked 2 songs, 3 at best. Artistic and production value as a whole is great, especially the retro touch and electro beats are very refined. If you were looking for previous dark    First of all, big fan of The Weeknd, been listening since 2008 when individual albums from Trilogy were released.
    Was really excited for this album, but listening through the whole 16 songs I personally only liked 2 songs, 3 at best. Artistic and production value as a whole is great, especially the retro touch and electro beats are very refined. If you were looking for previous dark melancholy vibes from previous albums, you won’t find it on this one.
    The previous album’s retro vibes were a cool experimentation, but they were average in my opinion, only the hit song like Blinding Lights got the vibes right. Dawn FM took the whole album to the retro/dance level.

    Don’t get me wrong, artistic expression is everything, and this album is definitely not bad. It just wasn’t what I was expecting, I was expecting the tone to be sort of like Moth to a Flame, or a mix between After Hours and My Dear Melancholy.

    But as you guys know, The Weeknd’s songs takes a few listen to fall in love with, and after the fall (pun intended), you get hooked onto it.
    I hope I am wrong with this album, but these are just my personal opinion and taste.

    Hope you guys like the album though!    … Expand
  2. bertobellamy
    Jan 7, 2022
    6
    Not bad, but not like his previous effort. Seems a little rushed, and, on first listen, only two songs remained in my head. Things could change during the next listenings; meanwhile, this could be, for me, the most underwhelming The Weeknd release in years.
  3. Gibibeta
    Jan 7, 2022
    6
    Nice opening, but kinda plain.
    Don't get me wrong I love the weeknd and the album, sounds polished but just not at the same level than the previous album.
    Not disappointed, but not surprised either.
  4. All_ButTrU4
    Jan 7, 2022
    5
    Cold, empty and stark come to mind when you see the coverart for the Weeknd's After Hours companion piece. An aesthetic ride through a city pop bliss is curated by Jim Carey's benevolent narration, which drives the concept of life after death,of moving on. Dawn Fm is a dense nostalgic trip that evokes the 80's revival he's pioneered with more focus than the poppier After Hours. Coming soCold, empty and stark come to mind when you see the coverart for the Weeknd's After Hours companion piece. An aesthetic ride through a city pop bliss is curated by Jim Carey's benevolent narration, which drives the concept of life after death,of moving on. Dawn Fm is a dense nostalgic trip that evokes the 80's revival he's pioneered with more focus than the poppier After Hours. Coming so early in the year makes the album feel like a therapeutic new years resolution, preparation for the 3rd year under an unprecedented pandemic. Synths play a ominous role throughout lining songs with hope or dread in equal measure such as the "sacrifice " or "every angel is terrifying " respectively. Dawn fm isn't perfect and i don't think it tries to be but it's length can leave room for boredom where some songs either feel too long (i heard you married or Gasoline ) or unnecessary (best friends) which is an expected result in most heavy handed concept albums. There's something reminiscent to Janelle Monae ArchAndroid series and anachronisms of 80's Micheal Jackson, some song's feeling like fresh takes on Thrillers iconic sound. Oneohtrix Point Never production is stellar and on par with Daft Punk's skill ,it pushes the boundaries of the weeknd's sound whilst referencing his own masterpiece "Garden of Delete ",allowing for so much to discover and appreciate from the album. In short it's not a bad or disappointing record, it's experimental pop that sounds like the future and the past but despite it's quality production I found it's lyrics (apart from Jim Carey's existential narrations) a bit generic and dull which reduced but did not harm my listening experience. Many more listens will invite more concise thoughts but at this moment after 5 listens i feel it's pretty ok and no way near stunning as the concept it attempts to encapsulate.… Expand
  5. venaskie18
    Jan 7, 2022
    5
    the radio theme was creative. But no repeat listening no stand out tracks for me it got boring
  6. Wanesta
    Jan 8, 2022
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Acting a bit like After Hours' little and more experimental sister, Dawn FM features a breathtaking production and an absolute stellar concept, driving down the highway around 4 am off to the soundtrack of random radio stations … but, most parts are total road-kill. Precisely, the entire first half of Dawn FM, and others. Thankfully, from Out of Time to the exquisite Starry Eyes, we are served with excellence that saves the face of Dawn FM, a rather hit or miss station.… Expand
  7. JanoH
    Jan 7, 2022
    6
    Priemerný album priemerného interpreta. Texty ešte ujdú, ale po hudobnej stránke je to šedý priemer.
  8. Davidwv97
    Jan 7, 2022
    6
    On Dawn FM, The Weeknd does what he does best. And it works. It's nicely polished, well produced. But it's more of the same and he's becoming a bit of a one trick pony.
  9. lwtos
    Jan 13, 2022
    6
    Nothing new here. I can see The Weekend repeat himself over and over. He can do better.
  10. MexMud
    Jan 7, 2022
    5
    Dawn Fm sounds great.. but it's just more of the same and some songs don't even stand out.
    The flow is great but at the same time becomes stale and boring. Expected better since his last album was almost perfect.
  11. dboni1
    Jan 8, 2022
    6
    I appreciate what he's trying to do with the concept and I like the interludes. But the songs here just aren't his best. I don't see myself going back to the majority of these tracks. As a whole, it's just alright. But I wish he'd take more risks and switch up his sound a little more. These 80s synths start sounding the same after a while.
  12. SebastianGutVel
    Jan 16, 2022
    4
    El álbum lo sentí repetitivo, lento y cringe el hacerlo como un programa radial, aún así 4 de 10
  13. mariomello
    Feb 15, 2022
    5
    Horrible, how is it possible? Boring and repetitive, let's get better boy...
  14. Buddysoysa
    Jan 10, 2022
    5
    It's a mid album. Repetitive. Half of the songs are short. His least favourite album. Feel like rushed
  15. Vjhunte
    Jan 15, 2022
    5
    Not his best work, but it was okay. After Hours was phenomenal; it was a banger. Dawn FM just feels like it's lacking something, like I've heard it before. Honestly, it gives me Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' vibes. Most of the songs sound the same. I'm going to give it a second listen, but I don't know if I'll come to love it as I did After Hours.
  16. Elvisfox71125
    Jan 8, 2022
    6
    T'was okay. Star boy still da best doe. I can this becoming a staple of early 2020's music down da line. And that's on that on that on that.
  17. Andrek23
    Jan 21, 2022
    5
    I was an early weeknd fan with his first album “house of balloons”, and then really enjoyed “BBTM” and was seduced with my dear melancholy, more than I though i d have, this last album just doesn’t clic with me. There is not a single song that touches me like they used to in house of balloons or MDM. And while I didn’t enjoy starboy much (too mainstream for me) at least they had someI was an early weeknd fan with his first album “house of balloons”, and then really enjoyed “BBTM” and was seduced with my dear melancholy, more than I though i d have, this last album just doesn’t clic with me. There is not a single song that touches me like they used to in house of balloons or MDM. And while I didn’t enjoy starboy much (too mainstream for me) at least they had some tracks that would get stuck in your head. I wish I fell in the majority and enjoyed this album more… I d say after hours was already much much better and enjoyable to listen to… Expand
  18. lexdivine
    Feb 1, 2022
    5
    Although it isn't a terrible album, I personally didn't care for it. Although The Weeknd is clearly very talented and the concept is nice, I didn't love it. 5 out of ten.

Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best Album of 2022
8
#8 Most Discussed Album of 2022

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
88

Universal acclaim - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Resident Advisor
    Jan 24, 2022
    80
    It's invigorating, vulnerable and, at times, uncomfortably raw.
    Read full review
  2. The Observer (UK)
    Jan 18, 2022
    80
    Musically, Dawn FM mirrors Tesfaye’s disquiet, its buffed electronic sheen ruptured by moments of discord, as when ballad Starry Eyes teeters on the brink of implosion. It’s a state that Tesfaye seems to relish, with often stunning results.
    Read full review
  3. HipHopDX
    Jan 14, 2022
    76
    The Canadian megastar avoids the pitfalls of cheap, nostalgia bait by earnestly repurposing and breathing life into deep cuts from a bygone era.
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