Threefer: Super Bowl Weeknd Review

It’s no surprise that a middle-aged man like myself isn’t overly hip to The Weeknd. But even though, I’m into a lot of great Booze-Rock, Jazz, and New Wave, I assure you I have my ear to the ground when it comes to the world’s hottest artists. So when the barrage of Super Bowl commercials featuring The Weeknd came bopping across my various screens, I wasn’t entirely taken by surprise. No judgment, but his face looks a little different than the last time he briefly occupied my consciousness. 

What did surprise me was that “Blinding Lights” finally caught enough of my attention that I had to give his recent album After Hours a full listen. Partially due to the Super Bowl commercial, as well as my recent cross-country drive during which I had a hard time switching stations without hearing “Save Your Tears.” Both tracks gave me the impression that this entire album might be an ode to the pop synth sounds of yesteryear — it is not. 

After Hours is a perfectly fine album. Along with many reviewers, I enjoy the touches of drum’n’bass and UK garage on some of the tracks, but I am mostly here for the new wave, synth-pop tracks that initially piqued my interest. 

“Save Your Tears”