The Weeknd - My Dear Melancholy,

My Dear Melancholy, serves as the perfect title to a somewhat depressing breakup album.

The Weeknd surprised fans with the unexpected release of his new album. My Dear Melancholy, has only 6 tracks but in this case its definitely quality over quantity. The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye) revisits the side of his that got him noticed in the first place with beautiful vocals singing about drugs, sex and love.

The album opens with Call Out My Name, a heartbreaking song about a failed relationship that Abel desperately wants to get over. Its clear that he invested everything in this relationship and the pain in is his voice and lyrics is so evident. Upon listening to this song one can't help but wonder if the subject matter was perhaps inspired by ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez.

"I said I didn't feel nothing, baby, but I lied I almost cut a piece of myself for your life Guess I was just another pit stop 'Til you made up your mind"

- Call Out My Name

Try Me and Wasted Times are both dedicated to an ex of The Weeknd. He longs for this past lover and is wanting to start a relationship. This is a change of pace from the first song as both songs contain lighter lyrical content and his vocal delivery is softer. This shows off the more romantic side of Tesfaye.

From here the album goes to a much darker side with the songs not shying away from deeper topics. I Was Never There looks at the meaningless of life. It takes on the fact that sex and drugs are used as an escape from feelings. The song opens with The Weeknd asking what makes a person take their life and he concludes with the fact that in the end it doesn't matter. Musically this song doesn't do what I expect it to as there is a random change in pace about halfway through but lyrically its one of the deepest songs on the album. The next song Hurt You follows those same themes as The Weeknd explains that he does not want a relationship as he uses sex as an escape not for love.

"Girl, I'll come to put myself between your lips Not between your heart Can't you see?"

-Hurt You

The album closes with Privilege which once again shows The Weeknd being brutally honest and explaining that he doesn't want anything other than sex. It's one of the shorter songs on the album but features a few bold lyrics.

My Dear Melancholy, has a chilled R&B feel throughout but with more darkness to it which we come to expect from The Weeknd. The songs work well together and there is a flow from start to finish with matching themes and similar beats. This is the most honest Tesfaye has been in a while especially in comparison to the more Pop album Starboy.

This album however, goes straight to those diehard fans from the days of Trilogy. While My Dear Melancholy, isn't quite as dark as back then it is definitely reminiscent of that time.

This album may not appeal to the masses as hits like Starboy and I Can't Feel My Face has but it definitely gives listeners a glimpse into the inner workings of The Weeknd's feelings or lack thereof in certain instances. It's a solid body of work from start to finish and if dark, brooding R&B is your thing then I would definitely recommend.

Listen to the album below:

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