After Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd released After Hours to critical acclaim in 2020, many were anticipating when his next album would come out. This is especially the case, because he announced that After Hours wasn’t a single album, but part of a trilogy of sorts, with After Hours being the start of the trilogy. After much anticipation, The Weeknd’s fourth album and the second in his trilogy, Dawn FM was released in January of 2022.
This is a unique album, in the sense that it continues a story set forth by After Hours. That album was about The Weeknd’s character very much just living a life of overindulgence and promiscuity. Dawn FM serves as a sequel as it is more about introspection than simply living a chaotic and overindulgent life. It is an album about introspection, regret, and self acceptance in a state of purgatory. The album structures purgatory in the shell of a radio station called Dawn FM, DJ’d by none other than Canadian actor and comedian, Jim Carrey. This was an interesting choice and it took a little getting used to after the introduction track but it was one I could get behind while hearing the interludes throughout the album.
The first track after the intro titled “Gasoline” was not particularly strong in my opinion, I know many people loved it, but I’m not a fan of the way he varied his voice on the track, the vocal performance was unique and I understand in relation to the lyrics what he was trying to go for, however, it made the track fall flat, despite the enjoyable instrumental beat.
Jumping off of the instrumental point, I think this album is a logical continuation of The Weeknd’s exploration into synth-pop and dance-pop. His vocal style and performance style definitely work well and complement the genre. As The Weeknd continually puts narrative and visuals at the forefront of his work he definitely creates a unique and distinct soundscape with this genre and each album. Teaming up with a team of electronic producers, such as one of my favorites, Oneohtrix Point Never he’s polished his sound from his exploration into it in After Hours and it works great.
One of my favorite songs off this album comes up shortly after, and it’s called Take my Breath. His accentuated voice and layered vocals sonically work well and are auditorily pleasing, the song lyrics, like many off of this album have to do with Weeknd’s relationships, the themes along with the hook make this song great.
After this another song called Sacrifice plays, it’s about an introspective view on relationships, where he doesn’t want to be beholden to relationships, but he knows what kind of person he is and he’s accepted it. The synths on this song seem warmer and the song flows well.
Shortly after a track called “A Tale by Quincy” plays, it brings us to our other guest off the album, Quincy Jones, who reads off a poem about his mother, possibly to contrast with The Weeknd’s relationship with his father. It’s very tasteful, enjoyable and a quite entrancing addition to the album.
After that we get to a song about self introspection, that I enjoy called “Out of Time”, which perfectly transitions to another highlight off the album called Here We Go Again, which is a great track featuring Tyler the Creator, the song describes where The Weeknd’s been and where he is now in his life. The chill instrumentals are great, the thematic elements work and it is probably the best feature off the album.
Afterwards, what I would say is one of the least enjoyable songs off the album played, called best friends. It starts with hard punchy synths, but delves into somewhat corny lyrics that don’t work well as compared to the other more introspective lyrics that spawn off the albums. The chords are also a bit rudimentary.
Another song, “I heard you are married” suffers from similar problems and more, it’s a weird use of a feature, specifically Whiz Khalifa, who’s vocals and delivery along with lyrics don’t facilitate the song well. The song lyrics in the first place, are a bit ridiculous and don’t work, feeling out of place with the whole feel of most of the album.
Finally, the album ends off on a high note, with cool, bright and mellow synths that complement a poem, narrated by Jim Carrey, that ties all themes in the album together. One of the questions posed, do you still have regrets before death? And one of the themes being how heaven can only be found by inner heaven and inner peace.
The albums biggest pro is also its biggest con, however its consistency also makes it one of The Weeknd’s best albums, along with its themes. This album is worth a listen.
Best Tracks: Out Of Time, Take My Breath, A Tale by Quincy, Phantom Regret, Here We Go Again, Less than Zero
Worst Tracks: Best Friends, I Heard You’re Married
