Canadian–born artist Abel Tesfaye, or as we know him, The Weeknd, releases his sophomore album “Kiss Land” this week. Back in 2010, Tesfaye uploaded three songs—“What You Need,” “Loft Music” and “The Morning”—to YouTube, immediately spawning an internet sensation and leading the "PBR&B" movement. Featuring Drake, Kavinsky, and a remix by Pharrell, this album entraps you in a matrix of pain, loneliness and uncensored sex. At times, Tesfaye’s falsetto whispers to you on top of guitar samples, reverberating percussion, inaudible screaming and robotic voices. The tracks are agonizing and jarring, yet provocative and enthralling. Tesfaye calls “Kiss Land” a “horror movie”—it’s a feature film you won’t want to miss.
GRADE: A-
99–CENT DOWNLOAD: “Kiss Land”
SOUNDS BEST WHEN: You’re feeling insecure and a little lost (mind you, the album won’t relieve how you’re feeling).
