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Revision as of 03:49, 10 April 2011 by 68.117.61.168 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) For the Canadian pop-rock band, see The Weekend (Canadian band).| The Weeknd |
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The Weeknd is a Toronto-based R&B singer named Abel Tesfaye. Songs recorded under The Weeknd name first leaked in late 2010, though the identity of the individual behind the project was initially unknown. The Weeknd released a nine-song mixtape, House of Balloons, on March 21.
House of Balloons (2011-present)
In late 2010, The Weeknd uploaded three songs - "What You Need", "Loft Music" and "The Morning" - to YouTube. A nine-track mixtape titled House of Balloons was digitally released on March 21 through the artist's official website. Hip-hop artist Drake has been partly credited for generating public awareness for The Weeknd, after he quoted a line from the track "Wicked Game" via Twitter and linked to the singer's music on his website. In a review of the House of Balloons mixtape, Pitchfork Media's Joe Colly wrote that "all the thematic and sonic pieces fit together - these weird, morning-after tales of lust, hurt, and over-indulgence ... are matched by this incredibly lush, downcast music. It's hard to think of a record since probably the xx's debut ... that so fully embodies such a specific nocturnal quality." Frontier Psychiatrist's L.V. Lopez claimed the album was "brilliant, disturbing, and not safe for work," calling the song "Loft Music" a song that is "so unsafe it should come with a child-proof cap, so dirty that you’ll feel guilty the next time you see your wife." Tom Ewing of The Guardian said that although the singing and songwriting on House of Balloons "aren't especially strong by R&B standards," the Weeknd is receiving "so much attention" as a result of its "command of mood." Sean Fennessey of The Village Voice called the mixtape "impressive" and added: "It's patient, often gorgeous, and consistently louche ... with the sort of blown-out underbelly and echo-laden crooning that has already made Drake's less-than-a-year-old Thank Me Later such an influential guidepost." Maegan McGregor of Exclaim! praised the mixtape: "Packed full of sex, drugs and some downright killer production, this easily stands as one of the year's best debuts so far, hipster, Top 40 or otherwise." Sputnik Music's Tyler Fisher said that "despite being a free mixtape, House of Balloons feels like a true album, a true labor of love." The title track samples Siouxsie and the Banshees' 1980 single "Happy House".
Discography
Mixtapes
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| House of Balloons |
|
References
- Ramirez, Erika (2011-03-29). "Artist to Watch: The Weeknd". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - Brannigan Lynch, Joseph (2011-03-29). "Drake-approved R&B upstart The Weeknd: Why all the blog frenzy over an unknown?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - Fitzmaurice, Larry (2011-03-04). "The Playlist - The Weeknd - What You Need". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
- Stewart, Allison (2011-03-14). "Singles File: Da Phuture, The Weeknd, Fever Ray". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - Caramanica, Jon (2010-12-31). "Screams That Charmed, and Other Overlooked Highlights". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Ramirez, Erika (2011-03-21). "Say Hello To The Weeknd, Drake Co-Signs". MTV. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
- Escobedo Shepherd, Julianne (2011-03-23). "Love and Other Drugs: The Weeknd's Altered-State R&B". WNET. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
- Colly, Joe (2011-03-29). "Album Reviews - The Weeknd - House of Balloons". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
- Lopez, L. V. (2011-03-28). "Wicked Games – A Review of The Weeknd's House Of Balloons". Frontier Psychiatrist. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
- Ewing, Tom (2011-03-24). "The Weeknd's VIP Area Exposé Was Made for the Indie Crowd". The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - Fennessey, Sean (2011-03-23). "Love vs. Money: The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, and R&B's Future Shock". The Village Voice. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - McGregor, Maegan (2011-03-28). "Get the Latest from the Weeknd, Teenage Kicks, TV on the Radio and More in This Week's Click Hear Roundup". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - Fisher, Tyler (2011-03-25). "Staff Review - The Weeknd - House Of Balloons". Sputnik Music. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
- Neyland, Nick (2011-03-23). "The Playlist - The Weeknd - "House of Balloons"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2011-03-29.