By: Jerald Mendoza
The Weeknd’s new album, My Dear Melancholy, was released on March 30 this year, to resounding praise from simp-happy audiences. Abel Tesfaye, (The Weeknd) returns to his roots for his newest album, reminiscent of the angst and hurt in his first albums, House of Balloons and Trilogy. This return to form for Abel was anticipated after his breakup with Selena Gomez, and he didn’t fail to impress.
The album is a the story of a heartbroken lover with a sound only The Weeknd can produce. Deep, heart-rending lines share the same space as innuendo and explicitly sexual comments. The lyrics are mixed together in a slow, gritty R&B instrumental paced by rhythmic bass notes and hats.
The instrumentals really come into play in “I Was Never There.” The song starts off with long, lamenting synth notes and it’s bass beats wash into the ear like crashing waves. The song shifts halfway into a more cinematic, serene vibe. The instrumentals help set the tone of Abel’s pained lyrics.
My Dear Melancholy is most certainly a break-up album in the best way possible. It’s not full of flare and poetic thoughts. It is an album of the depths of heartbreak, in one’s darkest moments, when emotions are most turbulent. This album, and The Weeknd’s portrayal of heartbreak, is far more genuine and realistic than anything Taylor Swift or even Adelle could present. As good as the quality of the album is, it just goes to show where Abel is emotionally, so I wish him the best.
