Island Vinyl & CDs

Review: After his last album incorporated neon and darkwave stylings into his ever-expanding musical fold, we unanimously agreed back at the beginning of 2021 that it was high time The Weeknd put out a 'greatest hits' album. In February, our wish was granted in CD form, and now, 'The Highlights' has seen an official rerelease on double gatefold ultra-heavy vinyl, doing thorough justice to The Noise's cosmic collabs with Daft Punk, Kendrick Lamar and Ariana Grande. Spanning cuts all the way through from 'Thursday' to 'After Hours', this album does a remarkable job of unifying the best tracks from this devlishly suited, R&B hitmaker's career.

Review: Shockingly, "(Hurry Up Tomorrow) is probably my last hurrah as the Weeknd." With speculation that this could mark the final release under his stage name, Abel Tesfaye returns with his sixth studio album, doubling as the soundtrack for an upcoming psycho-thriller film of the same name, where film and album are to be released in tandem. A known cinephile, and widely applauded for his screen debut in the OPN-scored Safdie Brothers sensation Uncut Gems, Tesfaye's upcoming directorial collaboration with Trey Edward Shults presents an insomniac musician on the verge of a mental breakdown, pulled into an existential odyssey against his best volition. 'Timeless', 'Sao Paulo' and 'Cry for Me' lead the charge, in the aftermath of a vocal injury sustained on tour in 2022. Blending r&b, synth-pop and trap with flourishes of Brazilian funk and hip-hop, the new record doubles as the film's soundtrack, and pushes the Weeknd's palette ever further out into unsettling neon pop territory, contradictorily into the early hours of the weekday.

Review: The Weeknd's latest album takes the form of a concept about a radio station that is listened to on a car journey towards the end of days. It features a number of guests such as Tyler & The Creator, Jim Carrey and Lil Wayne as well as production from Calvin Harris. The album's standout single is 'I Heard You're Married' which is a gloriously catchy disco-dance beat with singable choruses and epic synth lines. The whole thing is a mix of dance, electro and pop with more wax and textural beats next to the sentimental songs. It's one of his most adventurous and a real return form.