The Weeknd’s brand of dark and brooding R&B was a revelation for the genre in the mid 2010’s, breathing new and fresh life into a storied but somewhat stale industry. On After Hours The Weeknd took those R&B roots and pushed everything a bit further– delving into dream pop and synth-driven instrumentation, crafting a semi-concept record that takes place in the City of Angels from 3am-5am, but staying true to those themes of loneliness and regret that The Weeknd made his name off.
Anyone even remotely paying attention during 2020 won’t be able to forget “Blinding Lights”. The song was simply inescapable, and understandably so considering how incredibly catchy that synth lead and chorus vocal hook is.
Standout Songs: “Blinding Lights”, “Scared To Live”, “In Your Eyes”
