The Weeknd
Dawn FM
XO/Republic
Buy via Official Store | Listen Below

On January 3rd, nearly two years since the release of After Hours (2020), I was scrolling Twitter and stumbled upon The Weeknd announcing his plans to release a new album in just days. As per usual, his announcement was accompanied by a gratifying visual announcing his new album Dawn FM would be released that Friday, January 7th. If the visual wasn’t indulging enough, the vocal tones of famous actor Jim Carrey narrating the album trailer cemented the intrigue factor.

“You’re now listening to 103.5 Dawn FM. You’ve been in the dark for way too long. It’s time to walk into the light and accept your fate with open arms,” Carrey declares. Subtle, yet just weird enough to leave you thirsty and ready for more, as if you’re listening to a new wave funk/electro radio station and Carrey is your on-air disc jockey.

If you happened to read the interview The Weeknd (a.k.a. Abel Tesfaye) did with Variety this past May, he literally told us this album was coming when he said, “if the last record is the After Hours of the night, then The Dawn is coming."

The Weeknd’s fifth studio album, Dawn FM features additional narration from Carrey, as well as contributions by Tyler The Creator, Lil’ Wayne, and even Quincy Jones. Lead single "Take My Breath" has already peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts.

Upon initial listen, what at first may seem overpowering is eventually what makes this a thoroughly enjoyable album. On the surface, Dawn FM is dance-pop electronic music that harks back to the 1980s, consistent with its precursor After Hours.

But beyond the retro leanings of the music itself, what’s so distinctive about this project relative to his previous releases is the significant amount of attention that was devoted to the sequencing of the album’s tracks. The transitions from the opening track “Dawn FM” to “Gasoline,” “How Do I Make You Love Me” and “Take My Breath” are so refined and as polished as it gets. The credit for this seamlessness flow from track to track, along with the complementary beat tempos, should be credited to producers The Weeknd, Max Martin, Oscar Holter, and of course Calvin Harris.

While the arrangements throughout the album are relaxing and moderate, the clarity of the lyrics help you focus in on the story at hand and form mental pictures to accompany the words. For example, since I was so easily able to envision what The Weeknd was singing about in my head on “Sacrifice,” the song’s video is exactly what I imagined it would be.

Five albums, three mixtapes, and three compilation albums into his career, I’m sure The Weeknd has heard enough of the Michael Jackson comparisons, but at this point, he brings the King of Pop’s influence to the forefront, particularly on “Here We Go…Again,” which features rapper Tyler The Creator. Although The Weeknd’s vocal range shines bright on the song, Tyler’s laid-back yet memorable verse is the most notable element, as expresses concern about entering or re-entering toxic relationships. (By the way, The Weeknd must be talking about Angelina Jolie when he sings, “my new girl, she’s a movie star,” right?)

On an album with standout tracks in abundance, “Out of Time” is arguably the most notable. Preceded by the Quincy Jones-blessed interlude “A Tale By Quincy,” the song incorporates a well-placed sample from Tomoko Aran’s 1983 single “Midnight Pretenders” and maintains the original composition’s palpable sense of melancholy and longing. As the song transitions into the midway point of the album, The Weeknd’s articulation of his conflicted emotions becomes more coherent and declarative, as best evidenced on “Starry Eyes.”

Having been there, done that with past relationships myself, the cover artwork that presents a noticeably aged Weeknd makes total sense and perfectly captures the emotional essence of the brilliant Dawn FM. Toxic relationships take their toll on all of us and sometimes, whether literally or figuratively speaking, gives us grey hairs. We’ve all been there. If you haven’t, you’re either blessed with a once-in-a-lifetime experience or your time is invariably coming soon (hope not).

With his fantastic fifth studio album, The Weeknd definitely sets the tone and bar high as we usher in a new year with plenty of new music on the horizon.

Notable Tracks: “Here We Go…Again” | “Is There Someone Else” | “Out of Time” | “Sacrifice” | “Starry Eyes”

BUY Dawn FM via The Weeknd’s Official Store

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