Hurry Up Tomorrow by The Weeknd is an album that fans are labelling as his best work to date.
As to be expected with the likes of Mike Dean and Metro Boomin, it delivers explosive production that switches from synth led pop to melodic RnB, infused with Abel’s heavenly vocals and supported by an eclectic list of features. I will attempt to condense my thoughts on this 22-track long masterpiece and pick out some of my personal highlights.
The album starts strong with Wake Me Up, a classical Weeknd anthem plucked straight from the Dawn FM era with fantastic production from Justice. Cry For Me takes a left turn with catchy smooth vocals over atmospheric trap. The Weeknd demonstrates his versatility with a dive into Brazilian Funk and while São Paulo was a disappointing lead single it has grown on me this time around (just don’t watch the music video).
Baptized In Fear is a slower paced masterpiece with a perfect transition into the groovy but soulful Open Hearts. My personal favourite – Reflections Laughing – is moody and dark, featuring the vocals of both Travis Scott and Florence + The Machine. The Weeknd somehow gets Future to sing on Enjoy the Show, adding another great song to their collab roster. Given Up On Me has fantastic sample chops and beautiful transitions while isolating the Weekend’s voice perfectly.
Moving on, Timeless featuring Playboi Carti is already a classic with lots of replay value. Niagara Falls is another of my favourites, followed by the dreamy Take Me Back To LA which has some of the best lyrics on the album. Some of the later tracks I feel get slightly lost, but the last section of the album is rescued by The Abyss with its haunting vocals from Lana Del Rey. The final song – Hurry Up Tomorrow – taking the name of the album, addresses the fact that this is his last album as The Weeknd, and is a captivating conclusion to his journey as an artist over the years.
