“Some chapters are smaller than others, not this next one though” is how Abel Tesfaye described ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ when he first teased it on X in July of 2024. Tomorrow has finally arrived and has lived up to expectations. With 22 songs, Tesfaye concludes the epic story of his troubled alter ego, The Weeknd.
From a production standpoint, this album is nearly flawless; with collaborators including Justice, Max Martin, Metro Boomin, Mike Dean, and Oneohtrix Point Never. The transitions from track to track are seamless, enhancing the album’s cohesiveness and storytelling. The album is perfectly blended with dark R&B cuts and futuristic electronic sounds, hitting touch points on all of The Weeknd’s previous albums. The sounds on ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ are a stunning complement to the vocals throughout this project. Vocally, this is some of the best work of Tesfaye’s career.
The album’s intro track, ‘Wake Me Up’ (Production by Justice, Mike Dean, and OPN) sets an immediate tone for the rest of the way. ‘Wake Me Up’ feels like a battle between Abel Tesfaye and his alter ego, with lyrics alluding to an internal conflict. ‘Baptized In Fear’ further elaborates on this internal conflict, with reflection into his troubled past. The production on this record (Production by Justice, Mike Dean, and OPN) showcases the raw emotion displayed in Tesfaye’s lyrics and vocals.
‘Open Hearts’ is a standout track on this album. With chilling sounds reminiscent to that of Swedish House Mafia, ‘Open Hearts’ seems to be geared up for commercial success. Other standout tracks on ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ include ‘Given Up On Me’, ‘The Abyss’, ‘Big Sleep’, ‘Drive’, and ‘Red Terror’. Features include Lana Del Rey, Travis Scott, Future, Playboi Carti, Florence + The Machine, and more.
‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ perfectly wraps up the trilogy (After Hours, Dawn FM) and the persona that is The Weeknd. With the outro track transitioning into ‘High For This’, it appears that Abel Tesfaye’s alter ego, The Weeknd, is now stuck in a never ending loop. If this is in fact the end of The Weeknd, it’s clear that this is the end of one of the greatest runs ever by an artist. And to The Weeknd, thank you for the last 14 years. What a ride it has been.
Album Rating: 9/10