By LILY WICHERT

While 2020 has proven to be a year full of let-downs, the music that has been released is far from that. Popular R&B artist The Weeknd finally put out his fourth studio album After Hours in March. 

Each of The Weeknd’s albums have different stories and vibes that are found in each of his songs, and After Hours has a cinematic feel to it. The album is said to have been inspired by popular films and characters such as “The Joker” and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which flows into the artwork and song titles on the album. The Weeknd is found wearing a red suit on the album cover, with red blood smeared on his face and teeth as he cracks a devious smile. The crazy-joker-vibes and references to Vegas throughout the album prove to be The Weeknd’s inspiration. 

After Hours became The Weeknd’s fourth album to make Billboard’s Number One, and has received many positive reviews from critics. Music reviewer Larry Fitzmaurice wrote that “After Hours is The Weeknd’s most consistent work to date,” which is an opinion shared by many. All songs from the album made Billboard’s Top 100, and the album stayed on the list for four consecutive weeks. 

One of the most appealing aspects of The Weeknd is not only the incredible music that he puts out, but his background and life story. The Weeknd, aka Abel TesfayeIn, is the son of Ethiopian immigrants who moved to Canada in search of a better life. Abel has very limited contact with his father, who strayed away from the family during his childhood. His hard work and passion for music has brought him to his fame. 

As a huge fan of The Weeknd, I can say that After Hours is one of my favorite pieces by one of my top artists. This album has been on repeat for me since it released in March, and contains different songs for whatever mood I am when I listen to it. Whether you are new to The Weeknd’s music or have been a fan since his first releases, this album is sure to have something for you.