Dawson VanHandel

Okay I’m not the type to write a review like this and I won’t write one again, but this album is so unbelievably flawless that I felt I needed to say something. The Weeknd’s debut mixtape was a severe departure from what rnb sounded like at the time, and it hasn’t been the same since. This mixtape is a whirlwind of drugs, sex, and self-destruction, coming from the voice of an angel. The dark subject matter paints a dark picture in every song, and it’s utterly intoxicating to listen to. The dark atmosphere is only partly due to the subject matter, as the stellar production is mesmerizing. These tracks sound gritty, almost unpolished, but undeniably beautiful. The Weeknd has found more lush and clean production since, but the dirtiness of House of Balloons worked to his advantage an amazing way. And through all the gritty production is Abel’s voice. The vocals on this mixtape are simply remarkable. The notes and runs and melodies that The Weeknd hits are show stopping, and I don’t believe he has sounded this good since. Seriously, his vocal performance is something I can’t even describe. Songs like House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls, Coming Down, and especially The Knowing shows off his angelic voice perfectly. Overall, I truly believe that House of Balloons is perfect. I honestly can’t find a flaw. Every single song has incredible replay value, and I still listen to it like it’s the first time. My favorite tracks are The Knowing, The Morning, House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls, Wicked Games, and The Party and The After Party, but seriously every track is a 10/10. If you haven’t listened to this yet, do it NOW. You will not be disappointed. Thanks for reading.