Album Review: The Weeknd, Dawn FM

The Weeknd

Dawn FM (released January 7, 2022)

It’s no secret that I’ve had a long-running love-hate relationship with the good homie Abel.

When he debuted with 2011’s House of Balloons, I didn’t quite know what to make of it. Yes, those sparse, electronic sounds and brazen lyrics are commonplace today but a decade ago they were groundbreaking. It certainly wasn’t the R&B I knew and loved, but if you waded through the haze of dirty thongs and cocaine, there was a lot to appreciate about this so-called alt-R&B wave.

He was a trendsetter, and I was down for the ride.

In 2015 he exploded into the mainstream with Beauty Behind the Madness, switching to a more 80s-inspired pop-friendly sound in the process – and actually losing some of those Day One fans in the process. But as I often preach in this space, evolution is a good thing. He hadn’t lost me. Yet.

But as his star rose during the Starboy era – and absolutely exploded with 2020’s After Hours – his Michael Jackson cosplay grew tiresome. The constant evolution that made him one of music’s most intriguing stars ground to a halt.

Only thing that remained were those raggedy 80s synths.

Despite massive critical and commercial success making The Weeknd arguably the biggest pop star of the day, creatively he seems to be on autopilot.

All I want from his new LP is something new.

And we almost got it.

Dawn FM, Morgan FreeWeeknd’s fifth LP, tries to find a balance between the sound that made him a megastar and the original stylings that made him an indie sensation. It’s all based around the theme of a 80s radio station, and, no children, he is NOT the first artist to use a radio theme on an album.

Y’all really think music was invented in 2010 and it gives me acid reflux.

Anyway, Dawn FM opens with what you’d expect – an intro with soaring synths straight out of a 80s action flick, with Jim Carrey of all people getting his Good Morning, Vietnam on as the ever-present radio DJ.

“Gasoline” and “How Do I Make You Love Me” sound straight out of 1984 MTV, the same inoffensive but unmemorable synth pop we’ve heard a million times since 2016’s Starboy. To Weeknd’s credit, most of the tracks here are very well produced. First single “Take My Breath” boasts a thumping baseline that gives it an addictive groove. “Sacrifice” is similarly well crafted but again, it’s another repetitive synth symphony.

Been there, done that, Abel.

But halfway through Dawn FM, things start looking up.

“Out of Time” drifts away from 80s pop and more toward 80s R&B, and the diversion works wonders. Weeknd’s voice works best on more mellow cuts, and this is a perfect example of that wheelhouse.

“Here We Go … Again” is the requisite rap-styled rant track that Weeknd has on every release (think “Snowchild” from After Hours) but with a more soulful twist. The addition of Tyler, the Creator provides a different angle as well, with Tyler delivering his usual strong guest verse.

The second half of the album does a better job of balancing shiny, popstar Weeknd and brooding OG Weeknd, giving both sides of his fanbase something to embrace. Unfortunately, it can’t keep that momentum up for long. The friend-zoning fiasco that is “Best Friends” feels like it could do well on radio and the synthy but sinister “Is There Someone Else” is pretty intriguing but it’s business as usual soon after with “Don’t Break My Heart” and the Lil Wayne assisted “I Heard You’re Married.” Again, not bad tracks, but they feel like clones of songs we heard in 2016.

Props to “Less than Zero” though. The production sounds like something from the final credits of an 80s video game.

Critics are already yelling from the rooftops that Dawn FM is destined to be one of the year’s best releases. Playa we’ve been in 2022 for ONE WEEK. Let. It. Breathe.

Realistically, your mileage will vary. If you’re a Weeknd fan obsessed with his 80s dance schtick, you’ll love Dawn FM. If you miss the days of his depressing Drug&B, this one won’t move you. But if you’re a fan stuck in the middle, like me, you’ll find a few points of satisfaction.

I gave up on listening to the radio in the 2000s because they were obsessed with playing the same stuff over and over AND OVER again. At its worst moments, Dawn FM reminds me of those annoying days. But when Weeknd freshens up his playlist, it’s a pretty good listen and reminds me of Abel the Innovator, not the imitator.

Best tracks: “Out of Time,” “Here We Go … Again,” “Sacrifice”

3.5 stars out of 5