November 25 marked one of the most anticipated dates of the year for many music fans as the Weeknd's newest album Starboy came out. Many have praised the album as being some of the Weeknd's best work that he's ever done and some have even called it their favorite Weeknd album. While Starboy has some great material on it, nothing the Weeknd has done can surpass his Trilogy.
Trilogy still remains my favorite music from the Weeknd for a couple reasons. First of all, unlike Starboy and its predecessor Beauty Behind the Madness, Trilogy doesn't have the same Top 40 radio, pop appeal that it's two successors have. Trilogy is a more relaxing compilation of songs that fits more with a late night drive than Starboy and Beauty Behind the Madness. The common theme between Trilogy's successors is that they all have more pop radio appeal. That isn't necessarily a bad thing because pop radio gets artists more recognition and a broader appeal to an audience. However, he also leaves the sound that he had on Trilogy despite the fact that those mix tapescreated the artist that we know today. I think that the sound on Trilogy is his forte and that he should write more material in that style, especially if it works for him better as an artist.
The other important reason why Trilogy is the Weeknd's best work is that it has a very cohesive feel. Particularly with Starboy I feel as though the Weeknd cannot choose between pop appeal and the laid back feel of Trilogy, so he smashes 6 songs with a Trilogy vibe at the end of the album in order not to make a choice. I feel as though the Weeknd could've made Starboy better if he had released the last 6 songs as a separate EP. That way he could avoid cutting tracks entirely and he could also keep a cohesive theme and sound to Starboy. I feel like by not being decisive the Weeknd hurt the album and this made sure it wouldn't be as good as Trilogy because Trilogy had a cohesive sound between the 3 separate mix tapes despite the fact that all had a slightly different themes. The common theme is that they're all songs that tell a narrative of a night. In House of Balloons, the songs are more upbeat and it has more of an upbeat vibe and it's the good part of the night. Thursday is middle of the mix tapes and it's the part of the party where things take a darker turn and the songs reflect this sentiment as they're darker and more mysterious sounding. By Echoes of Silence, it's the morning after of a crazy night where depression starts setting in. It shows vulnerability and angst and wraps the entire Trilogy up perfectly.
Don't get me wrong, Starboy is a good album from the Weeknd, but before you crown it his best work you should hold off on doing so, especially if you have not listened to Trilogy. For Weeknd fans and r&b fans alike it's a must-listen album.
