04-02-2025, 21:36
Hurry Up Tomorrow—The Weeknd—Mellow Album Review
OVERVIEW:
As you can most likely tell when you read on, the more I listened, the more dragged on and bored I felt. That may be because of my brain, or it may not, but that's how it felt. It's one of those albums where one song is great and the next is mid, and there are a few terrible ones. This truly was a roller coaster of ups and downs; overall, it was an interesting listen. You can tell he went for less of a mainstream pop feel and tried to make a genuine record for himself. I highly respect that! And thankfully this was better than the main singles released, so even if you didn't like 'Timeless' or 'Sao Paolo,' there could easily be something here for you! I would've liked more organisation and, in some parts, more entertaining production, but I'll still rate this as a decent album! So cheers to the end of The Weeknd's trilogy and welcome Abel Tesfaye! ✌️
TRACK BY TRACK REVIEW:
1. Wake Me Up Ft. Justice (9/10)
Amazing album intro; it captured The Weeknd's character really well and marked a legendary start to 'Hurry Up Tomorrow.' The merge into a 'Thriller'-like beat is super clean and smooth but felt similar to the original 'Thriller,' and if it was sampled, then samples are kind of lazy, which stops it from deserving a 10. But still, the whole song felt flawless in its production and gave a booming opening to what I hope is an amazing album!
2. Cry For Me (7/10) [UPGRADED SCORE +1]
Previous listen:
Every single release pushed on "Hurry Up Tomorrow" feels so different from the last that I have no idea how The Weeknd's going to pull this album off. In the short term, this was an enjoyable song; it felt dark and gave a pop-R&B entrance, which was appealing and felt intriguing to the upcoming songs, although this wasn't the best thing I've heard and felt it could've done with a catchier hook. It definitely wasn't a disappointment for my expectations.
Added:
Listening to this with track one really built a moment much more and made me like this track more.
3. I can't f****** sing (4/10)
This is a short snippet of the time Abel lost his voice at a concert as he says that he can't sing. I don't get why you would want to include this in the album.
4. Sao Paulo Ft. Anitta (2/10)
First of all, I have a strong dislike for whoever made this music video. It started with a woman (Anitta, I presume) walking down the street with a mask on her, which had a connected curly tube to it (I'm describing music, ok? Not props) and then she pukes up on the street (I have a fear of puke and even seeing it, so no trigger jumpscares me), and then a baby bump appeared on the woman, and she fell/went into a fountain where she showcased the baby bump, and then the baby bump grew a mouth, and The Weeknd started speaking out of it. In the next scene, the woman was then licking a car whilst twerking, and the camera zoomed into the mouth multiple times (for some reason it had crust all around its mouth), and then the video ended with the most horrible transition into a baby bump and the mouth. This song was supposed to be scary for Halloween and even teased as a horror music video multiple times, but it was scary as a Tesco manager. The sad thing is The Weeknd sounds like he actually tried to make this scary. This marks the first collaboration between the two artists on a Brazilian funk song, which hopefully doesn't make the album cut as it doesn't fit the first two singles style. In fact, nothing is slotting here, and the lyrics are all about "doing it" rather than giving a spooky mood.
5. Until We're Skin And Bones (9/10)
Amazing 23-second segment; it sounds as majestic as the 21st Century Fox intro; it sounds like the start of an intergalactic space movie and puts you in such a mood!
6. Baptised In Fear (6.5/10)
The synthesiser did a great job! The beat was simple but a good follow-up; shame it didn't live up to a bigger extent; it felt like it needed more to it.
7. Open Hearts (8/10)
This went down perfectly with the music video; it felt like an easy pop record to get a smash Billboard hit, but I respect The Weeknd's choice to take bolder moves with experimental music to give a new atmosphere. This was a great track and gave a nostalgic feel despite there being nothing nostalgic in the track.
8. Opening Night (3/10)
So many random noises that feel misplaced and just there for no reason; what even is this?
9. Reflections Laughing Ft. Florence + the Machine and Travis Scott (3/10)
These three do not go well together or have any chemistry; there was nothing to take from this, and every artist here is not giving their full. I don't even get why having Scott's autotuned plop of a verse was put on this.
10. Enjoy The Show (4/10)
The lyrics to this were crazy; The Weeknd claimed he isn't going to make it past 34, which, if true, means he's going to die within the next twelve days. He also speaks about overdosing and more. To the vocals, Future was a terrible choice; he sounded like Rod Wave on 'Last Lap,' and the whole song just felt sluggish and slow. I wanted it to end; it doesn't capture any moment apart from the sad thought of depression.
11. Given Up On Me (7.3/10)
Now this is better! The synths heightened energy with claps that blend into a whirlwind of a flavourful production. This is more than experimental; this is genius. It also caught the emotional aspects of the music well too!
12. I can't wait to get there (6/10).
It starts off nice, simple, and slow before moving into more juicier R&B chords. It's alright and a decent song that fits well; it just feels like The Weeknd could've given more energy to the song.
13. Timeless Ft. Playboi Carti (3/10)
This feels so weak for a main single; the production doesn't carry, and the song fails miserably. If I had to compliment this, then I guess the two artists match each other, but still, it's not solid and most definitely overhyped.
14. Niagara Falls (5.5/10)
It's nothing special from the rest I've seen. I don't know if it's just me, but this is kind of boring. It has effort, and I can see the clean production changes, but it just doesn't click for me.
15. Take Me Back to LA (6.5/10)
This gave late-night driving and felt like the pop elements flowed through more; I just wish the start was more consistent instead of the unsteady verses.
16. Big Sleep Ft. Giorgio Moroder (8/10)
Not only was every choice chosen on this song interesting and gave a whole new sound, but it's also really catchy from the first listen, the electronics mixed with the oomph given by the song; I love it!
17. Give Me Mercy (7.5/10)
I like how some of the layers felt like a song that was supposed to be traditional, like someone making a very natural instrumental style; this sounds like a good backbeat for Christian praise music.
18. Drive (7.3/10)
So calm, the beat was a nice landing for the Weeknd, and it just has a special place in my heart.
19. The Abyss Ft. Lana del rey (6.5/10)
It felt like a completion to a long story, and Lana's vocals were elegant and holded fabulously! ?☺️
20. Red Terror (4.5/10)
Pretty creepy music video ?. It doesn't get me in the trance state it wants me to, and by now the album is feeling tiring and too long. Not impressed.
21. Without A Warning (5.5/10)
The dark, mysterious feel was my favourite part; still not really bussin though; you need to hit the spot better, Mr. Tesfaye.
22. Hurry Up Tomorrow (7/10)
So down-to-earth and refreshing… I adore this beautiful ending; it's light and touching.
BEST—Wake Me Up Ft. Justice
WORST—Sao Paolo Ft. Anitta
Score: 6.3/10
OVERVIEW:
As you can most likely tell when you read on, the more I listened, the more dragged on and bored I felt. That may be because of my brain, or it may not, but that's how it felt. It's one of those albums where one song is great and the next is mid, and there are a few terrible ones. This truly was a roller coaster of ups and downs; overall, it was an interesting listen. You can tell he went for less of a mainstream pop feel and tried to make a genuine record for himself. I highly respect that! And thankfully this was better than the main singles released, so even if you didn't like 'Timeless' or 'Sao Paolo,' there could easily be something here for you! I would've liked more organisation and, in some parts, more entertaining production, but I'll still rate this as a decent album! So cheers to the end of The Weeknd's trilogy and welcome Abel Tesfaye! ✌️
TRACK BY TRACK REVIEW:
1. Wake Me Up Ft. Justice (9/10)
Amazing album intro; it captured The Weeknd's character really well and marked a legendary start to 'Hurry Up Tomorrow.' The merge into a 'Thriller'-like beat is super clean and smooth but felt similar to the original 'Thriller,' and if it was sampled, then samples are kind of lazy, which stops it from deserving a 10. But still, the whole song felt flawless in its production and gave a booming opening to what I hope is an amazing album!
2. Cry For Me (7/10) [UPGRADED SCORE +1]
Previous listen:
Every single release pushed on "Hurry Up Tomorrow" feels so different from the last that I have no idea how The Weeknd's going to pull this album off. In the short term, this was an enjoyable song; it felt dark and gave a pop-R&B entrance, which was appealing and felt intriguing to the upcoming songs, although this wasn't the best thing I've heard and felt it could've done with a catchier hook. It definitely wasn't a disappointment for my expectations.
Added:
Listening to this with track one really built a moment much more and made me like this track more.
3. I can't f****** sing (4/10)
This is a short snippet of the time Abel lost his voice at a concert as he says that he can't sing. I don't get why you would want to include this in the album.
4. Sao Paulo Ft. Anitta (2/10)
First of all, I have a strong dislike for whoever made this music video. It started with a woman (Anitta, I presume) walking down the street with a mask on her, which had a connected curly tube to it (I'm describing music, ok? Not props) and then she pukes up on the street (I have a fear of puke and even seeing it, so no trigger jumpscares me), and then a baby bump appeared on the woman, and she fell/went into a fountain where she showcased the baby bump, and then the baby bump grew a mouth, and The Weeknd started speaking out of it. In the next scene, the woman was then licking a car whilst twerking, and the camera zoomed into the mouth multiple times (for some reason it had crust all around its mouth), and then the video ended with the most horrible transition into a baby bump and the mouth. This song was supposed to be scary for Halloween and even teased as a horror music video multiple times, but it was scary as a Tesco manager. The sad thing is The Weeknd sounds like he actually tried to make this scary. This marks the first collaboration between the two artists on a Brazilian funk song, which hopefully doesn't make the album cut as it doesn't fit the first two singles style. In fact, nothing is slotting here, and the lyrics are all about "doing it" rather than giving a spooky mood.
5. Until We're Skin And Bones (9/10)
Amazing 23-second segment; it sounds as majestic as the 21st Century Fox intro; it sounds like the start of an intergalactic space movie and puts you in such a mood!
6. Baptised In Fear (6.5/10)
The synthesiser did a great job! The beat was simple but a good follow-up; shame it didn't live up to a bigger extent; it felt like it needed more to it.
7. Open Hearts (8/10)
This went down perfectly with the music video; it felt like an easy pop record to get a smash Billboard hit, but I respect The Weeknd's choice to take bolder moves with experimental music to give a new atmosphere. This was a great track and gave a nostalgic feel despite there being nothing nostalgic in the track.
8. Opening Night (3/10)
So many random noises that feel misplaced and just there for no reason; what even is this?
9. Reflections Laughing Ft. Florence + the Machine and Travis Scott (3/10)
These three do not go well together or have any chemistry; there was nothing to take from this, and every artist here is not giving their full. I don't even get why having Scott's autotuned plop of a verse was put on this.
10. Enjoy The Show (4/10)
The lyrics to this were crazy; The Weeknd claimed he isn't going to make it past 34, which, if true, means he's going to die within the next twelve days. He also speaks about overdosing and more. To the vocals, Future was a terrible choice; he sounded like Rod Wave on 'Last Lap,' and the whole song just felt sluggish and slow. I wanted it to end; it doesn't capture any moment apart from the sad thought of depression.
11. Given Up On Me (7.3/10)
Now this is better! The synths heightened energy with claps that blend into a whirlwind of a flavourful production. This is more than experimental; this is genius. It also caught the emotional aspects of the music well too!
12. I can't wait to get there (6/10).
It starts off nice, simple, and slow before moving into more juicier R&B chords. It's alright and a decent song that fits well; it just feels like The Weeknd could've given more energy to the song.
13. Timeless Ft. Playboi Carti (3/10)
This feels so weak for a main single; the production doesn't carry, and the song fails miserably. If I had to compliment this, then I guess the two artists match each other, but still, it's not solid and most definitely overhyped.
14. Niagara Falls (5.5/10)
It's nothing special from the rest I've seen. I don't know if it's just me, but this is kind of boring. It has effort, and I can see the clean production changes, but it just doesn't click for me.
15. Take Me Back to LA (6.5/10)
This gave late-night driving and felt like the pop elements flowed through more; I just wish the start was more consistent instead of the unsteady verses.
16. Big Sleep Ft. Giorgio Moroder (8/10)
Not only was every choice chosen on this song interesting and gave a whole new sound, but it's also really catchy from the first listen, the electronics mixed with the oomph given by the song; I love it!
17. Give Me Mercy (7.5/10)
I like how some of the layers felt like a song that was supposed to be traditional, like someone making a very natural instrumental style; this sounds like a good backbeat for Christian praise music.
18. Drive (7.3/10)
So calm, the beat was a nice landing for the Weeknd, and it just has a special place in my heart.
19. The Abyss Ft. Lana del rey (6.5/10)
It felt like a completion to a long story, and Lana's vocals were elegant and holded fabulously! ?☺️
20. Red Terror (4.5/10)
Pretty creepy music video ?. It doesn't get me in the trance state it wants me to, and by now the album is feeling tiring and too long. Not impressed.
21. Without A Warning (5.5/10)
The dark, mysterious feel was my favourite part; still not really bussin though; you need to hit the spot better, Mr. Tesfaye.
22. Hurry Up Tomorrow (7/10)
So down-to-earth and refreshing… I adore this beautiful ending; it's light and touching.
BEST—Wake Me Up Ft. Justice
WORST—Sao Paolo Ft. Anitta
Score: 6.3/10