"I hear something." 



!!!

I am SO EXCITED for the new Weeknd LP. Damn. I really hope it arrives soon. In the meantime, why not listen along to Muggins' Magical XO playlist?  

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4gLfOTNJj0WC2xKbOSqr9y?si=2cQXsiSIQ5KTvSBVfrxBBA

From The Weeknd's debut Mixtape, House of Balloons, this song - which shares the title of the album/with Glass Table Girls - is one of the few early Weeknd songs that Abel still regularly performs in concerts. 

"This is fun, fun, fun, fun, fun..." 

https://open.spotify.com/track/50iiDJGpAPdr2VTrz999XA?si=Sst84_hHTsuJWavmSY7-LA

A song in two sections, the first being delirious, drugged up but with the beauty of Abel's voice cutting through, in a way that is still characteristic of his sound today. This duality would go on to inform the title of his 2015 mega hit, Beauty Behind the Madness. The second section sees The Weeknd go dark in a rap style. 

"I heard he do drugs now.
You heard wrong
I been on it for a minute
We just never act the fool
That's just how we fucking living
And when we act the fool
It's probably cause we mixed it."

Bought The Twilight Sad's live at oran mor on vinyl yesterday and it turns tough songs about horrible experiences into wrought ones on an acoustic guitar. Gut wrenching and essential Scottish pop for those who are brave enough.

Call Out My Name, from the exquisite My Dear Melancholy, from 2018, is a very personal song about the pain and heartbreak that Abel felt when his relationship with Selena Gomez ended. 

"We found each other
I helped you out of a broken place
You gave me comfort
But falling for you was my mistake
I put you on top, I put you on top
I claimed you so proud and openly
And when times were rough, when times were rough
I made sure I held you close to me
So call out my name (call out my name)
Call out my name when I kiss you so gently
I want you to stay (I want you to stay)
I want you to stay, even though you don't want me
Girl, why can't you wait? (Why can't you wait, baby?)
Girl, why can't you wait 'til I fall out of love?
Won't you call out my name? (Call out my name)
Girl, call out my name, and I'll be on my way and
I'll be on ..."

This song to me defines The Weeknd's sound and appeal in a way just as strong as Wicked Games did in 2011. The album is a bit of a throwback to the sound of Kiss Land and Trilogy, while also fitting in very nicely with his more Pop orientated output from 2015/2016. I am intrigued to hear whether Chapter VI will be influenced by the incredibly positive reception that My Dear Melancholy, got. Going on the strength of both Heartless and Blinding Lights, I would imagine that it will be something of a combination of sounds, in a similar way to Starboy, which melded the Noir R&B of his earlier work and his Pop sensibilities very well. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4ZoCHID9GI

Yep.

The fourth collaboration (Prisoner, Party Monster, Stargirl Interlude) between The Weeknd and Lana Del Rey, Lust For Life is the best by far. Manages to juggle the two personas of The Weeknd and Lana and find a satisfying common ground. A love song for and from often (or seemingly?) cynical people. 

"I think I've been in Hollywood for too long..." 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP4eqhWc7sI

One of two songs co-produced/written by Daft Punk on Starboy, I Feel It Coming is a beautiful, retro-ish sounding love song. As already mentioned above, Starboy was incredibly good at melding the dark and light sides of The Weeknd - his Noir R&B at play, but also a side that can do a straight up love song. The video is really cool too. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFLhGq0060w

Only a few minutes in so might be terrible, but I reckon a few of you will find something to enjoy in this

cockbeard wrote:

Only a few minutes in so might be terrible, but I reckon a few of you will find something to enjoy in this

Ah excellent, I'll give this a watch tomorrow. Thanks!

The Ride is the closing song on Drake's Take Care, and was reportedly his favourite on the album. It features a hook and chorus by The Weeknd, and in Muggins' opinion, Drake's best lyrical outing. Absolutely hypnotic, beautiful, inspiring, insightful and verging on profound. Love it. 

"Yeah
I hate when, I hate when people say they feel me man
I hate that shit
It'll be a long time before y'all feel me, if ever
For real

You won't feel me 'til everybody
Say they love you, but it's not love
And your suit is oxblood
And the girl you fucking hates you
And your friends faded off shots of
What you ordered to forget about the game that you on top of
Your famous girlfriend's ass keep getting thicker than a plot does
And when you forget it, that's when she pop up
And you got a drop but you ride around with the top up
Or get three SUVs for niggas dressed like refugees
And deal with the questions about all your excessive needs
And you do dinners at French Laundry in Napa Valley
Scallops and glasses of Dolce, that shit's right up your alley
Yeah, you see a girl and you ask about her
Bitches smiling at you, it must be happy hour
They put the cloth across your lap soon as you sat down
It's feeling like you own every place you choose to be at now
Walking through airport security with your hat down
Instead of getting a pat down, they just keep on
Saying that they feel you, nigga
Yeah
It's been too long
Been way too long
I've been faded too long, oh
I've been faded too long, oh
I've been faded too long, oh
Why won't it stop? The ride
Why won't it stop? The ride
You won't feel me 'til you want it so bad you tell yourself you're in it
And tell the world around you that your paperwork is finished
And steal your mother's debit cards so you maintain an image
And ride around in overpriced rental cars that ain't tinted
You need a minute? You got it
You know it's real when your latest nights are your greatest nights
The sun is up when you get home, that's just a way of life
Apartment 1503, some couches and paintings
When you record with two others that want the same things, yeah
It start to feel better than home feels
And so you up there every night, you swear you getting close
That champagne money was for gas and phone bills
But shit, you 'bout to spend it on what matters most
You drop a couple songs in hopes that you could be the nigga
And come out every night to let the city see they nigga
Telling stories that nobody relate to
And even though they hate you
They just keep on telling you they feel you, nigga
Yeah
It's been too long, man
I've been faded too long, oh
I've been faded too long, oh
I've been faded too long, oh
Why won't it stop? The ride
Why won't it stop? The ride (uh)
I haven't been inside Terminal 1 and 3 in so long
I'm driving right up to it now
Make sure you got your coat on
That runway can be cold especially after summer's rolled on
And all you knew is alcohol and city lights and slow songs
For four months out the year, it's got you asking whats good at home
What's good at home?
The same hoes are still at it, I shoulda known
My young niggas popping M's and sipping dirty Jones
Problem children that all be repping October's Own
Brand new girl and she still growing
Brand new titties, stitches still showing
Yeah, and she just praying that it heals good
I'm 'bout to fuck and I'm just praying that it feels good
I really don't know much but, shit, I know a secret
They say more money more problems, my nigga don't believe it
I mean, sure, there's some bills and taxes I'm still evading
But I blew six million on myself and I feel amazing
Young money maker, season ticket holder
Season switching over
I come through them bitches still scorching as if I didn't notice
You niggas getting older, I see no threat in Yoda
I'm out here messing over the lives of these niggas
That couldn't fuck with my freshman floater
Look at that fucking chip on your nephew's shoulder
My sophomore, I was all for it, they all saw it
My juniors and senior will only get meaner
Take care, nigga
I'm still faded, faded, faded (the ride)
I'm still faded, faded, faded
Why won't it stop? The ride
Why won't it stop? The ride
Why won't it stop? Oh, the ride..."

https://open.spotify.com/track/4xRxYWgAtL6pzRz94GlZlA?si=EZufXrKuR3y08yHABuhtnQ

Thanks for joining me, Muggins, for all this Weeknd chatter!

From The Vulture:
The 100 Greatest Emo Songs of All Time: A sweeping look at rock’s most misunderstood genre.

Skip the pseudy preamble and dig into the write-ups of their top 100 picks. I expected a car crash, but it’s actually not a bad selection. Some great stuff, some shite, but it’s a fairly balanced overview of an unfairly-maligned scene. My only big criticism is that it’s a myopically US-centric list.

That sounds Noir as fuck. I'm so in.

Our YouTube algorithm is on fire tonight.