It’s been a while since an album moved me to the point where I felt inspired to write a review. I don’t believe in same-day or even same-weekend reviews. Giving the music time to reveal itself to you and yourself time to absorb it should be paramount for critics. The Weeknd’s fifth album Dawn FM has sat with me for nearly a month, with each listen peeling back another layer in the immersive musical experience. Conceptually, Dawn FM is a retro-pop radio station in purgatory, guiding the listener on a thoughtful, melodic reflection as we drift towards the afterlife. Through thumping kicks, decadent synths, and a blissed-out Jim Carrey serving as our resident dystopian DJ, Dawn FM finds pop music’s antihero claiming his rightful place on the throne.
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While the album’s predecessor After Hours was riddled with darker tones, Dawn FM incorporates a glimmer of light into the lyrics and instrumentals. The Weeknd employs pop powerhouse Max Martin and experimental electronic musician Daniel Lopatin, aka Oneohtrix Point Never, as executive producers. Serving as a sort of angel and devil perched on Abel’s shoulders, the two craft beautiful soundscapes comprised of glittering effects with a fair amount of abstraction. The result is an energetic singular sound fueling the catchy dance tracks. Surprisingly, this hyper-focus on 80’s electropop doesn’t grow stale across the fifty-one-minute runtime. One of the keys to great pop music is an anthemic, earworm chorus, and there are several of them here. From the lead single “Take My Breath” to “Sacrifice” to “Out of Time,” Abel’s knack for writing great hooks is on full display.
Though the idea of an album constructed as a radio station is not necessarily original, Abel injects enough of his own perspective and creativity to breathe new life into the concept. Each interlude and commercial ad has its own unique backing track, further immersing us in our journey to the afterlife. Moreover, Dawn FM‘s role in this latest trilogy from The Weeknd makes the overarching narrative all the more interesting. Where After Hours saw a shift in The Weeknd’s style, Dawn FM is the culmination of an electropop revival with a sleek, modern punch.
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Foremost, the deadpan vocal delivery on “Gasoline” is a refreshing change of pace as Abel fantasizes about setting himself on fire. This metaphorical self-destruction, along with lyrics like “It’s 5 a.m. / I’m nihilist / I know there’s nothing after this” harkens back to his musical roots as the patron saint of drug-fueled nightlife.
Across the album, the details, both sonically and aesthetically, are incredibly meticulous. On the outro to “How Do I Make You Love Me?” Abel’s syncopated breathing disappears as we smoothly transition into “Take My Breath.” His gasps then reverberate over the striding beat as he fights for air. On the cover, an aged Abel appears lost, though a hint of light over his shoulder alludes to the afterlife that awaits.
Arguably what’s most impressive about Dawn FM is the maturity in Abel’s perspective. Purgatory is a time for individuals to expiate their sins, and Abel is not afraid to highlight his own shortcomings in relationships. Where CLB saw Drake continue to place blame on his partners and ignore the common denominator in his poor relationships, Dawn FM shows growth and the more nuanced perspectives that come with age. “Every time you try to fix me / I know you’ll never find that missing piece / When you cry and say you miss me / I lie and tell you that I’ll never leave,” he admits on “Sacrifice.”
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Personal reflection appears as a common theme across the album. On the interlude “A Tale By Quincy,” legendary producer Quincy Jones speaks on how childhood trauma ravaged his adult relationships. From this point, the project ushers in smoother chords on a series of ballads sweeping the middle section. On the shimmering “Out of Time,” a distressed Abel realizes the mistakes he’s made in a past relationship. He croons for a second chance over a sample of “Midnight Pretenders” by Tomoko Aran, a classic Japanese city pop song.
For the first time in The Weeknd’s chronicles of debauchery, there’s a sense of fear in his voice. He cycles through feelings of jealousy and paranoia, contemplating a cynical disdain for romance and the almost inevitable dread. A feature from fellow lovesick star Tyler, the Creator (“Here We Go… Again”) though brief, is incredibly dense with substance. The Weeknd and Tyler discuss their apprehension for the dark side of love, but it’s the intoxicating beauty of it that keeps their hearts sanguine. The heart’s neverending search for that beauty is the driving force of Dawn FM.
The album’s only other feature comes from Lil Wayne on “I Heard You’re Married” where he and Abel dissect their feelings of being involved with a woman who’s already taken. For Lil Wayne, he continues his run of excellent features, reminding us that you know exactly what you’re getting when you hear that lighter flick and inhale.
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Sonically, the album ends on an angelic note with “Less Than Zero.” Like most of the album, the track navigates a duality of sorts. The upbeat synths feel like a victory lap, starkly contrasting lyrical themes of remaining valueless in the eyes of his old flame. Climbing keys give way to another anthemic chorus as he belts “I can’t get it out of my head / No, I can’t shake this feeling that crawls in my bed,” delivering one final moment to dance our hearts out.
The most powerful moment of the album, however, isn’t found in a chorus or riff. On the outro track “Phantom Regret,” Jim Carrey recites a winding spoken word that comes across as a final prayer. Carrey preaches the importance of letting go of regret in order to achieve true enlightenment. Reaching a divine land is only promised if you, yourself are a divine soul. Or in Jim’s words, “You gotta be Heaven to see Heaven.” It’s a poem that you simply must hear in context to fully appreciate.
As a whole, Dawn FM captures a fleeting sense of euphoria by balancing dark and light, fear and hope. Amidst this new trilogy, The Weeknd is churning out narrative-driven albums with cinematic visuals to match. Thus cementing Abel as one of the most conceptually creative artists in music today. Dawn FM is enchanting, grandiose, moody, groovy, and one of my favorite albums in a very long time.
As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. How are you feeling about The Weeknd’s Dawn FM? Lastly, SZA Shares “I Hate U” Visualizer Starring LaKeith Stanfield.
