‘Can’t Feel My Face’ is the kind of funky,
feelgood love song that momentarily restores your faith in the radio. Sadly
it’s also the only song of it’s kind on this album.
The rest see Canadian r&b singer Abel
Tesfaye (AKA The Weeknd) continuing his love for moody odes to self-indulgence,
only this time coated with a sterile pop sheen. The instrumentals do try to be diverse,
some borrowing from eighties synthpop such as ‘In The Night’, others from modern
trap such as ‘Often’. There’s even an acoustic duet with Ed Sheeran shoehorned
in the mix. However, this sonic smorgasbord is rendered flat and monotonous due to
the forgettable vocal melodies and moany lyrics layered over the top. These
tracks seem to have none of the catchiness or energy of ‘Can’t Feel My Face’, Abel
resorting to a soft whimper whilst whining about the amount of non-committal
sex he has. Indeed, clearly some listeners enjoy Abel’s confessions of a man-slut,
but I am neither seduced nor sympathetic. Instead I am just left bored, and sex
should never be boring.
★★☆☆☆
TRACK TASTER: