Review: The Weeknd – House of Balloons
The Weeknd - House of Balloons (2011) [Self-Released] // Grade: A
R&B is a genre of fantasy. Artists like The-Dream use elaborate story lines to spin situational tales of high drama and sexual conquest. The subjects of the songs take on distinct personalities, forming a cast of characters. Often, these characters are built around emotional stereotypes: the jealous girlfriend, the cheating husband, the seductive stranger. Rarely though, does R&B internalize. Arriving in a haze of black & white imagery, Canadian project The Weeknd delivers relatable R&B that hits deep, and strikes personal on their mixtape House of Balloons.
House of Balloons is an immersive and sometimes uncomfortable exploration of the male ego. The Weeknd’s aesthetics are stark. Black & white imagery expresses equal parts strength and internal conflict. Women seduce with their curves, their faces obstructed from view. The lyrics are considered analogies; sex is a drug more powerful than any other, all-consuming and internally destructive. “He’s what you want… he’s what you want…he’s what you want…not what you need..not what you need…not what you need…” echoes off into the fray. These are not thoughts of remorse for actions. This is male bravado, bold and honest.
The sound of House of Balloons is equally slick and conflicted. Rumbling guitar and lonely drum claps congregate with smoky beat lines. Pacing is slow, drawn out in long strokes with few peaks. It’s the feeling of wandering in your own head, stopping every so often to replay a scene and then walking on, a spectator in your own life. And that’s exactly why people can’t stop talking about The Weeknd. House of Balloons is a deep dive into the personal voids we hope our outward confidence hides. It’s a dark and fearless look into seduction, gender roles, aesthetics and vulnerability, and the undeniable bond they share.
- Scrooge McFuck
