I literally can’t listen to anything else right now except Dawn FM. The vibe it gives speaks to me perfectly at this point in my life and I can’t find anything that comes close. Masterpiece
After I heard phantom regret it really clicked for me and I feel the exact same way as you. I think we all need to accept the scars in our life and in society and try to heal from them. A true masterpiece and I think everyone needs music like this during these hard points in life. Hope everything is ok with you btw and I wish you the best year!
Yeah this album grew on me after a only merely solid first listen. And now I've been obsessing over it non-stop for the last 4 days. And even aspects of it that I wasn't the craziest on have grown and it just flows so naturally that listening to it from start to finish is incredibly easy to do. After hours was my favorite album of 2020 and this was the kind of follow-up I didn't know I needed
It plays as a better album start to finish than After Hours. After Hours had better singles that could play alone on the radio but Dawn FM is a better concept and execution as a whole. Definitely took a listen or two, but Less Than Zero is beautiful, Here We Go...Again is great and the Tyler feature hits so clean. Even Gasoline grew on me with the lower register he sings with. The Weeknd just keeps getting better and I think Dawn FM is just another step in his natural progression he's been pushing towards since Star Boy.
I loved the singles from After Hours more but I can’t lie that this is true. The coherence in Dawn FM is just so well executed. Would definitely spend more time listening to Dawn FM’s album as a whole.
Exactly. This is an album that plays best as an album IMO. I think it was designed that way and even if you shuffle it then it plays and flows like a GTA radio station while joy riding. It's arrangement is masterful. OPN came through so solid. The intro was moving towards the light of the unknown and then with Gasoline the trance like bouncing chords gave this feeling of moving through a tunnel like a dark whole or a ripple in time but a feeling of traveling through a sort of long portal nonetheless before arriving in a new world (as if in a video game) and then the album settles into this idea of Purgatory as a place to explore. It's very playful.
This is the content this channel should be. It’s not just a review, it’s a discussion of it. Feels like talking to a friend about it. Fantano always sounds like a review and doesn’t feel like talking to a friend about an album. So keep this up! This is your best content!! A lot of people are on YT Music Reviews because they have no one to discuss the music with. To talk to about it. Don’t need a critical analysis lecture but just talking about the album and it’s greater context is great. That’s the niche. That’s what you can fill and did with this. Truly a big opportunity here to stand out. Combine your music knowledge, passion into easy to listen to reviews that feel like talking to your best friends about an album.
@@Volksgeist sure. From a YT meta perspective I think this is your advantage. You have the aesthetics, the flow, the quiet collectiveness and music knowledge and when you talk about an album like this in common words and such it’s just a perfect balance. I really can’t stand most music reviewers cause it sounds like a pretentious lecture, you put what people FEEL about this in context. Really like it.
Hey man, thanks for this comment! I was just about to start a brand new Music channel in Czech republic, where live. We have no creators here who talk about music in general, who give reviews on new albums, who talk about pop/R&B and so on.. your comment made me smile, because that is what I was thinking. No music lecture, no theory s*hit, just the context and basic meaning (consequences). Thank you one more time and have a nice day. 🖐🏼 I hope people will appreciate my content and commemtary, because like I said - I Will be the first one in my country who Is going to talk about music, albums, festivals, songa and so on :D I'm not a musician, but I love to talk! And because I have no friends, this is a good way how to share my opinions And maybe someone would feel the same about that exact song, album or whatever. 🙏🏼
Idk if I fully agree wit this being a "happy" album, I still think Starboy was his happiest album, dat album ended wit I Feel It Coming which was Abel finally lettin his past go & allowing himself to love and be loved, meanwhile this album ends wit Less Than Zero, which is literally about him feelin less than good enough.
It's not entirely a "happy" album, I'd say it's more, bittersweet, especially near the end with the song you mentioned, Less than Zero. It's definitely not as sufficating and brooding as the last album, for sure.
The whole album is about self acceptance before he gets to the light. Less than zero is a happy song just because he accepts himself before Jim Carey’s outro (which is all about accepting yourself, not having regrets, etc). If you listen to the lyrics, he says I try to fight it but I rather be free, meaning, he knows he can’t change himself and he’s tried hiding and fighting it. He accepts that, and he’s finally free now. This album can go both ways, it can be bleak (nihilism from gasoline, for example and drug references) or celebratory, according to the weeknd. After life can go two ways too, hell or heaven. Depends on how you look at it.
@@gskillzzmtl but is the album about Weeknd dying or is it us the listener dying & this is jus the radio station 4 us in between states of existence.? because if its the former, that immersion gets ruined on here we go again where he braggin bout his girl bein a movie star lol ijs
@@jjarvicious a lot of artists that make music with a conceptual album, they don’t just remain in the concept, they also mix lyrics with their current or past situation too. But the whole theme should have a certain concept, IF they made an album with a concept. This album is about the weeknd dying and trying to accept who he is as he’s going to the after life. The gasoline music video kind of shows what’s going on with the album. An old Abel trying to prevent a young Abel from committing the “sins”.
On a second listen, Dawn FM reminded me of how Kissland was, not sonically but narrative wise, Dawn FM is the continuation of After Hours as was Kissland was the continuation of Trilogy. I feel like Dawn FM strived more to be a good body of work rather than focusing on the radio hits like After Hours did. I like Dawn FM but I was really looking forward to hearing the song that he previewed in the After Hours/Dawn tour trailer, hope he puts it on a deluxe version
Yeah I dislike how people are like "this doesn't have the hit power that After Hours did" because why is that the focus? Shouldn't artists be worried about just making good music? I also really disagree with that notion because Sacrifice and Less than Zero are absolutely hits.
I didn’t become a fan of The Weeknd until Starboy. I absolutely love the direction he’s going. He bodies the Depeche Mode style on Gasoline and it was instantly a favorite. I guess fans of his earlier stuff were hoping for more “toxic” Abel. We need more optimism in the 2020s
Damn same here. I was a fan since starboy but I stayed because of after hours. His music is so captivating and I love most of his projects. Im really satisfied with Dawn fm.
YES that's the sound I was thinking of yet couldn't put my finger on. I LOVED Gasoline. That vocal part instantly set me up for the unexpected on this album but the rest of the album wasn't as experimental as I found it just to be a joy ride from start to finish. I have had it on repeat as I did with DONDA in 2K21 and I can't imagine an album topping DAWN FM in 2K22 and it's only January.
You can never judge an album on just one listen. I love how the album is a journey packed with imagery and changes in tone as it progresses. Second half of the album is amazing, I think the first half is great too but quite busy sonically but probably intentionally so, going from full-on and hectic in the first half to finding peace and clear-headedness in the second. Don't necessarily agree with what its saying doctrinally but definitely appreciate its end-of-the-road hope
bruuh starry eyes is one of the most emotional moments of the album, that moment from "let me love you" to the end of the song hits haard, plus that section of the album with the best friends-is there someone else-starry eyes transitions is immactulate. Other than that, yeah I give it 8.5 as well, and agreed with the wayne feature
When he said that about starry etes and is there someone else I almost unsubscribed lol. I liked his after hours breakdown but when people say stuff life that it's hard for me to take their music opinion serious.
When I first heard "Gasoline" I didn't really like it due to not being used to him using his lower register, but I think it's a favorite of mine. After seeing the cover art and hearing the radio version "Take My Breath" I almost wrote this album off, but I'm glad I didn't!! I'm so I doubted this album.
It's a stark contrast to After Hours for sure. That album was his darkest yet; it felt like I was sinking the entire time. Dawn FM is by far his brightest, at least by The Weeknd's standards.
Been a fan for a long time and I have to agree with you that this is my second favorite album from him, next to Trilogy. These two gives off a certain vibe that you only get when you listen to it as a whole. After Hours was amazing but sometimes I find myself skipping tracks on that one. There were some songs that overstay a bit. Anyway, this album will most likely put off rap and hip hop heads cause it is definitely out of their genre. Synth and 80s New Wave fans tho? My dad grew up with rave and making him listen to gasoline for the first time was enough to bring out the New Wave fan in him. It's an amazing album honestly.
This and kiss Land are my favorites from him. After Hours had that novelty that will never be beaten but I feel like the sound on this album is the distilled and refined pop thing hes been reaching for since Kiss Land. I love it and it sounds amazing and so clean!
Kendrick and Freddie Gibbs are both dropping this year and definitely have a better batting average than the weeknd, but Kendrick’s last album wasn’t so great and Gibbs isn’t working with one producer this time, so you may be right. Interested to see where they go creatively.
With all due respect, in fact the toned down intro of Gasoline got me into this album 😅 such a wonderful album! I really relate to what you said about giving this album re-spin. This kind of masterpiece requires more than 1/2 cover cover spins tho. I also like how you specifically mentioned OPN, since his influence as well as part has been colossal, apparently. Respect for you dude! I really like how you put out content. Big fan! Edit: I also loved how you picked your favs and least fav. That song I heard you're married is my least fav too! Amazing how you mentioned the influence of 80s which was dripping from this album right from the intro. Cheers!
Honestly I'm more proud of OPN being able to produce an entire pop album with one of the biggest artists in the world. Dude went from making experimental masterpieces such as replica and r + 7 to churning out beautiful sounding radio-ready hits. One of the greatest of all time. Oh and btw he technically created vaporwave back in 2009 when he uploaded "angel" and "nobody here" to the sunsetcorp youtube channel.
Max Martin x OPN was the producer team-up I didn’t know I wanted until Dawn FM. Max was on After Hours’s glossy pop hits like Save Your Tears and Blinding Lights, and OPN was on the more experimental soundcraft-y songs like the Repeat After Me interlude and the album closer Until I Bleed Out. Them coming together to co-executive produce Dawn FM with the Weeknd was brilliant. Can’t wait to see who Abel will recruit for his next album.
I had to listen to the album for a good few days to really understand it and realise the meaning behind it. I honestly think it doesn't match after hours but that is a hard album to top. As a body of work I personally think it's a brilliant album. However I do understand where the criticism comes frrom.
The claim that it grows on you is the most true thing that can be said about the album. My first listen I found some of the songs quite good and was a bit let down by how hyped I was about it but even by second listen I was in love. First I only really liked the first part of the album up to Out of Time and other than that I only liked Is There Someone Else. However as I kept listening probably by my tenth time hearing the album I fell in love with the second half. While it seems many people disagree with me while Sacrifice may be my favorite song my second favorite has to go to Best Friends. Something about it just really works for me and it went from being one of my least favorites to one that I truly enjoy. Also I’m sorry but I don’t get everyone saying less than zero is their favorite honestly it is probably my least. While I love Abel’s voice in it the butterfly synth really ticks me off and ruins it.
Interesting that you mentioned Kanye's recent album, well not that funny, but as someone who has listened to The Weeknd since the days of blogs like 2 Dope Boys and various RAP PAGES picking him up with the 'Trilogy' tapes and very little information being available about him This is my favorite album of all time. It's an easy soft semi trippy listen. HARDCORE Weekend fans will probably be the most disappointed. Not enough sad here for them. They have overdosed on the sad. I never connected with the darkest stuff besides house of Balloons and After Hours. Dawn FM is the light at the end of the dark tunnel of the Weeknd's career. Then what comes after the light in this story line? Just starting over? The light beyond the light? Dreams? I have no idea. I saw a lot of itunes reviews that seemed to be written from young fans which didn't like the 80s influence. I think he took those influences and they made sweet love with modern production chops and the Thriller inspired haunted radio station gluing together with the lovely healing voice of Jim Carey (even if it was creepy if you listen to it it's kinda deep) and after wards made me feel like the first time I had gone to Disney World I the feeling of falling in love for the first time and seeing fireworks. Man I just love this album so much it's so simple in a sense but also I don't think he could have made this album without everything that came before it. So to me this is his mangum opus for sure. It's his Thriller. 11/11
@@shakaj1525 Yea I feel like there's that dark aura that's so associated with his music and since people really STILL no very little about him which is incredible in the internet age I didn't realize that this is part of a trilogy. The hardcore fans made the guess before it was official but Abel just tweeted that this in fact part of a trilogy. He asked do you realize you are experiencing a new trilogy? Something along those lines. So this must be purgatory and if that's purgatory it's a pretty dope waiting room. I can imagine the sonic differences in heaven but I just cant imagine what hell Weeeknd would create. I think a paradise album would just be one eternal high spaced out ambient production with angelic choruses and speaking all about love. I picture Brian Eno vibes textures over smoother grooves featuring shimmery and floaty production. An actual hell is too grim to imagine to me personally. Also with this concept that the devil is this attractive angel which appears like a sheep in wolfs clothing I think there could be some play Abel makes where After Life is a double disc and it begs the user the question what is heaven and what is hell? Perhaps neither album will be labeled as such besides "After Life". Also with Jim Carey saying "You gotta be Heaven to see Heaven" to end the album on Phantom Regret this presents an interesting idea for the way that Abel may be going about encapsulating heaven/hell. By that logic of heaven well does it mean you have to be hell to see hell? Perhaps this life is a hell enough of it's own so maybe both parts will just be whatever Abel sees as paradise/heaven/afterlife being for himself personally because aside from what we hear the things that we picture as paradise can be universal but also personal in our own imaginations. The contrast of heaven and hell is clear but the existence of heaven seems more accepted than the existence of hell besides for the worst of people. After Life isn't even here yet and my head is already spinning.
@@exzisd Hhahahha i feel u and yeah i saw the tweet. A double disc would be cool tbh with the heaven and hell as u mentioned. Very interesting to see how this will play out. A hell album would satisfy his fans that want the dark stuff if he does it right. But yeah i dunno gotta wait and see. There was an add for "after life" in Every Angel is Terrifying 🤔
I LOVED HIS VOICE ON GASOLINE! It was so unexpected for me that it set the album that it was going to wear it's inspirations on it's sleeves. Aside from MJ, OPN, Daft Punk, that voice reminded me of Ian Curtis of Joy Division or any number of groups of that era. I couldn't quite put a finger on it. Maybe a bit of Talking Heads? Production also made me think of some of Yellow Magic Orchestra's Gems. I feel like he fused all the best elements together here and made a sort of Disney type of Happily Ever After false conclusion if it weren't for Phantom Regret by Jim and now knowing for sure it's part of a trilogy for After Life. I think these final albums will be his magnum opus if this album is any indication. I also feel that as he came into the music world with 3 revolutionary R&B albums he will "leave" the industry with 3 magnum opus albums after having redefined the R&B and pop genres in a 'soft retirement'. I have a feeling these albums are mostly complete or the ideas for the staple tracks and themes of the songs is already determined. I can't wait for the next but I'm loving this purgatory for now.
@@exzisd Hell would be difficult to imagine so it would be impressive if he could. but he has some pretty dark tracks already. But yeah maybe not on that level. Heaven i would imagine are gospel or dreamy wonderland type records and love records like u said, maybe choir implementations etc kinda like on Hurricane
This is exactly how I thought about it. You physically cannot compare After Hours to Dawn FM, or really any of his other projects, maybe Starboy. When I first went in, my brain was so sucked in on After Hours (as I had really hyper fixated on it) that I didn’t give it a chance on the first listen, even complaining that I didn’t like it altogether and regretting spending my money on the CD Pre-Order. However, on the next day, being an oblivious fangirl and streaming it no matter the quality of the album, my entire view changed on it. The vaporwave, 80s synth, ethereal production is very different from After Hours, and it’s very much so, as you described, a subtle journey. It’s a type of album that might not click at first, but then you’ll start to get one song stuck in your head, and end up listening to the whole album all over again. This album is stunning. Sorry for the long comment, I could talk about Abel and his music for absolute ages. I love these kinds of videos. love u :))
To me it was my experience with the album was weird. On the first listen I thought the first 5 tracks were mid but the other songs were amazing (except I heard ur married). On my second listen the next day I did not enjoy the album cuz I was being stupid and expecting Abel to do trap shit for some reason, prolly cuz I was not in the mood to hear some happy pop - rnb music, totally me being stupid. On the third listen I paid more focus to everything and enjoyed everything (except that song Wayne was on), the production and the choruses were really captivating and enjoyable. Then I listened to it directly after listening to After Hours and it just made me happy for Abel and I loved the album. Overall, I loved the album, Abel's lower voice on Gasoline has grown on me and I quite like it, Jim Carry is my favorite feature, my favorite song is Less Than Zero, favorite Abel verse is the first verse on Here We Go Again Would give it 8/10 too (Just cuz Im not much into the 80s disco pop songs like Take My Breath and Sacrifice)
One of the greatest aspects of this album to me is the vocal mix. In my opinion, it's literally perfect. Flawless. He's so clear, so crisp. On every song. Especially when you compare it to After Hours, which is a great album, but the difference is super noticeable to me.
After a few listens I couldn't tell you which album I prefer between this and After Hours. It's great having such a popular artist release bodies of work of such high quality. This was a great review though, I think many people will relate to you being underwhelmed after the first listen but then having the album grow on you.
I absolutely agree with everything you said. As a big Weeknd fan doing a complete listen-through when it first dropped, I was a little disappointed, and it was for exactly the reasons you said. We became accustomed to his dark-ish undertones in his music and this album took a different route. After another listen through, though, it all really started to grow on me, especially when I listened closely with some headphones. I’m loving it now. As far as Abel’s character development, I’m trying to figure it out still. We know that The Weeknd persona ultimately met his death at the end of After Hours, as it ends with the song “Until I Bleed Out”. His vices were the death of him… Dawn FM seems more “happy” as you mentioned, but a lot of the content in the lyrics seem similar. Almost as if he’s acknowledging he can’t change his ways, but he is at peace with it… songs like Sacrifice, Less Than Zero, and Out of Time take me to that idea. His character won’t change, even through death, and that’s okay.
I’ve been talking about how underrated Oneohtrix Point Never is for YEARS! I think this is just the beginning for him and in order to fully understand and appreciate the production on Dawn FM it would probably be necessary to check out 0pn’s catalog.
When first listening to it I was a bit underwhelmed. I’m not sure what it was but the day after it came out I started to love it and after these few days of non stop playing it, I truly love this album
I’ll give it a 9. It would have been a 10/10 if it didn’t have the features, best friends was cut from the album, and if “is there someone else” “starry eyes” was one whole song.
No shit you weren’t going to like it the first listen. You were listening to it at midnight when you were probably sleepy and weren’t functioning 100%. I think this is Abel’s best album. He stopped doing what everybody was doing in this 80s type of modern pop/r&b and just did what he felt like doing. For Example, in “take my breath” he didn’t sing for half of the song and let the beat ride which is something I love because sometimes I just want to vibe with the music with no vocals. He gave the producers the spotlight more and I appreciate that. This album is more of a experience than anything which is why I think this is his best album of all time.
I didn't understand , what makes this album "Happy" for you brother??. He accepted where he is right now and "walked to the light" but i don't think that makes him happy, he just can't do anything about it.
I've learned that personally I never take my first thoughts in consideration, all my fav albums I didn't enjoyed at the first listening. Personally albums grow on me more as I listen, and if it can match some point of my life it's just perfection
Dawn FM is a collection of love poems from Old Age Abel to a Female Caretaker in the Old Age Home. Firstly this album is a fucking masterpiece!!! Secondly I’ve realized that the whole concept of the project is a relationship between old abel and a female presences who seems to be a caretaker Gasoline definitely my favorite.
That’s not the primary concept that he’s been promoting but now that I think about it and remembering the lyrics to songs like Gasoline, you might be on to something. However “you don’t wanna have sex as friends no more” seems a bit of a strange thing to say as an old man to a caretaker.
@@kidus_1010 Bro just look at the track list. Gasoline gave it away from me. It’s clearly about an old drugged up man in an old age home presumably with a budding relationship with someone else. Then we get HOW DO I MAKE YOU LOVE ME, SACRIFICES, OUT OF TIME. Bro the titles are telling a story of its own. In BEST FRIENDS the caretaker says she’ll agree to have sex with old abel but he better not catch feelings which he already has. Abel then asks Is There Someone Else as he feels the relationship is fading. He then pleads with her Don’t Break My Heart. Then Abel’s finds out in Heard You’re Married that there is someone else and he says he hates that he has to share her. Then He concludes that he knows he’ll never be enough for her in Less Than Zero This album is a musical journey😭😭
I wasn't a huge fan of gasoline because he decided to do something new... but it kinda grows on you. It's actually such a good song. I can feel what he tried to do, his old self (deep voice) being sad and depressing with his lyrics then his upbeat high voice is him now healed.
First listen: “wtf?” Second listen: “wait….that’s not bad” third listen: “AND I LOVE WHEN YOU WATCH ME SLEEEEP, YOU SPIN ME ROUND SO I CAN BREEEEEATHE” lol
Love these video essays man ! Keep making them , the internet needs good music content that goes a little bit deeper than Fantano's quick and snappy reviews (although you gotta love him , and the teeth)
My Dear Melancholy, was always my #1 soon as I accidentally stumbled upon it as I did schoolwork, letting songs play in the background. Then came Dawn FM... It's MDM's toughest opponent right now, for me of course.
I just love you reviews, you just see the things and have a thought of them just like mine. I think down FM is a grower, everytime i listen to, it becomes better and better. One of my favorite abel's projects.
really solid review, but anybody else think the editing on this video is unusually jarring? Like jump cuts from a medium close up to like a shot of this guy's freaking eyes lol
Some of the best electronic producers in the world came together to create this along with The Weeknd. This is so special, and the best thing he’s done since House of Balloons.
As a The Weeknd fan I would give it a 10/10 (first I gave it a 8/10 but I’ve listened through the album a couple of times now). But I will not accept anything lower than an 8. So 8.5 is a good score.
i feel like i’m the only person who liked Waynes vocals on i heard your married. for the production he was on, he did really well, better then i would’ve expected.
It is insane how all the people I know who are fans of The Weeknd (including myself) really did not like this album the first play through. But now absolutely love it!
I don’t think there’s any part on here that proves the point of this being a happier album than how Abel sounds on Here We Go…Again. That song has been stuck in my head for days. The production and instrumentals are so glittery and amazing and I haven’t heard him be this proud of where he is now since Starboy.
9/10 I love every track, the random Jim Carrey appearance was weird but the good kind of weird The album was also really immersive, i loved the radio station vibe
This is a gret review, keep up the great work this video was clean and entertaining. I loved gasoline the only person I've found enjoyed it was fantano LOL
I felt the same thing when I listened to it first. I was about to give it a 6/10 but after listening to it again, and again, and again and truly understanding the meaning behind this album it instantly became one of my most favourite projects from him. Yes, it's not Trilogy but he wouldn't grow as an artist if he only made drug fueled dark songs. This one is just so unique and special and I'm sure it's also very special for him too. For me this album is 8.5/10 but it will probably become a 9 after listening to it more.
I gave it an 8.8 on the first two listens now it’s sitting at 9.5. It definitely gets better the more you listen. Personally it’s my favorite weeknd album
I think all of Abel’s projects are sequels to their previous albums. Dawn FM is a sequel to After Hours which is a sequel to MDM, which is a sequel to Starboy etc
Take the features out and it is an excellent album! Anybody that doesn't like the low voice on Gasoline, doesn't listen to 80's music (from the actual 1980's) Favourite tracks are Out Of Time & Less Than Zero!
I appreciate that so much. Thank you for noticing. People always hold me to such a high standard forgetting I started from nothing. I'm glad I've reached this point
@@Volksgeist yeah going from the comfort of voice over commentary, to a lense in your face has gotta be tough. But you stuck with it, and here you are loose as a goose, chatting about the music you love with ease. Love from the UK 🇬🇧
Amazing to see how polar opposite we are. Immediately loved gasoline and less than zero was and still is my least favorite track on the project. It not only fees out of place sonically, but it also conveys a message and theme that was better established already in the album. It feels like a great one off for an anime or something but that was it for me.
