The Weeknd – House Of Balloons

A TAV Curator’s Pick.

House of Balloons is the debut mixtape by Canadian singer The Weeknd, originally released as a free download in 2011, through his website, and formed part of his Trilogy compilation. Its music incorporates electronic and urban genres including R&B and soul with trip hop, indie rock, and dream pop tones. Contributions to the mixtape's production came from Canadian producers Doc McKinney, Zodiac, Illangelo.

Albums from The Weeknd's Trilogy compilation include House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence.

“What makes this whole thing work in an album context is that all the thematic and sonic pieces fit together-- these weird, morning-after tales of lust, hurt, and over-indulgence ("Bring the drugs, baby, I can bring my pain," goes one refrain) are matched by this incredibly lush, downcast music. It's hard to think of a record since probably the xx's debut (definitely a touchstone here) that so fully embodies such a specific nocturnal quality. And even though the image of nightlife painted by the Weeknd isn't a place you'd ever want to live, it's one that's frankly very hard to stop listening to.” - Pitchfork

“The early consensus favorite is “House of Balloons”, which surgically removes the hook and chorus from Siouxsie and the Banshees’ 1981 gem “Happy House” and drops it into a but-once-a-year summer jam, one of the only uptempo moments on this record and the one in which Tesfaye and his team push the levels to the red. Windows down, volume up, repeat. The best part of the track, though, comes when it ends at 3:30, thrillingly transitioning “Glass Table Girls”, a Weekend manifesto. Has an 808 ever sounded so good, so deep? “Glass Table Girls” takes the “fun, fun, fun, fun” (apologies to Rebecca Black) of “House of Balloons”‘s party and reveals the coke-addled, sinister heart at its core.” - PopMatters

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