Album Review: The Weeknd - Starboy

There's much to be said for The Weeknd's evolution from spacey post-R&B auteur to Can't Feel My Face-fueled popstar.

With the loss of subtlety and a sense of eerie menace has come some era-defining dance songs. However, interestingly, the greatest triumphs on Starboy are when our host sends us an echo of his former complexities. Sidewalks is a bluesy, auto-tune-inflected banger; slow and sultry. Love To Lay is a shining diamond of dance floor magic. Only when our host blinks, and makes his most blatant snatches at the pop zeitgeist does he falter: False Alarm is overly sweet. Rockin' is exhausting. For the balance, this album is a celebration you should join.