The Weeknd’s past year has been full of growth in popularity with the release of the album “Beauty Behind the Madness,” a wildly successful North American tour and headlining music festivals like VooDoo Experience and The Meadows. With much anticipation after a momentous year, The Weeknd released his newest album, “Starboy,” on Nov. 25. 

I enjoyed the majority of the album. Though “Starboy” lacks the diversity of slow verses upbeat tunes that the last album had, the hybrid styles of R&B, hip-hop, pop and jazz throughout “Starboy” melt together magically.

Similarly to “Beauty Behind The Madness,” the majority of the songs focus on the topics of love and women, and the lyrics have no fear of vulgarity.

“Attention” circles the topic of a woman who isn’t romantically interested in a man but just wants his affection for her own egotistical gain. 

The slow but strong, poignant beat echoes how the process of noticing a person who is merely seeking attention can take time. But the realization hits hard, just like the beat, when finally realized.

This song showcases fantastic songwriting by The Weeknd and his collaborators. By integrating the song’s story into the tempo and beat, the message is conveyed beyond the lyrics.

This album mirrors “Beauty Behind the Madness” once again by including multiple successful collaborations with a variety of artists who specialize in different genres. “Sidewalks (feat. Kendrick Lamar)” adds a fast-paced rap to the lyric-driven tune full of electric guitar, and Lana Del Rey’s sultry tones in “Stargirl Interlude” serve as an transition in the middle of the album. The album also features both an opener and closer collaborated on with Daft Punk, bringing “Starboy” full circle.

Overall, “Starboy” lacked the many musical styles of “Beauty Behind The Madness,” but the upbeat numbers definitely made me want to dance. The album succeeded in collaborations, storytelling techniques and dynamic lyrical topics. A not-so-avid R&B/hip-hop listener enjoyed the contents of “Starboy,” so I feel his fans will be very happy.