If you’ve turned on hip hop/r&B/pop/life/country radio in the last three-four months you’ve no doubt been immediately acquainted with the ubiquity of Weeknd (amazingly the same Weeknd bro who made House of Balloons) and his Fifty Shades paean “Earned It”. Enter Jeremy Lloyd of soon to be ubiquitous B3 Records alums Marian Hill who takes his expert remix skills to the Weeknd track with the sort of A+ results that 2011 Abel Tesfaye (and the bloggers that made him) would probably vibe to. We dig it.
You couldn’t help but feel the hype as you walked pass the long entrance line at the Orpheum Theatre in Downtown LA on that crisp Saturday night. Despite the chilly weather, Abel Tesfaye’s (The Weeknd) fans waited patiently outside for their chance to see the R&B star. And they had nothing but smiles on all their faces in anticipation of the evening the ahead. Upon enterning the historic Orpheum Theatre, people we’re literally walking on top of black balloons with “XO” screened on them… which seemed a nice little touch for the sold out show.
I’ll admit, after seeing The Weeknd perform live during this year’s Coachella Music and Arts Festival, I’d grown slightly weary of his live presence. Fortunately, that Saturday night was not the case. Abel’s voice was in fine tune. His vocal expression displayed impressive control. Add his trusty 7 piece band, and some lighting thrills, and track’s like “Twenty Eight”, via his recent Trilogy release, culminated as cherry toppers for the evening. The Weeknd showed that his live show still has lots to say.
Unfortunately there was absolutely no photography was allowed inside the venue that night. Hopefully this video will give you a taste of what it was like inside. By Russ Ramos
The Weeknd delivers more of what he does best on “Twenty Eight” (ie the unfortunate and agonizing problem of having girls telling friends how he’s got them screaming his name). Doc McKinney & Illangelo work the boards for yet another troubled-soul R&B slice of pop perfection. Track is hot. Grab the Trilogy LP 11/13.
Tesfaye delivers. Released in that special “Weeknd hour”, the Toronto singer/producer let loose his latest just about 90 minutes or so ago. “Enemy” is pretty by the numbers Weeknd material, languid lugubrious but perhaps a bit more poppy melodically than previous material (We can hear MJ’s “Remember the Time” a little in there.) Be a witness for the XO crew below.
Yessssss! the HQ version of Shlohmo’s lights-down-low (like realllllly low) “Crew Love” remix is finally live. The b3sci fav knocks this mix straight down. Do not miss.
Drake – Crew Love (Feat. The Weeknd) (Shlohmo Remix)
If anyone was to cover Canadian R&B sensation The Weeknd, why not a band named after a province in the same country? Saskatchewan covers this track well, keeping the same dreamy vibes we are used to with The Weeknd tracks. What started as a suggestion from a friend has turned into a cover that will surely garner these guys some attention.
Hearing Drake and The Weeknd on a sort of 70’s soul influenced major key track like this is nuts. Take Care is sooooo fucking good; such a massive step forward from Thank Me Later. Hard to believe it’s the same guy. Take Care might be a classic. It’s, no doubt, one of the best LPs of 2011. “The Ride” might be our favorite track from it yet.
Usually when an artist underwhelms with a release (Radiohead) a remix LP can’t be too far behind. But we like this. This is the sort of direction Gaga should’ve taken with the Born This Way record. Sort of pushing current electronic/r&b/pop into the mainstream. That’s how the iconic pop artists re-invent themselves and maintain relevance. They take a sound not quite yet in the mainstream they have ears on and make it mainstream. Gaga’s Born This Way remix LP is due December 6th.
Lady Gaga – Marry the Night (The Weeknd & Illangelo Remix)
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