| | Full Review | Ratings (1227) |
Give your Rating |
| 4.5 superb | EverAdrift | May 18th 11 |
I consider myself to be very open to music generally, there are very few genres that don't interest me at all. Everything has something to offer. That being said, R&B has always been a genre that, while I enjoy and appreciate, I've never really followed closely. I guess while I enjoy a lot of R&B songs no artist has ever really caught my attention enough for me to pursue their music. The Weeknd has changed this. This album is a dark, brooding, depressing, depraved masterpiece. It portrays a lifestyle I was once familiar with with a painful clarity that somehow manages to simultaneously glamorize it and make it sound thouroughly unappealing. The music is gripping, the writing clever, the beats and melodies undeniably catchy and the singing is pitch-perfect. Point is, you don't have to be a fan of R&B to enjoy this brilliant album, you just have to appreciate good music.
6 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | patrickfannon | March 25th 11 |
This is the sound of lust coming gloriously alive. A thrilling, sultry, vibrantly grimy R&B record for the ages. Fantastic.
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Athom EMERITUS | March 24th 11 |
Wondrously chill r'n'b slow jams from a couple of Canadian cats. I wonder how many hipster couples will conceive children to this stuff?
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Alabaster Jones | March 4th 16 |
I think it's pretty ironic that while this tape was in constant rotation at parties all throughout 2011, it's actually an indictment of that lifestyle. And by lifestyle, I mean this one: "They say my brain meltin', and the only thing I'll tell 'em is I'm living for the present and the future don't exist. So baby take your clothes off..." The production is ethereal and expansive, and fits the drugged-out, ambivalent aesthetic perfectly. Abel is, of course, excellent here, with his airy voice wafting over the reverb and synths. It can get a slight but samey, but each individual song presents its own idea musically while staying the course topically. The lyrics are pretty subtle in that while they seem to be all about nameless women and undisclosed substances they're more of a cry for help, a way of expressing loneliness even when in a crowded room. It's the apathetic, almost completely transactional way of viewing these things that gives The Weeknd the ability to speak to those disillusioned by the scene. Thus, House Of Balloons is musically, aesthetically, and conceptually an excellent mission statement by The Weeknd.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Bulldog | March 24th 11 |
Ethereal, chill, melancholic and sexy, the jams The Weeknd have crafted up have far exceeded my initial expectations. House of Balloons is a wonderful debut that finds the duo pushing the envelope on both electronic and R&B and subsequently mashing both together to great effect. With an eerier edge to lust and a more passionate approach to love, House of Baloons is something the R&B scene, which has been populated by inept 'urban music' artists and pop stars, has been missing. If hipsters' predictions and wishes come true, The Weeknd may truly supplant the likes of Drake - who served as the catalyst for the hype train by cosigning them - and Trey Songz. If this is the R&B of the future, I'm gonna be listening to the genre a lot more.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.8 excellent | Erwann S. STAFF | October 14th 19 |
Before House of Balloons, 2010s music didn't really exist: for the most part of the years 2010 and 2011, pop music was built around the late 2000s' big'n'loud EDM style that told you about the great time you're having (think Black Eyed Peas, Flo Rida, or Ke$ha - peak "bon gout"). And then a lil Torontonian came up with a brand of R&B with subdued yet ultra classy beats and darker lyrics. These two features are instrumental to the characteristics of 2010s pop: sex'n'drugs'n'party were erected as pillars of the pop discourse, and Tesfaye brought nuance by saying these kinds of antics weren't fun (but you should do them anyway) in the same fashion Lana Del Rey would do in a less R&B way; likewise, the sultriness of the beats would slowly kill the loud and brash electropop movement - what a gift. This the sound of the afterparty, the sound of the generation who suffered from the 2008 financial crisis and didn't believe all those pop stars anymore, those ludicrous beings who wanted to bring happiness to people. The Weeknd accepts to be darker, and thus, more real. Oh, and the music's pretty good too.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | sniper | March 26th 11 |
bring ya love baby, i can bring my shame, bring the drugs baby, i can bring my pain.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 1.5 very poor | Ossacip Olbap | February 1st 24 |
smooth as silk rnb'd samples with no power whatsoever
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | PrincyAli | September 4th 21 |
Abel brings the dark undertone of his party life front and center. 4.2/5 Favs: High For This, House Of Balloons*, The Morning, Wicked Games, The Party & The After Party, Coming Down, Loft Music, The Knowing
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Isaac George | October 20th 13 |
House of Balloons's second half may fall short of the rest but it doesn't stop The Weeknd's engine from roaring. It's filled with brilliant production, stunning vocals and druggy lyrics for a great debut.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | InFiction | December 28th 12 |
The perfect late-night chill out album. Its atmosphere is one of a kind.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | iGuter | April 1st 12 |
The Weeknd flows and chills to the rythm; something that's misunderstood in the music industry. You can hear the devout passion in his voice and the sweet chilling moments that could make any listener close their eyes and dream too.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | iSkane | December 31st 11 |
Why did it take me so long to listen to this album? Holy shit, this is so good. God damn, seriously. Fuck.
Bump |
| 0.0 | panaba | May 24th 11 |
i like the music but i just can't stand his voice
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | AlexTM510 | April 23rd 11 |
An album that is as sexy as much as it is masochistic, drugged up, and depressingly addicting.
Bump |
| 0.0 | ButcheredChildren | March 25th 11 |
Definately the best R&B album I have ever listened to. I really did not expect this to have the depth that it has.
Bump |
| 3.0 good | Matty CONTRIBUTOR | February 23rd 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jake E. | February 18th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Above | August 10th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Halez | June 3rd 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Josh-D | May 28th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | mifzal | April 13th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | MvdW | November 3rd 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | osey | October 19th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | altmjw | October 8th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | yinei007 | September 21st 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | NyxArc | August 19th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | teo | May 29th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Oatus | May 18th 22 |
| 3.5 great | Jonatas | February 20th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Luna | January 20th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Jamdbz | January 12th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | kojpl | November 20th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | butcrac | July 19th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | Vyndax | May 7th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | Skoj | April 12th 21 |
| 3.5 great | spur55 | March 24th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | heck | February 13th 21 |
| 3.0 good | Corney | February 11th 21 |
| 3.0 good | fog CONTRIBUTOR | February 9th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ryus | February 8th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | ARDCWE | January 27th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | YRI | January 16th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Henry | December 18th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Stufy2 | December 18th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Flomink | November 6th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | OSEL | September 9th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | Zeuzo | August 29th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Sowing STAFF | May 10th 20 |
| 3.0 good | Lassie | March 21st 20 |
| 5.0 classic | ian b | March 20th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | Risodo | February 18th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | C. Deez | February 17th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | Gillie | December 5th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | john | August 5th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Adamn | May 8th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Mathias STAFF | April 21st 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | gilly | November 26th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | iglu | October 2nd 18 |
| 5.0 classic | Josh | July 15th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | YotamTS | April 4th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | emmny | March 31st 18 |
| 3.5 great | wwf | March 17th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | kb3984 | December 23rd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Bounty | December 17th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | tcarafi | December 8th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Asthurse | November 27th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | matteok | September 18th 17 |
| 2.5 average | Kurisu | September 16th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | alamo | April 13th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | bhavjas | February 28th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Rhyme | February 7th 17 |
| 3.5 great | helti | January 14th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Krisa | December 31st 16 |
| 2.5 average | El Olam | December 19th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Drifts | November 25th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nrdrk | November 23rd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | aiioli | October 19th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Jade | October 2nd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Thibs | October 2nd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | hudso | September 18th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | 2453 | September 3rd 16 |
| 3.0 good | adr | August 31st 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Jaqz | August 29th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Nights | August 24th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | jtswope | August 12th 16 |
| 3.0 good | p4p | August 10th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | IVIII | August 6th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Goblin | June 10th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | tricky | April 20th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | CAFSF | April 16th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | otomok | April 10th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Kureo | April 6th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | LamboGD | March 26th 16 |
| 3.5 great | rifkadm | February 14th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | HurtBoa | February 13th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Shempt | February 10th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | 108Mics | January 27th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Archael | January 18th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Mall | December 20th 15 |
| 3.5 great | Atrophy | December 13th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | theform | October 21st 15 |
| 2.0 poor | BigSur | October 18th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Jordan M. EMERITUS | October 7th 15 |
| 2.5 average | dvd0bvb | September 21st 15 |
| 5.0 classic | Sousa | September 20th 15 |
| 3.5 great | Kman418 | September 17th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sleeves | September 5th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | DeMaj | August 30th 15 |
| 3.5 great | Matski | August 26th 15 |
| 3.0 good | iveau | August 26th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | ti0n | August 23rd 15 |
| 4.5 superb | taytos | August 22nd 15 |
| 3.5 great | Lech | June 16th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Huff213 | April 28th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | slaps | December 16th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | Dunnus | December 13th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | Runeii | November 20th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Shaunyy | November 4th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | TBH717 | October 27th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Arnypie | October 22nd 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Fyfe00 | October 12th 14 |
| 3.0 good | quik40 | September 25th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | Xar | September 1st 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | oahmed | August 30th 14 |
| 3.5 great | rjk | August 29th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | tyler | August 27th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | foxxxy | August 22nd 14 |
| 2.5 average | Jots EMERITUS | August 22nd 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | jimbon | July 24th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lotus | July 22nd 14 |
| 3.0 good | ethos | April 29th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Emim | March 9th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sithese | March 2nd 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | ilbron | February 11th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | JS19 | December 20th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | djken97 | December 2nd 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Guzzo10 | November 8th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | oldsoul | October 18th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | inlimbo | September 28th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Boozby | September 24th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | BigTuna | September 6th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Mills | September 4th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Caelum | July 25th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | TheMrs | July 23rd 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Ulshad | July 15th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Cadda | June 23rd 13 |
| 2.5 average | EJinHD | June 2nd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | craven | June 1st 13 |
| 3.0 good | Viales | April 23rd 13 |
| 3.5 great | Pndi | April 12th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | tarkus | April 10th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | NRG2C | March 22nd 13 |
| 2.5 average | Tyrael | March 22nd 13 |
| 4.5 superb | xxxzzz | March 22nd 13 |
| 4.5 superb | dogteal | February 23rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Surette | February 23rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Emyay | February 21st 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Maniac! | February 16th 13 |
| 1.5 very poor | tnd | February 15th 13 |
| 2.5 average | jmh886 | February 14th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Noteros | February 7th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | kyliep | January 17th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Shimana | January 14th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | viri | January 6th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Propose | December 29th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | poke2002 | December 17th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | urzadek | December 17th 12 |
| 3.0 good | dh198 | December 11th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Antigen | December 4th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Trist66 | November 22nd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | dwejkk | November 20th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | LG | October 30th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | AskerB | October 28th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | judger | October 25th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Peluca | October 6th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | plato66 | October 6th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | chayka | October 4th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Gronk12 | September 24th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | DGDkid | September 16th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | ZmbZ98 | September 11th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Bleak | September 1st 12 |
| 3.5 great | TheDMV | August 15th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | JBowl | August 6th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | postmo | July 19th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Sirob | May 21st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | hoepez | May 19th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | foxxxy | April 27th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | nex77 | April 17th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | vivapo | April 16th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | MrMagby | April 15th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | hamid95 | April 4th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | d4rock | March 28th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Scoot | March 24th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | trich | March 17th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Next | February 27th 12 |
| 3.0 good | boogs | February 25th 12 |
| 3.0 good | KjD | February 24th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | TheAr | February 23rd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | DotEight | February 21st 12 |
| 3.5 great | dammets | February 17th 12 |
| 3.5 great | nwagner | February 10th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | cbjeeby | February 8th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | jc1587 | February 4th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | keeno | February 3rd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | ILJ | February 2nd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | mvood | February 1st 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Swagdus | February 1st 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Piglet | January 24th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | joshuatree EMERITUS | January 22nd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | IsItLuck? EMERITUS | January 16th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | rawko | January 16th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Ignored | January 16th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | mattkd | January 14th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | HipFish | January 12th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | 00mee | January 10th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | pixmpy | January 4th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | uman32 | January 4th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | HiFiPi | December 30th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | cyalily | December 30th 11 |
| 2.5 average | doqtor | December 28th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | JPaller | December 27th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Torii | December 25th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | amandine | December 25th 11 |
| 2.5 average | Eons | December 25th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Oceanus | December 22nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | BasX | December 22nd 11 |
| 3.5 great | espn829 | December 16th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pentagon | December 14th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Monheim | December 9th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nomad | December 8th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | dart200 | December 5th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Irving EMERITUS | December 4th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Meln | November 19th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Ire | November 16th 11 |
| 2.5 average | Dday | November 13th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Jerbz | November 13th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | jjwitt | November 3rd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | natey | October 8th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Trebor. EMERITUS | September 28th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Zeger94 | September 28th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | JJwins | September 23rd 11 |
| 3.0 good | Guiltor | September 23rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | 808muzik | September 18th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Jekub | September 17th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | gervin | September 17th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | l3urkles | September 15th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | LumpSum | September 9th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | hermmess | September 7th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Skyler | September 3rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Recspecs | September 2nd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Tupik | August 30th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Olson | August 29th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | designz | August 29th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | gosk8n | August 28th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | joelom | August 26th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | a7c7e7 | August 26th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Strider | August 22nd 11 |
| 1.0 awful | T0rr35 | August 22nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rev | August 21st 11 |
| 4.5 superb | slack | August 19th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | cuki92 | August 19th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | nnnope | August 18th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | sharmz | August 18th 11 |
| 3.5 great | stfrnz | August 17th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Jeeevs | August 9th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | kanker | August 8th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | DionS | August 4th 11 |
| 3.0 good | wylpyl | August 4th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Riano | August 3rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | BlueW | August 2nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | bab808 | July 27th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | DaveyBoy EMERITUS | July 22nd 11 |
| 5.0 classic | paxman | July 17th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Narshh | July 14th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Fort23 | July 8th 11 |
| 3.0 good | greg84 EMERITUS | July 3rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mendigo | June 27th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | cor | June 21st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Moraff | June 21st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rowdy | June 18th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Creed | June 9th 11 |
| 2.5 average | lobby | May 27th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lakes. | May 24th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | 32left | May 19th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | qwe3 | May 4th 11 |
| 3.0 good | am38 | May 3rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | WooHa | April 30th 11 |
| 3.5 great | mkCII | April 28th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | hymano | April 26th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Iai EMERITUS | April 25th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | shindip | April 22nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | pcar | April 13th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | jayrad | April 10th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Smevin | April 9th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | sehguh | April 8th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Shadein | April 3rd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | dnor | April 3rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Enotron | April 2nd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | timbo8 | April 1st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | mx STAFF | March 31st 11 |
| 3.0 good | Rudy K. EMERITUS | March 30th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Etrius | March 29th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | coleba | March 28th 11 |
| 3.5 great | astrel | March 28th 11 |
| 3.5 great | TanMan | March 27th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | mmadden | March 27th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | thebhoy | March 26th 11 |
| 2.5 average | jusbrp | March 26th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Hawks | March 25th 11 |
| 3.5 great | aok | March 25th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | kingsoby1 EMERITUS | March 25th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Inveigh | March 25th 11 |
| 2.5 average | Tim00w | March 25th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Manic_ | March 25th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | cvlts | March 25th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Aids | March 25th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | cirq | March 23rd 11 |
| 3.5 great | Kiran EMERITUS | March 23rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | conradtao EMERITUS | March 21st 11 |
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