I agree with you that this is an album to digest. Abel is the most incredible, complex, and dynamic pop artist of our time. Many artists are inspired by the 1980s but the sounds on this album are the most authentic 80s sounds I have heard yet. Save Your Tears sounds like it could have been featured in a John Hughes movie. Too Late sounds like a lost cut from My Dear Melancholy. Escape From LA (another one of Abel's many film references) is so bitter, bordering on callous. I can feel the real Abel through that song and Snowchild. Those two songs are his most true-to-himself yet. The Phillip K Dick line is legendary -- for those who don't know, he is the author of the short story that inspired Blade Runner, which Abel referenced on Kiss Land (Tears in the Rain). Lastly, if you haven't seen Scorsese's After Hours, you must! Abel had it playing behind him on his livestream last night and I was the only one in the chat that pointed it out. It was a nice touch. I love this man to my death. And I'm so glad you're here to experience this with us, Jon! XO! PS: YES thank you for thinking of Postal Service! I was thinking it sounded familiar but for some reason I thought of Fireflies by Owl City, but yes Such Great Heights is what I was really hearing hah.
@@rigovalentine I know I saw the stream and saw the screen and immediately thought, this bitch really be putting that film in background and wasnt wrong haha nice touch 🖤xo
Abel’s lyrics are so regretful and depressed but his beats on this album promote the opposite. That’s what makes this so special, he can make anything sound beautiful.
“Cali is the mission” -The Morning (2011) “Cali was the mission” -Tell Your Friends (2015) “Cali was the mission but now a *** leavin” -Snowchild (2020)
Time Stamps: Alone Again 1:45 Too Late 4:06 Hardest to Love 6:02 Scared to Live Again 7:45 Snowchild 9:41 Escape From LA 11:09 Heartless 13:49 Faith 14:23 Blinding Lights 15:59 In Your Eyes 17:00 Save Your Tears 17:54 Repeat After Me (Interlude) 19:45 After Hours 20:19 Until I Bleed Out 21:11
Raul Valencia no u sound dumb as fuck crying over someone else’s opinion, sorry I don’t like this shit 80s funk pop garbage. I’m not gonna gas up every project my favourite artists release just for the sake of it
I only like a few of the songs, for example, escape from la and the title track. After having the album on repeat, only a few of the songs stuck with me while the rest started to feel stale. Don’t get me wrong, the album was god tier on release but long term only a portion hold up for me.
Freddie Quell ikr like you cannot not dance to in your eyes. I also love the overall story of the album, production is absolutely incredible on this. The flow and tracklist is is great. 8.5 out of 10 for me it surpasses kissland (probably) and beauty for me and it’s probably his second best album or third if you count the mixtapes separately hob, echoes of silence respectively at first and second. It could even pass those with more listens
This was a masterpiece. He has really honed in his style and sound. What a legendary time to be in for music. Cheers to you Jon for enjoying the ride with us! XOTWOD
This will go down as one of, if not, the most consistent project he’s ever done. He’s definitely shown his maturity in his music but he’s still able to create such elegant darkness in his songs while being able to tell a story of either heartbreak, sorrow, regret etc. This will go down as one of his best albums hands down.
"Faith" just kills me every time I listen to it, and I can't stop repeating it.. its so much heart ache its like watching a movie through your ears.. I am absolutely in love with the whole album.
@A A Yeah, his music has had a really good evolution in terms of being unique and having a natural progression of sound. The themes have gotten more mature as well.
fivestarswagg21 I think I’m totally trapped in the Trilogy/Kissland/even BBTM eras. This album didn’t disappoint though, I gotta admit I really didn’t like his last work..
I’m impressed with how well Abel has managed to changed the game of mastering different sounds. I mean to go from his first couple mix tapes, fast forward a few years to Starboy, and then to this? It’s amazing. This is definitely playing on repeat for the rest of the weekend and probably next week too.
this was an carefully crafted album, it was smooth and elegant, there was light and darkness. there was love and lust. Honestly the melodies and vocals matched by the great production made it such an amazing body of work.
This album has some of the best production I have ever heard, every track is so lush and thematically cohesive. Was an incredible first listen for me and I'm already going back in for more. Definitely looking forward to the review after a couple days! World needed this right about now.
For me: Alone Again 8.5/10 (vevo live version is a 9.5) Too Late 9/10 Hardest to Love 8.5/10 Scared to Live Again 9/10 Snowchild 8.5/10 Escape From LA 8/10 Heartless 10/10 Faith 10/10 Blinding Lights 10/10 In Your Eyes 10/10 Save Your Tears10/10 Repeat After Me (Interlude) 7.5/10 After Hours 10/10 Until I Bleed Out 7.5/10 Album as a whole: 9/10 A masterpiece.
You're a gem to the XO fam, its so refreshing to see someone reacting to Abel who's fairly new to him but still just gets it! Very nostalgic watching your reactions. XOTWOD.
The run from Heartless to After Hours is pure insanity. How the fuck do you create so many bangers and put them all in a row like that. The transition from Faith to Blinding Lights is pure magic. After Hours is just perfection incarnate. My god what a man.
I’ve listen 3 times, once while being a little high and twice sober and have a greater appreciation for each and every song. Each song has grown on me differently and all I have to say is that this was a masterpiece in production, mixing and singing. Thank you Jon and thank you Abel
Josh Williams i don’t understand y’all. was abel suppose to create the same sound his whole career? he made trilogy when we was 20, he’s now 30. and as for bigquint, people get older, he might be dealing with things he didn’t 10 years ago.
This is his most complete album he has put out in my opinion. He has so much of the retro, bangers that the mainstream loves AND the XO complexity I NEEDED. As much as I loved starboy I thought Max simplified the production too much, but Abel and Illangelo are a killer combo and they really came back for this one, the deep references in the background to kissland and trilogy are liquid gold for the eardrums. I already know this will forever be a favorite
I feel this album is going to be so special for me. Today was my last day of high school, with only two days notice. I woke up this morning and listened to the first few tracks. I then went to school and it was the biggest stone of emotion I've ever had thrown at me. It was especially difficult signing and getting signed shirts , from friends and teachers I may never see again. This was partially due to the fact that it was difficult making minimal contact with friends I've had for 5 years. Revising for GCSES excessively, when I should've been socializing and playing footie. Only then, I find that I won't have any end of year exams. Hardwork for nothing. Finally, I came home washed my hands, sang happy birthday and relistened to the first few tracks. The second time was just a billion times more emotional.
can we talk about how Adaptation and Love In The Sky, the 3rd and 4th songs from Kiss Land, had a transition and now Hardest To Love and Scared To Live, the 3rd and 4th songs from After Hours, also have a transition EDIT: Outside and XO / The Host, the 3rd and 4th songs from Echoes of Silence, also had a transition.
Y’all ever had an album make y’all feel like an addict? Is it just me? I haven’t put my headphones down since midnight 😭 Abel did what NEEDED to be done with no features
Please Jon do a review on this album after some time. I really want to hear your thoughts on the album after you’ve heard it more times. As you said, this album needs a few listens so it would be cool to get your thoughts collected after some time has passed. Also love the videos and congrats on the sponsorship!
Man watching your reaction reminded me of the first time I listened to Abel,through After Hours and it made me cry. Now, its like the best thing thats ever happened to me. Love from India🇮🇳
my small theory for the album is that it’s split into short phases, could be very inaccurate but just my interpretation so far. the beginning is his “heartbroken” phase which takes up most the album. escape from LA is the transition to his “heartless” phase but that was shortlived with heartless and faith being the only songs in it. then the end of faith is the transition to his “reconciliation” phase which is also short lived with three tracks, where he seems to be back with the person he was hurt over but still feeling guilty and regretful for hurting them. repeat after me is the transition to the “acceptance” phase where he acknowledges that they have both hurt each other and he knows it’s time to let go. the album ends with him wishing he could essentially erase all this that he went through from his mind.
marisabella mena whether it’s true or not i’ve had very similar thoughts. you presented it in a different way but i feel the same. love how there’s so many ways to view this album, it’s just getting better and better with each listen. i love it!
Sounds exactly like what IGOR was lol. Tis not to say After Hours is bad at all from that though, it does a very fine job executing its sounds and structure.
This album is just amazing!!! After hours is still my favourite track, alone again and faith hit in the same spot that resemble that new sound of him. Snowchild is just so real and chilling at the same time. Until I bleed out and escape from LA totally gave me Trilogy vibes, the Interlude noise ep vibes and the rest is also amazing, like listening to your favourite 80s movie soundtrack. In your eyes is a great tribute to MJ soundwise. The album definetely grows the more you listen to hit, now after listing to it for the fifth time it just gives me goosebumps.
bro when i first heard faith i legit burst into tears with how fucking amazing it is and the whole album, abel literally spoiled us with After Hours, album of the year 100%
The magic of Abel on your channel Jon is incredible. This is already your most watched video since... the After Hours track reaction. What legend he is.
One of the album producers shared yesterday in his stories the process of making the album songs(with studio photos/dates) only After Hours needed more than 3 months to be made, like they made the first part then months later then second one, and it was like since the end of 2018 and start of 2019, which shows of how much they worked for a song & the whole album, loved your reaction man, much love keep it up🙌
Thank you Jon Denton 🙌 I appreciate so much that even as a new fan, you are a true fan. I love having you in the XO family and getting to hear your in-depth thoughts about The Weeknd's music, it's always spot-on. Although I do suspect that Hardest to Love hits differently if you're heartbroken, because my initial reaction to that song was to start sobbing haha but other than that, again, spot-on! Can't wait for your review! XO
I feel like you nailed it when you summarized the albuum as "elegant". Abel really knows how to mix popular sounds with his own personal and unique art. Genius
The only reaction I've been waiting on, love your work. I've listened to the album 6 times and every time I find something new that I missed before. After Hours is so dark yet so elegant but bangs in your chest. XO
His drawn out singing of single words like in Scared to Live always gets me. His voice makes any lyric(lyrics) have 1000x the impact. This album even though its not dark dark like his mixtapes but its still dark in a way, and the 80’s vibe and new style I love it. Its soooo good.
His album is meant to listen too in order, every song transitions so well into the other like faiths outro into blinding lights. Man The Weeknd is so talented I’m glad I’m XO
Think this is Abel's best album, gonna give it a second listen, but it is certainly up there with one of the best pieces of music I have ever heard. XO
JD, congrats on the sponsor my mate, also I have to say I really like the detail that you go into when analysing these tracks. Honestly, these reaction videos are top.
alone again - 1:46 too late - 4:07 hardest to love - 6:02 scared to live - 7:29 snowchild - 9:42 escape from la - 11:10 heartless - 13:50 faith - 14:23 blinding lights - 16:02 in your eyes - 17:01 save your tears - 17:54 repeat after me ( interlude ) - 19:45 after hours - 20:15 until i bleed out - 21:12
Coming back to this video after over a month & just wanted to say you got this spot on! Every time one of these tracks come on my playlist I appreciate it more & more. Unreal album almost perfection
I really love how as I'm reading through the comments, everyone has a different favourite song from the album. That's how you know this album is just great. :)
I love when on the first tracks, his voice is drenched in effects symbolizing that he dosent know who he is anymore, but once he accepts the fsct hes back to his old ways, his voice starts becoming more and more clearer as if he's saying that "im back to my old self, deal with it". I also love on the final track "Until I Bleed Out", his voice is drenched with effects again, meaning that he knows what hes doing, but he slowly realizes the side effects of what he's doing, and he's slowly regreting the decision, and he's slowly back to not knowing who he is anymore, as if he's saying "is this what i am?, just using painful things to cope with painful things, there must be another way to cope with the problems im facing", and in the whole album (except the final track), his voice constantly swithces to a very robotic Abel, to a Normal Abel again and again, symbolizing that he knows what he's doing, he just dosen't know the side effects of what he's doing, but he's rolling with it, until it finishes on the final track "Until I Bleed Out" where he is back again with the robotic Abel voice, symbolizing that, doing painful things to cope with painful things is gonna lead to even more regret and even more confusion, and even more questions.
This is exactly the kind of review I was looking for! I couldn’t have explained some of these tracks any better especially with the whole idea of this album having major longevity. Many are already speaking down on the album without giving it more listens so it’s tough to see, but a smart man like you is what reviewing needs. I love this album all around and I’m glad you enjoyed it as well! Thank you Jon Denton!
I listened to the album with genius, and there’s so much in the lyrics to understand. About what he feels about his fame and success and how even though there’s a million girls who want him, he can’t get or live with the one he truly loves. The lyrics also give us an idea about how he’s matured. From ‘Cali is the mission’ in his previous tracks to ‘Cali is the mission now nigga leaving’. His on off relationship with Bella Hadid seems like what the whole album is about. Snow child felt similar to Reminder in Starboy where he reminisces about growing up in Toronto. Although he’s worked really hard and made a name for himself, life at the top seems very lonely and fraudulent almost for him. He has everything he would ever need, but the one thing he truly wants he doesn’t get. He does between blaming Bella to blaming himself and his vices. Production wise and how each song flows from one to the other is absolutely incredible. Feels very modern but very retro at the same time. Incredible piece of work.
i’ve listened to this six times already. each time i’ve noticed something new and gained a new appreciation for it. i love this album and it’s a testament to how much he’s grown and each track adds something new. idk where it ranks among his other projects but it’s a fantastic record. hope you all have a great day god bless xo
Your point about this album needing time for digestion was spot on. It took me until the 4th or 5th listen to really appreciate every song on this project. Honestly, this is his best work since Echoes of Silence. If he doesn't win another Grammy for this, I'm done with that joke of an award show.
This is what I want from someone that is reacting to The weeknd's songs, actually listening and not screaming and not even paying atention to the details. Great reaction!
I agree with you that this is an album to digest. Abel is the most incredible, complex, and dynamic pop artist of our time. Many artists are inspired by the 1980s but the sounds on this album are the most authentic 80s sounds I have heard yet. Save Your Tears sounds like it could have been featured in a John Hughes movie. Too Late sounds like a lost cut from My Dear Melancholy. Escape From LA (another one of Abel's many film references) is so bitter, bordering on callous. I can feel the real Abel through that song and Snowchild. Those two songs are his most true-to-himself yet. The Phillip K Dick line is legendary -- for those who don't know, he is the author of the short story that inspired Blade Runner, which Abel referenced on Kiss Land (Tears in the Rain). Lastly, if you haven't seen Scorsese's After Hours, you must! Abel had it playing behind him on his livestream last night and I was the only one in the chat that pointed it out. It was a nice touch. I love this man to my death. And I'm so glad you're here to experience this with us, Jon! XO!
PS: YES thank you for thinking of Postal Service! I was thinking it sounded familiar but for some reason I thought of Fireflies by Owl City, but yes Such Great Heights is what I was really hearing hah.
Killed it with this comment 🙌
actually I pointed it out too, also many others aswell
Jon do a part 2 later and react again to the album!!!
@@rigovalentine I know I saw the stream and saw the screen and immediately thought, this bitch really be putting that film in background and wasnt wrong haha nice touch 🖤xo
@@rigovalentine oh okay i guess it just didn't show me those comments! awesome!!
I love how he makes the darkness beautiful. His beats are legendary, he’s in a genre of his own.
Abel’s lyrics are so regretful and depressed but his beats on this album promote the opposite. That’s what makes this so special, he can make anything sound beautiful.
Metro's beats
Prototype kinda like the songs of abba but in a different way
This guy is the pioneer of alternative RnB
@@arbaazdiwan8114 he sings about same shit
“Cali is the mission”
-The Morning (2011)
“Cali was the mission”
-Tell Your Friends (2015)
“Cali was the mission but now a *** leavin”
-Snowchild (2020)
JVNUVRY gave me some real nostalgia
I love this
noticed it right away, gave me goosebumps
Tell your friends is one of my most favorite songs of all time
I noticed that but didnt type it
Time Stamps:
Alone Again 1:45
Too Late 4:06
Hardest to Love 6:02
Scared to Live Again 7:45
Snowchild 9:41
Escape From LA 11:09
Heartless 13:49
Faith 14:23
Blinding Lights 15:59
In Your Eyes 17:00
Save Your Tears 17:54
Repeat After Me (Interlude) 19:45
After Hours 20:19
Until I Bleed Out 21:11
Legend
🐐
🙏🏼
🐐🐐
I knew!!! The shades will come during Escape From LA!!! Tears 💔
This album is the cure for corona virus.
rena AH it was mid so makes sense why no one is cured yet
MSA99 you sound dumb asf
Raul Valencia no u sound dumb as fuck crying over someone else’s opinion, sorry I don’t like this shit 80s funk pop garbage. I’m not gonna gas up every project my favourite artists release just for the sake of it
rena AH I SWEARRR😂😂😂😂
I only like a few of the songs, for example, escape from la and the title track. After having the album on repeat, only a few of the songs stuck with me while the rest started to feel stale. Don’t get me wrong, the album was god tier on release but long term only a portion hold up for me.
By the way, Abel put a homeless man playing the saxophone in his short film, and there you have it in the album
The saxophone on the album is played by abel himself tho
Marijn Timmer I think it’s Max Martin or one of his producers, I don’t think Abel knows how to play the instrument
Amminity basically these are three swedish musicians that Max Martin knows. Needless to say, the man produced the track
@@deniscascino3739 abel plays sax, he also is credited as the saxophone player on the soundtrack for uncut gems.
You can heart Too Late and Faith in the short film aswell
the "house without a home" line in multiple of his songs is a reference to twenty eight
You donttt sayyyyy
Yo stfu we known
Cmon,y'all dont have to be rude 😭🤣
And that line in Twenty Eight is a reference to Luther Vandross' House Without A Home.
It’s a saying that’s been used multiple times in all of music, such as Luther vandross
Faith is the best song in the album after After Hours, IMO. In Your Eyes is going to destroy radio as a single oh my
100%
Faith is my favorite. Hardest to Love is my 2nd.
I agree
Freddie Quell ikr like you cannot not dance to in your eyes. I also love the overall story of the album, production is absolutely incredible on this. The flow and tracklist is is great. 8.5 out of 10 for me it surpasses kissland (probably) and beauty for me and it’s probably his second best album or third if you count the mixtapes separately hob, echoes of silence respectively at first and second. It could even pass those with more listens
Whis alone again or snowchild the best for me rn
My boy had to grab his wife’s glasses!
No replies after 1k likes??????
This is album of the year and it’s only March...
uzi>>>
@@tommoissidis4071 how can you think same beats over and over with sort of the same flow is better than actual talent?
Definitelly! I am excited for him to perfom this album on tour
Tom Moissidis i can guarantee you right now that ur at least 17 or under from this comment
@@aname5669 😂
the transition from Faith into Blinding Lights gives me goosebumps every time
The way the tracks flow from heartless to save your tears is fucking flawless.
bro needs the heimlich
This was a masterpiece. He has really honed in his style and sound. What a legendary time to be in for music. Cheers to you Jon for enjoying the ride with us! XOTWOD
I might be the only one that didn't like the album that much...
BEE-LEE there’s no problem with that, hopefully there’s a couple tracks you don’t mind, XO!
Only pop, that’s sad for me
BEE-LEE same bro, that shit was boring asf tbh.
Album proper boring
The only pauses I did from listening the album today were for checking if you and bigquint posted something
Stefano Fiore right! Waiting for Quint to react and make today even better
Josh The Loner I think big quint is gonna take a few days to get the reaction up :( he takes a few days most times
Mallory Bros
andy rodas well I actually don’t know that I like him when he is censored, I’m always rewatching stuff from before
Same mann
This will go down as one of, if not, the most consistent project he’s ever done. He’s definitely shown his maturity in his music but he’s still able to create such elegant darkness in his songs while being able to tell a story of either heartbreak, sorrow, regret etc. This will go down as one of his best albums hands down.
Yea album sucks you’re right
most mainstream yes
How he literally sounds and talk about the same shit
Terrian incorrect
@@jakemoran287 I swear y'all fans delusional ASF
Watching you fall in love with The Weeknd over the past few months leading up to this moment has been incredible
Exactly
The saxophone outro from *In Your Eyes* made me cry, I swear this album is such a masterpiece.
That’s like the easiest sax solo I’ve ever heard lmao
@@mitcho5452 Less is more sometimes
and it’s even cooler when you find out that the guy playing is was a homeless guy Abel met :)
I didn't know Kenny G was homeless?
@@paulhines1334 that was the remix
"Faith" just kills me every time I listen to it, and I can't stop repeating it.. its so much heart ache its like watching a movie through your ears.. I am absolutely in love with the whole album.
One of the best song ever
it hits even harder when you realize that blinding lights is him being rushed to the hospital from overdosing
AND it was Produced by Metro boomin in case you didn’t know, man’s a genius
Alone Again is one of the best intro tracks I’ve ever heard
All of his intros are amazing! Listen to Professional at least 7 times a day lol
It's so underrated, one of the top 3 songs on the album.
this ain't classic abel
This is a grown 30 year old abel that got some dirt to get off his chest
This ain’t classic Abel we can tell by the music.
@A A Yeah, his music has had a really good evolution in terms of being unique and having a natural progression of sound. The themes have gotten more mature as well.
Exactly and hope people understand this. Hes growing and his music will reflect that. He cant stay the same as years ago. Alls evolving
He needs to be evolving that’s a good thing
@@ElizRued no he isn't he still talk about the same
Top 5 songs:
The whole album
The weeknd
the album
All of his songs
This album
Top 1: Abel’s Discography
You forgot
Abel features
Abel new look
hahahaha, yes! XOTWOD
Save your tears wasn’t all that great but other than that I agree
Abel never disappoints(unless you’re trapped in trilogy era). Another great record added to an already goat discography.
Deep comment
This is literally what I was saying
FR, like expand your tastes maybe?
fivestarswagg21 I think I’m totally trapped in the Trilogy/Kissland/even BBTM eras. This album didn’t disappoint though, I gotta admit I really didn’t like his last work..
fivestarswagg21 Lmaooo, I hate trilogy fans dude, nothing satisfies them
The album hits differently when listening with AirPods whilst taking a shit in the toilet
Literally exactly what I’m doing rn
Just saw this as I was taking a shit
Same here
Guess we can all relate.
Where else you taking a shit?
This album absolutely delivered, the production on it is out of this world XOTWOD
Could be better on some songs
Adz 6262 no
@@Reillers cap
@@Reillersthe production is literally perfect
Everyones underrating hardest to love, that song makes me wanna cry man
I thought I was the only one🥺🥺
Same 🥺
The Weeknd can never mess anything up even if he tried
ayaan bazaz ayo 169th like
This is his curse, to never create a bad song
His relationships xD
You haven’t heard the deluxe
George Ehh remixes don’t count tbh lol
As soon as I heard this album, I had 2 thoughts.
1. "Holy shit, this is great!"
2. "I wonder what Jon Denton's reaction is gonna be."
FACTS
I’m impressed with how well Abel has managed to changed the game of mastering different sounds. I mean to go from his first couple mix tapes, fast forward a few years to Starboy, and then to this? It’s amazing. This is definitely playing on repeat for the rest of the weekend and probably next week too.
Prophet's shades and hat game is unmatched on this platform.
josh bates jds shades and hat/big quint getting out of his chair = 🔥🔥🔥
Noah Lust anyone know what brand or type of shades those are? trying to cop a pair
chek my new video clip in my channel go on top
808Flame Beats Ay imma need you to stop your snake activities
this was an carefully crafted album, it was smooth and elegant, there was light and darkness. there was love and lust. Honestly the melodies and vocals matched by the great production made it such an amazing body of work.
Uqbah Hannan 🙌🏽
This album has some of the best production I have ever heard, every track is so lush and thematically cohesive. Was an incredible first listen for me and I'm already going back in for more. Definitely looking forward to the review after a couple days! World needed this right about now.
Jon Denton: *AFTER HOURS REACTION*
Me: Thank you God
For me:
Alone Again 8.5/10
(vevo live version is a 9.5)
Too Late 9/10
Hardest to Love 8.5/10
Scared to Live Again 9/10
Snowchild 8.5/10
Escape From LA 8/10
Heartless 10/10
Faith 10/10
Blinding Lights 10/10
In Your Eyes 10/10
Save Your Tears10/10
Repeat After Me (Interlude) 7.5/10
After Hours 10/10
Until I Bleed Out 7.5/10
Album as a whole: 9/10
A masterpiece.
Yo
Solid rankings imo. I’d bump up Alone Again to a 10/10, EFLA to a 9, and IYE down to a 9 personally, but this is a great ranking
You're a gem to the XO fam, its so refreshing to see someone reacting to Abel who's fairly new to him but still just gets it! Very nostalgic watching your reactions. XOTWOD.
The run from Heartless to After Hours is pure insanity. How the fuck do you create so many bangers and put them all in a row like that. The transition from Faith to Blinding Lights is pure magic. After Hours is just perfection incarnate. My god what a man.
His smile at the start of 'hardest to love' is so genuine, can relate
I’ve listen 3 times, once while being a little high and twice sober and have a greater appreciation for each and every song. Each song has grown on me differently and all I have to say is that this was a masterpiece in production, mixing and singing. Thank you Jon and thank you Abel
Nothing I enjoy more than listening to a new release and then watching Jon’s reaction to it. This record is mind blowing.
"Escape from LA" it's a beast, simply a beast already.
Now we just need bigquint to come out from the shadows and do his thing 😭
He doesn’t fuck with The Weeknd like that because The Weeknd stopped making Trilogy quality music
Josh Williams fake news. he always comes out when he puts out music.
Josh Williams i don’t understand y’all. was abel suppose to create the same sound his whole career? he made trilogy when we was 20, he’s now 30. and as for bigquint, people get older, he might be dealing with things he didn’t 10 years ago.
jordan_thebaker we don’t want the same old album we want the old quality. He’s 9 projects deep still trying to be 3 different artists on one album.
@@joshwilliams6517 crying ass babies
This is his most complete album he has put out in my opinion. He has so much of the retro, bangers that the mainstream loves AND the XO complexity I NEEDED. As much as I loved starboy I thought Max simplified the production too much, but Abel and Illangelo are a killer combo and they really came back for this one, the deep references in the background to kissland and trilogy are liquid gold for the eardrums. I already know this will forever be a favorite
Well said.
The new shades are everything 😂
Not sure if I was more excited for the album or Jons reaction. Favorite reaction channel.
While not every song is a 10/10, it’s undeniable that every, and i mean EVERY song on this album had amazing and really atmospheric beats!
I dunno man
Every song is a 10/10
@@shahii.7034 factsss
Every song is 10/10
.5
B+
Absolutely, never heard an album that kept me so energic until the end
I feel this album is going to be so special for me. Today was my last day of high school, with only two days notice. I woke up this morning and listened to the first few tracks. I then went to school and it was the biggest stone of emotion I've ever had thrown at me. It was especially difficult signing and getting signed shirts , from friends and teachers I may never see again. This was partially due to the fact that it was difficult making minimal contact with friends I've had for 5 years. Revising for GCSES excessively, when I should've been socializing and playing footie. Only then, I find that I won't have any end of year exams. Hardwork for nothing. Finally, I came home washed my hands, sang happy birthday and relistened to the first few tracks. The second time was just a billion times more emotional.
Bless bro x
This album is meth. The more you do it, the more you need to do it.
this is so true
Wtf
I’m realizing this 8 months later
Nice name. I'm Jack.
Hey Tyler...
can we talk about how Adaptation and Love In The Sky, the 3rd and 4th songs from Kiss Land, had a transition and now Hardest To Love and Scared To Live, the 3rd and 4th songs from After Hours, also have a transition
EDIT: Outside and XO / The Host, the 3rd and 4th songs from Echoes of Silence, also had a transition.
Kiss Land was trash
@@joshwilliams6517 that's your opinion and i respect it
Josh Williams stfu
@@joshwilliams6517 bro you're just wrong
Justin Jandoc I’m so glad to see a real XO fam in the comments
Y’all ever had an album make y’all feel like an addict? Is it just me? I haven’t put my headphones down since midnight 😭 Abel did what NEEDED to be done with no features
I wouldve loved a joji feature i feel like he would fit well in this album
@@SuperAmazingNoob YES YES YES
@@SuperAmazingNoob nah this album is much better without features
Same , omg yesyesyes!😩❤❤❤
Ngl I've been listing to this album this whole Quarantine
Please Jon do a review on this album after some time. I really want to hear your thoughts on the album after you’ve heard it more times. As you said, this album needs a few listens so it would be cool to get your thoughts collected after some time has passed. Also love the videos and congrats on the sponsorship!
Agree!!!!!!!
Top 5 on this album :
1. After Hours
2. Faith
3. Blinding Lights
4. Hardest To Love
5. Alone Again
Facts
i liked too late
Solitude I loved all the songs those are just my favorites
Escape from LA gotta be in there
Snowchild is top 3 id say
This album is a masterpiece. I love every song. Have had it on repeat all day and every listen the songs get better
Jon if you didn't know Repeat After Me was produced by Kevin Parker from Tame Impala
And Daniel Lopitan aka Oneohtrix Point Never. If Jon ever ends up reacting to some experimental electronic stuff he's gotta check him out hes amazing.
Man made me get chills in the worst days of my life, he’s a legend
Save Your Tears is my favorite song off the album and I'm so glad you appreciate it as much as I do
Man watching your reaction reminded me of the first time I listened to Abel,through After Hours and it made me cry. Now, its like the best thing thats ever happened to me. Love from India🇮🇳
my small theory for the album is that it’s split into short phases, could be very inaccurate but just my interpretation so far. the beginning is his “heartbroken” phase which takes up most the album. escape from LA is the transition to his “heartless” phase but that was shortlived with heartless and faith being the only songs in it. then the end of faith is the transition to his “reconciliation” phase which is also short lived with three tracks, where he seems to be back with the person he was hurt over but still feeling guilty and regretful for hurting them. repeat after me is the transition to the “acceptance” phase where he acknowledges that they have both hurt each other and he knows it’s time to let go. the album ends with him wishing he could essentially erase all this that he went through from his mind.
This may or may not be true but I love it 😂
I personally believe the album is circular
Scully tZ that also makes a lot of sense
marisabella mena whether it’s true or not i’ve had very similar thoughts. you presented it in a different way but i feel the same. love how there’s so many ways to view this album, it’s just getting better and better with each listen. i love it!
Sounds exactly like what IGOR was lol. Tis not to say After Hours is bad at all from that though, it does a very fine job executing its sounds and structure.
This album is just amazing!!! After hours is still my favourite track, alone again and faith hit in the same spot that resemble that new sound of him. Snowchild is just so real and chilling at the same time. Until I bleed out and escape from LA totally gave me Trilogy vibes, the Interlude noise ep vibes and the rest is also amazing, like listening to your favourite 80s movie soundtrack. In your eyes is a great tribute to MJ soundwise. The album definetely grows the more you listen to hit, now after listing to it for the fifth time it just gives me goosebumps.
Jon looking tired, can tell he woke up early af to get this out ASAP for us. Ty jd 🙏
bro when i first heard faith i legit burst into tears with how fucking amazing it is and the whole album, abel literally spoiled us with After Hours, album of the year 100%
I knew the second I heard faith that we’d be seeing a sunglasses moment 😂😂 amazing track
Melosivitch24 on me 😂😂😂 it’s kinda hard not to 🤷🏾♂️ this one ☝🏾 was a obvious hit tho
saaaameeee hhahahaahahha
The magic of Abel on your channel Jon is incredible. This is already your most watched video since...
the After Hours track reaction. What legend he is.
Dude "in your eyes" was a banger
Is*
My favorite song ever
Save your tears too lol
One of the album producers shared yesterday in his stories the process of making the album songs(with studio photos/dates) only After Hours needed more than 3 months to be made, like they made the first part then months later then second one, and it was like since the end of 2018 and start of 2019, which shows of how much they worked for a song & the whole album, loved your reaction man, much love keep it up🙌
Thank you Jon Denton 🙌 I appreciate so much that even as a new fan, you are a true fan. I love having you in the XO family and getting to hear your in-depth thoughts about The Weeknd's music, it's always spot-on. Although I do suspect that Hardest to Love hits differently if you're heartbroken, because my initial reaction to that song was to start sobbing haha but other than that, again, spot-on! Can't wait for your review! XO
I feel like you nailed it when you summarized the albuum as "elegant". Abel really knows how to mix popular sounds with his own personal and unique art. Genius
friends: what genre u listen to?
me: THE WEEKND
Makes no sense
R&b and pop 🙄
That's me all the time 😂
abel sounds a lot like Michael jackson in "in your eyes"
Yes !! MJ would be so proud
Abel has stated that MJ was a huge influence on him. I’m sure MJ would love his music
I really wish they would have met each other. Without Michael there would be no Abel or XO.
That and D.D. are the closet to modern Michael we'll ever get
@@bmwdagang Whos dd
I can't stop crooning the chorus to after hours, it's stuck in my head differently
The only reaction I've been waiting on, love your work. I've listened to the album 6 times and every time I find something new that I missed before. After Hours is so dark yet so elegant but bangs in your chest. XO
His drawn out singing of single words like in Scared to Live always gets me. His voice makes any lyric(lyrics) have 1000x the impact.
This album even though its not dark dark like his mixtapes but its still dark in a way, and the 80’s vibe and new style I love it. Its soooo good.
The whole time I was listening to after hours I was just thinking "I wonder how Jon is gonna react to this" 😂
yeah i love everything about Abel he’s insane.
His album is meant to listen too in order, every song transitions so well into the other like faiths outro into blinding lights. Man The Weeknd is so talented I’m glad I’m XO
Finally. I was waiting the whole day.
Huge album, something that will definitely age well. Got to listen to this at night while driving, shit will HIT DIFFERENT!
@impulsive creep is trying to find the best place to listen to this album... March 2020 was spooky as well
Think this is Abel's best album, gonna give it a second listen, but it is certainly up there with one of the best pieces of music I have ever heard. XO
I 100% agree with this
After trilogy
@@sadmansazidorko3213 yeah Trilogy is timeless, but reckon After Hours could be the same
trilogy 100% is his best but don't hate me for liking bbtm more.. I'm still a true fan 2011 lol
@@chasewallace321 that's ok! It goes to show how amazing all of his music is that people have different favorites :)
JD, congrats on the sponsor my mate, also I have to say I really like the detail that you go into when analysing these tracks. Honestly, these reaction videos are top.
The transition from hardest to love - scared to love WAS AMAZING
alone again - 1:46
too late - 4:07
hardest to love - 6:02
scared to live - 7:29
snowchild - 9:42
escape from la - 11:10
heartless - 13:50
faith - 14:23
blinding lights - 16:02
in your eyes - 17:01
save your tears - 17:54
repeat after me ( interlude ) - 19:45
after hours - 20:15
until i bleed out - 21:12
This Albums is so powerful , it almost makes me cry everytime
Finally ! 2am here in Australia, been waiting for this reaction lol
Jon.. bro that sunglasses 😂😂
Coming back to this video after over a month & just wanted to say you got this spot on! Every time one of these tracks come on my playlist I appreciate it more & more. Unreal album almost perfection
I’m serious when I say this, you really make my days better man. Keep up the videos definitely have the notifications on ✅
I really love how as I'm reading through the comments, everyone has a different favourite song from the album. That's how you know this album is just great. :)
This is the Album of the YEAR brooo. This is the actual healing for Coronavirus
I love when on the first tracks, his voice is drenched in effects symbolizing that he dosent know who he is anymore, but once he accepts the fsct hes back to his old ways, his voice starts becoming more and more clearer as if he's saying that "im back to my old self, deal with it". I also love on the final track "Until I Bleed Out", his voice is drenched with effects again, meaning that he knows what hes doing, but he slowly realizes the side effects of what he's doing, and he's slowly regreting the decision, and he's slowly back to not knowing who he is anymore, as if he's saying "is this what i am?, just using painful things to cope with painful things, there must be another way to cope with the problems im facing", and in the whole album (except the final track), his voice constantly swithces to a very robotic Abel, to a Normal Abel again and again, symbolizing that he knows what he's doing, he just dosen't know the side effects of what he's doing, but he's rolling with it, until it finishes on the final track "Until I Bleed Out" where he is back again with the robotic Abel voice, symbolizing that, doing painful things to cope with painful things is gonna lead to even more regret and even more confusion, and even more questions.
This is exactly the kind of review I was looking for! I couldn’t have explained some of these tracks any better especially with the whole idea of this album having major longevity. Many are already speaking down on the album without giving it more listens so it’s tough to see, but a smart man like you is what reviewing needs. I love this album all around and I’m glad you enjoyed it as well! Thank you Jon Denton!
I love how each song flows so smoothly directly to the next a real experience!
I listened to the album with genius, and there’s so much in the lyrics to understand. About what he feels about his fame and success and how even though there’s a million girls who want him, he can’t get or live with the one he truly loves. The lyrics also give us an idea about how he’s matured. From ‘Cali is the mission’ in his previous tracks to ‘Cali is the mission now nigga leaving’. His on off relationship with Bella Hadid seems like what the whole album is about. Snow child felt similar to Reminder in Starboy where he reminisces about growing up in Toronto. Although he’s worked really hard and made a name for himself, life at the top seems very lonely and fraudulent almost for him. He has everything he would ever need, but the one thing he truly wants he doesn’t get. He does between blaming Bella to blaming himself and his vices. Production wise and how each song flows from one to the other is absolutely incredible. Feels very modern but very retro at the same time. Incredible piece of work.
10k views in One hour ,this is a great video and you deserve the praise jon🙌🏼
Snowchild and escape from LA are my favourites from three ones we hadn't heard. Great reaction as always. XOTWOD
I'm here again for the 5th time, anyone else? Golden review.
Jon Denton : Hey mom can I use your glasses for a video
Mom: .....
i’ve listened to this six times already. each time i’ve noticed something new and gained a new appreciation for it. i love this album and it’s a testament to how much he’s grown and each track adds something new. idk where it ranks among his other projects but it’s a fantastic record. hope you all have a great day god bless xo
This album is exactly what i was looking for, no more to say.
Abel made a wonderfull job.
Your point about this album needing time for digestion was spot on. It took me until the 4th or 5th listen to really appreciate every song on this project. Honestly, this is his best work since Echoes of Silence. If he doesn't win another Grammy for this, I'm done with that joke of an award show.
the weeknd: i take half a xan and i still stay awake
drake: am i a joke to you?
This is what I want from someone that is reacting to The weeknd's songs, actually listening and not screaming and not even paying atention to the details. Great reaction!
Just woke up, go on RUclips, *uploaded 1 min ago* lets goooo
initial listen doesn't really work yet but i keep listening to it FUCCCCCCK! ALBUM OF THE YEAR