For the Record: All About The Weeknd’s ‘Beauty Behind the Madness’

It may have leaked online a few days early, but The Weeknd‘s new album Beauty Behind the Madness was finally officially released last weekend.

The album is his second, and the follow-up to 2013’s Kiss Land, which was a critical success if not a mainstream one. But BBTM already promises to be both, yielding chart-toppers such as 50 Shades of Grey‘s “Earned It”, “The Hills”, and of course radio favorite “Can’t Feel My Face.”

The most unexpected thing about this album, besides its mainstream appeal, is the collaborations. First we have the piano-heavy Labrinth-assisted “Losers” which showcases both vocalists in the best way possible and once again reinforces all the Michael Jackson comparisons:

Of course there’s also “Dark Times” with Ed Sheeran, because who hasn’t he already sung with?

And then we have a Lana Del Rey duet, which makes a lot of sense when you think about it – I mean, they’re both dark, moody and weird, and possibly spend a significant amount of time getting high.

Also included on the album is latest single, Kanye-produced “Tell Your Friends” in which he reminds us all that he hasn’t totally sold out, that he’s “still that n***a with the hair, singing about popping pills, fucking bitches”, because wouldn’t you be disappointed if he wasn’t?

You can buy the album now on iTunes or check out a preview of all the tracks here:

WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss For the Record: JoJo Back with Three New Singles.