There was a time when EVERYONE was wondering who the hell The Weeknd was. Here is what we knew. His take on R&B was pretty unique, or at least from The-Dream's school of dark and moody. He wasn't signed. Dude wouldn't do interviews. He had a killer track with a Beach House sample and flipped Siouxsie. House Of Balloons made a ton of best of lists and was nominated for loads of awards at the end of the year and this was just a mixtape. Needless to say, dude made an impact. "What You Need" is a haunting track similar to a James Blake ballad with dubstep undertones and "Loft Music" is so damn sexy I lost my underwear every listen. Double vinyl pressing with gatefold sleeve. Recommended.

• 2022 'Decade Edition' w/ original tracklist; previously available only on The Weeknd's own site (no longer available)
• black double vinyl pressing
• housed in gatefold sleeve (note: cover artwork is censored)
• limited edition
• original release year: 2011
• music label: Republic Records 2022

reviewed by Le Haim 09/2015