Features 9 NEW Tracks! (Tracklist after the jump!)

Bumped up to the top with my first impression stream of consciousness!

I just finished listen number 2 of The Weeknd‘s epic conclusion 2011′s trilogy of projects Echoes Of Silence, and I gotta say right off the bat, Weeknd’s signature sound continues to develop while still featuring a predominant aesthetic of what caught our attention in the first place with House Of Balloons. Vocally is where I notice The Weeknd stepping up the most, as, outside of the ultra experimental and lone preview of EOS, “Initiation”, Weeknd croons with a greater clarity at many points throughout the tape on top of his falsetto that’s become his trademark. “Same Old Song”, for example, boasts a unique delivery of his range while “The Fall” does the same with more of a deep talking tone over some ominous clapping. Both of those songs speak to the vocal clarity, as, in comparison to Thursday (which didn’t stick with me over time like I thought it would), I seem to understand more of Weeknd’s lyrics and concepts on the first listen and that adds to the powerful sound of the vocals and production itself.

Now, the first thing we all undoubtedly noticed was track 01 and The Weeknd’s cover of Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana”. A bad cover of the greatest can simply wreck a singer’s career so it’s quite the bold move first and foremost by Weeknd, especially to kick things off with it. It’s a good thing he knocked it out of the park as he captured MJ’s nuances quite well over a production that has that original Weeknd feel to it too. It’s a fresh cover that definitely caught me, and likely all of us off guard, with “Dirty Diana” trending on Twitter since EOS’ release. Props to the T. Dot singer for pullin’ it off. The goodness doesn’t stop there though as tracks 2 and 3 got me even more entrenched into Echoes Of Silence as the natural transition between “Montreal” and “Outside” had me feel like I was listening to one long, well-flowing record. Both of those were instant standouts along with my early favorite track “Same Old Song” (sans the disruptive, yet entertaining cameo on the outro), “The Fall”, and “Next”. That three song stretch will be getting a lot of plays before the simple, yet fitting title track concludes it all. It’s early, but I think Echoes Of Silence will surpass Thursday in my book and perhaps match the level of House Of Balloons when the dust settles. No, Echoes Of Silence won’t have the same impact as House Of Balloons first did (I think that’s natural), but from beginning to end, EOS is a project that comes correct across the board and possesses that dark and powerful R&B sound that’s become so consistent and signature for The Weeknd. What a fitting night for Echoes Of Silence to be released, matching the mood of the shortest day of the year in 12.21. Without further adieu, dive into The Weeknd’s latest mixtape and hit the blue link for your FREE download!