Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
All bets regarding Abel Tesfaye's career arc were off once Trilogy, material previously released at no (financial) cost to the listener, went platinum. For a period after that, it seemed like the singer had peaked just short of pop-star status. His eager congregation pushed Kiss Land, the proper debut, to number two in the U.S., yet none of its singles, not even the one that featured Drake, reached the Hot 100. "Love Me Harder," a duet with labelmate Ariana Grande released in 2014, proved to be a masterstroke. It put Tesfaye in the Top Ten for the first time and began a streak of similarly effective singles that preceded -- and are included on -- Beauty Behind the Madness. "Earned It," a ballad recorded for the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack, showed that he could adapt to a traditional pop backdrop. That cut a path for "The Hills," in which Tesfaye alleviated his "day one" base with a typically degenerate slow jam, co-produced by Illangelo, that affirmed "When I'm fucked up, that's the real me" while taking the toxic narrative a step further with lines like "Drugs started feelin' like it's decaf." And then "Can't Feel My Face," a sleek slice of retro-modern disco-funk produced by Max Martin and Ali Payami, landed in June 2015. An obvious pop move, it worked -- it went to number one in the U.S. and several other territories. Tesfaye skillfully delivered his biggest hooks as he sang about dependency in that part-anguished, part-euphoric fashion derived from Michael Jackson. Like its advance singles, the rest of Beauty Behind the Madness is R&B and pop as drug-den paella: chemical and sexual abasement, self-loathing, and self-absorbed belligerence over narcotized sludge and less expected moves that peak with the wholly sweet "As You Are" and crest with a big-band diversion on "Losers." Collaborations with Kanye West, Ed Sheeran, and Lana Del Rey add star power; the last of that pack contributes to a moment where Tesfaye turns another corner by acknowledging a dead end through the fog, "addicted to a life that's so empty and so cold." The commercial strides are obvious. The creative advancements are less apparent, but they're in there.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From 12.49€/month
Stephan Moccio, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Bushnell, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vanessa Freebairn-Smith, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - DAVE REITZAS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Quenneville, ComposerLyricist - The Weeknd, MainArtist - Abel Tesfaye, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Jonathan Martin Berry, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jason "DaHeala" Quenneville, Producer - Greg Eliason, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jay Paul Bicknell, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2015 The Weeknd XO, Inc.
Timothy McKenzie, ComposerLyricist - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joshua Smith, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Labrinth, Producer, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - The Weeknd, MainArtist - Abel Tesfaye, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Carlo Montagnese, ComposerLyricist - Carlo "Illangelo" Montagnese, Producer - Jason "DaHeala" Quenneville, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2015 The Weeknd XO, Inc.
Robert Holmes, ComposerLyricist - Mike Dean, Producer, Additional Producer - Kanye West, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joshua Smith, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Noah Goldstein, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Christopher Pope, ComposerLyricist - The Weeknd, MainArtist - Abel Tesfaye, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Carlo Montagnese, ComposerLyricist - Carl Marshall, ComposerLyricist - The Pope, Producer - Carlo "Illangelo" Montagnese, Producer, Additional Producer - Jason "DaHeala" Quenneville, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2015 The Weeknd XO, Inc.
Danny Schofield, ComposerLyricist - Osman Ismen, ComposerLyricist - Jean-Marie Horvat, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Kutch, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ahmad Balshe, ComposerLyricist - Ben Diehl, ComposerLyricist - Jason Quenneville, ComposerLyricist - The Weeknd, Producer, MainArtist - Brandon "Bizzy" Hollemon, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Barnes, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Abel Tesfaye, ComposerLyricist - Ali Kocatepe, ComposerLyricist - Sabahattin Ali, ComposerLyricist - Jason "DaHeala" Quenneville, Producer, Co-Producer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ben "Billions" Diehl, Producer
℗ 2014 The Weeknd XO, Inc.
Mano, Producer - Nate Albert, A&R - The Weeknd, MainArtist - A. Balshe, ComposerLyricist - Wendy Goldstein, A&R - Abel Tesfaye, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Carlo Montagnese, ComposerLyricist - Emmanuel Nickerson, ComposerLyricist - Carlo "Illangelo" Montagnese, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Thomas William Raybould, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2015 The Weeknd XO, Inc.
Danny Schofield, ComposerLyricist - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ben Diehl, ComposerLyricist - Jason Quenneville, ComposerLyricist - The Weeknd, MainArtist - Abel Tesfaye, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Carlo Montagnese, ComposerLyricist - DannyBoyStyles, Producer - Carlo "Illangelo" Montagnese, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ben "Billions" Diehl, Producer
℗ 2015 The Weeknd XO, Inc.
Max Martin, Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Savan Kotecha, ComposerLyricist - Peter Svensson, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sam Holland, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ali Payami, Producer, Drums, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - The Weeknd, MainArtist - Abel Tesfaye, ComposerLyricist - Cory Bice, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Peter Carlsson, Sound Editor, StudioPersonnel - Jeremy Lertola, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2015 The Weeknd XO, Inc.
Max Martin, Producer - Savan Kotecha, ComposerLyricist - Peter Svensson, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Klas Åhlund, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sam Holland, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ali Payami, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Ahmad Balshe, ComposerLyricist - Mattias Bylund, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - The Weeknd, MainArtist - Mattias Johansson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Abel Tesfaye, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist - Cory Bice, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Peter Carlsson, Editor, StudioPersonnel - David Bukovinszky, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremy Lertola, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2015 The Weeknd XO, Inc.
Stephan Moccio, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Bushnell, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - David Reitzas, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Quenneville, ComposerLyricist - The Weeknd, MainArtist - A. Balshe, ComposerLyricist - Abel Tesfaye, ComposerLyricist - Jonathan Martin Berry, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jason "DaHeala" Quenneville, Producer - Jay Paul Bicknell, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Evin O’Cleary, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2015 The Weeknd XO, Inc.
Max Martin, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Savan Kotecha, ComposerLyricist - Peter Svensson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sam Holland, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ali Payami, Producer, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Ahmad Balshe, ComposerLyricist - The Weeknd, MainArtist - Abel Tesfaye, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist - Cory Bice, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Peter Carlsson, Editor, StudioPersonnel - Jeremy Lertola, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2015 The Weeknd XO, Inc.
Danny Schofield, ComposerLyricist - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joshua Smith, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ahmad Balshe, ComposerLyricist - Jason Quenneville, ComposerLyricist - The Weeknd, MainArtist - Abel Tesfaye, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Carlo Montagnese, ComposerLyricist - DannyBoyStyles, Producer - Carlo "Illangelo" Montagnese, Producer - Jason "DaHeala" Quenneville, Producer - Ben "Billions" Diehl, Producer
℗ 2015 The Weeknd XO, Inc.
Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ed Sheeran, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - Jason Quenneville, ComposerLyricist - The Weeknd, MainArtist - Abel Tesfaye, ComposerLyricist - Carlo "Illangelo" Montagnese, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jason "DaHeala" Quenneville, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ben "Billions" Diehl, Producer, Additional Producer
℗ 2015 The Weeknd XO, Inc.
Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Weeknd, MainArtist - Lana Del Rey, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - Abel Tesfaye, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist - Carlo Montagnese, ComposerLyricist - Carlo "Illangelo" Montagnese, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2015 The Weeknd XO, Inc.
Danny Schofield, ComposerLyricist - Stephan Moccio, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Bushnell, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vinnie Colaiuta, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - DAVE REITZAS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ben Diehl, ComposerLyricist - The Weeknd, MainArtist - Abel Tesfaye, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Jonathan Martin Berry, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Greg Eliason, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Maty Noyes, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Paul Bicknell, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kyle Gaffney, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2015 The Weeknd XO, Inc.
Album review
All bets regarding Abel Tesfaye's career arc were off once Trilogy, material previously released at no (financial) cost to the listener, went platinum. For a period after that, it seemed like the singer had peaked just short of pop-star status. His eager congregation pushed Kiss Land, the proper debut, to number two in the U.S., yet none of its singles, not even the one that featured Drake, reached the Hot 100. "Love Me Harder," a duet with labelmate Ariana Grande released in 2014, proved to be a masterstroke. It put Tesfaye in the Top Ten for the first time and began a streak of similarly effective singles that preceded -- and are included on -- Beauty Behind the Madness. "Earned It," a ballad recorded for the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack, showed that he could adapt to a traditional pop backdrop. That cut a path for "The Hills," in which Tesfaye alleviated his "day one" base with a typically degenerate slow jam, co-produced by Illangelo, that affirmed "When I'm fucked up, that's the real me" while taking the toxic narrative a step further with lines like "Drugs started feelin' like it's decaf." And then "Can't Feel My Face," a sleek slice of retro-modern disco-funk produced by Max Martin and Ali Payami, landed in June 2015. An obvious pop move, it worked -- it went to number one in the U.S. and several other territories. Tesfaye skillfully delivered his biggest hooks as he sang about dependency in that part-anguished, part-euphoric fashion derived from Michael Jackson. Like its advance singles, the rest of Beauty Behind the Madness is R&B and pop as drug-den paella: chemical and sexual abasement, self-loathing, and self-absorbed belligerence over narcotized sludge and less expected moves that peak with the wholly sweet "As You Are" and crest with a big-band diversion on "Losers." Collaborations with Kanye West, Ed Sheeran, and Lana Del Rey add star power; the last of that pack contributes to a moment where Tesfaye turns another corner by acknowledging a dead end through the fog, "addicted to a life that's so empty and so cold." The commercial strides are obvious. The creative advancements are less apparent, but they're in there.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 01:05:06
- Main artists: The Weeknd
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Universal Republic Records
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 2015 The Weeknd XO, Inc. ℗ 2015 The Weeknd XO, Inc.
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.
Playlists