Spenblog

I am a big fan of concept albums. Of the many forms a concept album can take, one of my favourites is the fictional radio station (see also Queens of the Stone Age – Songs for the Deaf). I love that it makes the artist stick to a strict format, i.e., songs that could conceivably get play on the radio, and play within those barriers. It keeps the songs short and concise and also gives the opportunity for the record to have a host (or hosts) that guide the listener through the journey. I am also a huge sucker for the themes of existentialism and letting things go. They hit hard on a record (or a movie or a book) when used well.

The Weeknd uses this format to its full potential in Dawn FM. The basic concept is that the listener is dead and stuck in purgatory. Purgatory is in Toronto (both literally and in the universe of this record). Through the runtime of the album, the listener learns to let go of regret, pain, guilt, shame, and grudges, to move on and pass through to the other side. The host is Jim Carrey who is perfect for the tone of the record and because his Canadian accent (subtle, but there) matches the vibe of the fictional Dawn 103.5 radio station (a nod to Z103.5 in Toronto).

The record gets going in earnest with four absolutely killer dance tracks: Gasoline, How Do I Make You Love Me?, Take my Breath, and Sacrifice. All are endlessly catchy with great hooks. All deal with the temptations and vices of life that run through the rest of the Weeknd’s catalog (see Can’t Feel My Face, see The Hills). Each track flows seamlessly to the other and builds in intensity peaking with the absolutely electric Sacrifice.

The album settles down with a reflection from Quincy Jones on how he has treated the women in his life. The reflection is filled with regret and the wisdom of age (both themes throughout the record). The album then transitions into my favourite track – Out of Time. You would be hard pressed to find a better song to drive around to in the evening. I happen to drive an SUV with two kids’ car seats in the back. The SUV is usually crammed with toys, a stroller, and half-consumed yoghurt pouches and snacks. And I still feel like a bad ass riding around town listening to that song. I, who have been married since Christ our Lord was a child, feel in that moment like that song is about me. It’s an incredible feeling. The song probably hits even harder if you have a convertible and can drive with the top down. Unsurprisingly, the lyrics in the song revolve around realizing you have squandered your chance with somebody you loved and that person has moved on with their life.

There’s three other big highlights of this near flawless album. The first is the jealously-laden Is There Someone Else. It reflects on the singer’s insecurity that his lover has found somebody new and his own acknowledgement that he probably deserves it. The next is the stadium-pop synth anthem Less than Zero. It reflects the tone of acceptance of the mistakes the singer has made in the face of regret over the consequences of his actions. It strikes an optimistic tone to conclude the record. It’s a very bittersweet feeling. The song is absolutely beautiful. The acoustic guitar on the track really elevates it against the electronic production of the rest of the record.

The album concludes with a spoken word performance by Jim Carrey. I love it. Either it will speak to you or you will find it extremely corny. If you are wired in any way similar to me it will tie the record together for you. My favourite line from it is as follows: “When you’re all out of time there’s nothing but space. No hunting, no gathering, no nations, no race.” The upshot of the album is that to move on you must let go.

Anyways. If you are going out for an evening drive and are feeling a little bit existential and are open to Canadian accents, you can do a lot worse than Dawn FM.