The Weeknd Albums Ranked

His songs will have you weeknd at the knees.

Image source: Variety

Canadian singer-songwriter Abel Tesfaye (AKA The Weeknd) is one of the biggest artists in the world. The Weeknd has over 100 award wins under his belt along with record-breaking songs to match. Tesfaye brings together elements of RnB, Soul, Pop, and Electronic music which shows his ability to create a unique sound throughout his discography. His studio albums have become popular in the music industry and a must-have on your Spotify playlists. Even though it is difficult to rank greatness, I am going to give it a good go. Here are The Weeknd’s albums ranked from not the best to the best:

7. Kiss Land (2013)

Kiss Land is The Weeknd’s second studio album and comes in last in the rankings. Kiss Land features a mixture of songs for when you want to dance and for when you need time to reflect. Through the track list, you’re able to grasp a sense of his deep emotions, however, the overall tone is not as polished compared to his other albums. The Pop and RnB vibes are fun and sexy with songs like “Wanderlust” but unfortunately this era for The Weeknd was probably the least outstanding for his listeners and himself. I would still recommend purchasing Kiss Land’s limited-edition seafoam green vinyl that was reissued for its five-year anniversary as it is a great asset for any Weeknd fan. Even though it is not number one it is still an important part of his career that needs to be appreciated.

Listen to: Professional

6. Trilogy (2012)

Now, I just want to preface by saying that just because I have ranked Trilogy low it in no way means it is a bad album. Like any devoted fan, it is always a bummer to rank your favourite artists earliest albums down the bottom. Yes, of course this is where he started and it is extremely important to remember your roots, however the structure of this album lacks when compared to the albums that follow. Trilogy is the epitome of The Weeknd. Talks of sex, drugs, and heartache is what he knows best and Trilogy features all of this with a sense of edgy darkness that pushes its listeners to escape inside their minds. He truly proved his singing ability with his rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana” which was renamed “D.D.” for the album. The Weeknd’s humble beginnings make me extremely proud when I look back on this album as he so deeply spoke of his potential and innate need to make it. It is clear now that his manifestation of success was a success within itself.

Listen to: Wicked Games

5. My Dear Melancholy, (2018)

My Dear Melancholy, is nothing short of honest and raw. It is not always that an artist can easily translate their emotions through their music into the hearts of others, but I truly felt heartache after hearing this album for the first time. I too felt betrayed by the relationship and break-up that The Weeknd experienced with Selena Gomez, which is what this album essentially described. When Tesfaye said “I almost cut a piece of myself for your life, guess I was just another pit stop 'til you made up your mind, you just wasted my time” I think it proved that there wasn’t a lot of sadness behind his words but a sense of anger and frustration which I felt through every word spoken. My Dear Melancholy, fully resonated with The Weeknd’s listeners by leaving no stone unturned and no feeling unfelt. If this album had more than six songs it probably would’ve ranked higher, but because of this, it sits at number five.

Listen to: Call Out My Name

4. Dawn FM (2022)

Dawn FM completely shows the productiveness and creativity that The Weeknd holds. His concept to have Dawn FM play out as if it were like a radio station is genius and refreshing. Recruiting fellow Canadian native Jim Carrey as the radio presenter adds a sense of eeriness to the album that Carrey naturally possesses, and shows Abel also stays true to his Canadian roots. Dawn FM has a specific 80s-style synth pop sound which is clearly becoming his forte, however, some songs fall a bit short which is why Dawn FM didn’t rank higher. I wish that the album didn’t have any other features (not including Jim Carrey) because it takes away the sense of Abel’s journey post After Hours when others appear alongside him. Despite some songs not completely hitting the mark, you can tell that The Weeknd is maturing in his taste and becoming more meticulous with his album planning. Comparing this album to Trilogy, which was ten years ago, really proves how much The Weeknd has developed as an artist who is still navigating life, love, and his music.

Listen to: How Do I Make You Love Me?

3. Beauty Behind the Madness (2015)

Beauty Behind the Madness is the album that made The Weeknd a household name. This album was a massive step up from Kiss Land and truly cemented his career with “Can’t Feel My Face” and “The Hills” both reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Once again, The Weeknd hits the nail on the head with the fusion of sex appeal and sadness. I never thought that those two themes would go hand in hand, but Mr. Tesfaye has clearly perfected the recipe. This album features some big names like Ed Sheeran and Lana Del Rey, but ultimately the songs with Abel on his own are the best. Beauty Behind the Madness will always hold a top three place, even after The Weeknd continues to release new albums because its iconic reputation gives it a different kind of strength that makes it irreplaceable.

Listen to: In The Night

2. Starboy (2016)

Starboy is the album where The Weeknd pretty much said “I have gotten everything I have ever dreamed of and now I can’t escape it”. Following the massive success of Beauty Behind the Madness, I could only imagine what it feels like to go from rookie to big-time player in the game. Starboy exemplifies the conundrum of thinking you are the shit and thinking you are the shit. I think this album copped some unfair flack in the sense of Abel saying “Look what you’ve done” as in blaming his fans for his success. If you look at Starboy on a deeper level, it isn’t just a ballsy and cocky album that it appears to be on the surface. Of course, he needed a few heartbreakers in there like “Die For You” and “Stargirl Interlude” but overall Starboy was The Weeknd’s rockstar era. From going on tour, to his music videos, and securing his spot as an A-Lister, I think Abel himself had a “holy shit” moment realising that he actually made it.

Listen to: Secrets

1. After Hours (2020)

I am going to be completely honest… this album has made me cry many times. I thought My Dear Melancholy was heartbreaking but After Hours takes the cake. Abel Tesfaye has once again successfully translated his feelings through song and all of his listeners can truly feel the sense of loss that this album portrays. I feel like I have lived through his breakup with Bella Hadid. Songs like “Hardest To Love” and “Scared To Live” really hit home when you are no stranger to that overwhelming sense of grief over losing love for yourself and for what you had. This is not only The Weeknd’s best album, but I would also consider it to be one of the best albums of all time. For After Hours to do as well as it did with zero artist features was such a big move for Abel and proved how talented he actually is. The iconic red suit that he wears as the story of the album chronologically unfolded in front of us during his music videos, guest appearances, and red-carpet looks were curated so perfectly it will be hard to beat. The album broke records with “Blinding Lights” dominating the Billboard chart by spending 90 weeks on the list. After Hours is truly a masterpiece that will never be forgotten.

Listen to: After Hours

The Weeknd continues to prove why he is such a big name in the music industry and these albums are just part of the story. He has been my top Spotify artist for the past six years and I don’t see it changing anytime soon. No artist is perfect, but I believe that The Weeknd has a sense of growth in himself and his art which shows that he will stay relevant for years to come. Now Abel, hurry up and release your Australian tour dates because I haven’t seen you in the flesh since 2017 and I am getting impatient! Thanks.