On Thursday (August 18), The Weeknd, released Thursday, the second installment of his mixtape trilogy. As with his initial release, House of Balloons, The Weeknd, has set the tone for what we have come to expect of him: beautiful, raw, lust-filled, drug-induced vocals extolling his experiences with loneliness, loss and unrequited love.

As an artist, The Weeknd is bold, often articulating feelings one would be too self conscious to utter aloud. It is this boldness that holds the listener’s attention, prompting a hand-to-mouth reaction, quickly followed by head nods in sync with his flow. It feels like with each verse he is slipping us a little more of whatever he takes to get him in “The Zone” as referenced in track number 4. The album’s lyrical content can be heavy at times though, as it taps into our most vulnerable human emotions. The intro, “Lonely Star,” is such an example as it grabs you and doesn’t let go until the song comes to an end. Drake, who The Weeknd recently joined at second annual OVO (October’s Very Own) Festival on July 31st, appears on the title track – “Thursday.” On “Rolling Stone,” The Weeknd’s high pitched vocals – smooth and almost trance-like – seem suspended in the air like weights long after the song ends.

Very little is known about the Toronto-born singer, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye. He is almost as mysterious as his lyrics. What we do know is that his vocal ability is unmatched for someone his age and he has garnered such a large following in a short time.

Be on the look out for Echoes of Silence – the final installment of the mixtape trilogy, set to drop in the fall. To download Thursday, visit www.the-weeknd.com.

(Pictured above: The Weeknd)