"His first name's Abel, know what his last name is?" "Ton." That was just...sublimely awful.

“The bridge is written to make the chorus sound better” WOW how have I never thought of that

I'm a kid from the 80's...i really ignore today's music...but then i discovered the weeknd. The nostalgia is real!!

The Weeknd is nostalgic in his musical sound and style but feels fresh and new with his unique voice. He really captures the edge and thrill of the sounds that encapsulate a time period, sound or feeling. Bruno Mars is another person who is just as good at this. Both of them are throwback artists in their own way and understand the musicality of what it takes to harness that sound but to me, The Weeknd pushes his retro vibes forward into the future while Bruno Mars takes his retro vibes to the vintage sounds of the past. I believe both of those tastes primarily lend to their voices. Bruno has that soulful throwback rasp that naturally lends to those vintage sounds while The Weeknd's voice is more soulful and ethereal, lending itself to a more forward-thinking sound and fresher feel.

Abel is such a talent. His voice is so good and his hooks and melodies are so earwormy. He has these poppy, timeless dance mega hits but he is also capable of creating such dark, emotional music too. All of which is very cinematic. Even his upbeat songs have deeper melancholy undertones. There's a genre of music that makes you want to cry and dance at the same time. Like you don't know whether to twerk or get on the floor in the fetal position and feel it all hahaha It's like a group of friends trying to cheer up their sad friend by dragging them to go dancing His music is great for sad contemplative car rides or wedding reception dances

I was a teen in the 80s and I think it sound more like a caricature of the 80s than actual 80s. imo

This channel is my new "I stop anything I'm doing to watch their new video right now" type of deal ^^ (thank you KZfaq recommandations!!) I'd even suggest a 30min format instead of 20-25min, because I have a strong feeling that there's so much that doesn't make the cut, and I'm sure there's a lot more that you guys would like to share with us!

A very underrated thing very few people notice about the Weeknd is his choice of notes for the vocal lines. Notice how he builds from the root, to the 5th in the pre-chorus, and then to the root an octave higher in the chorus. And in the live version, when re repeats the chorus he uses the 3rd and 4th instead of the root.

Take My Breath is one of Abel’s best examples of an amazing bridge

I started to notice how 80s this album sounded ....now I can hear what 80s sing inspired each song on this album...I love it

It's basically mainstream synthwave, and it is well done. Synthwave is just about the only newer genre than gives me hope - I was there in the eighties, and it was a thrilling time, and in many ways that time had more of a futuristic aesthetic than now. Of course, as an electronic musician I've made some synthwave music as well - the quality of nostalgia and futurism simultaneously is entirely my thing. I love it.

What is The Weeknd's real name? Saturday, Sunday

I could listen to you guys for days! I’m learning so much from your breakdown of these artists/songs. Please keep pumping out content! Love it

Now that you’ve brought up Take On Me (and it’s stuck in my head again) why not a full review? Such a classic, especially with the amazing video that accompanied it.

Wish you guys would go over "Hardest To Love" on the same album. Beautiful song, with a unique timing difference for the verse, and then standard in the chorus that I can't really understand the concept/reason for.

Please do a Parcels track next…. Sublime funky guys…

I really hope that Theo's love of The 1975 means that they do an episode on them at some point, they have some incredible tunes that are worth the deeper dive!

The way ya'll build off of each others comments allows, for me, a whole new perspective on the music you're analyzing as well as other music, old and new, that I encounter. I love this show.

Blinding lights is my driving song when i go out to drive the canyons late at night ! ! ! LOVE THAT F###’n SONG ! ! !

These reviews are amazing. I appreciate the songs more after these little nuances and tweaks are pointed out, and the music reviews at the beginning have me running all over KZfaq. Subbed for SURE.

Love the Weeknd! Reminds me of my younger days. The synth sounds are more harmonic and complex than the earlier days, which gives a richer texture to their sound. Love your show by the way!

These videos are so thoughtful and educational I would listen to this in podcast format! Not because I don't love the amazing video footage and beautifully arranged cuts and educational pieces but only because I want to listen to this more and more and on the go and in bed and all the time!

Fantastic! I so very much appreciate what you guys are creating here!!!

Jack I so love you for making these vids and the crew; you all are just so amazing; as a Dj from the 80s and born in 1960 and got to listen to 50s upwards. But the 70s and 80s stand out the most; but me not being an Artist; I have and are learning so so much from you guys, love love love it and thank you all

Love this series!!!!!!! Keep it up woohoooo

These breakdowns have become a must watch for me. Keep it up!

‘Save your Tears’ blends beautifully with ‘Goodbye Horses’ by Q Lazzarus. I saw a video on here a few months back where these two songs were mashed up and I couldn’t get enough of it. I need to look for that again…

merci pour les recommandations d'albums et d'artistes au debut de la video. Quel plaisir de découvrir vos points de vue sur cet artiste

I feel this is the episode Arianna found their groove and dynamic of these conversations. Great having them here!

Love the music recs at the beginning of every video. This bas become an awesome way for me to discover new music

There’s an exact riff in “save your tears “ lifted from Michael Jackson “rock with you “

youtube recomended this...and I'm glad it did...loved it...esp the little pop-up tech details/comments, and the main host's demo playing of the chords... good chemistry between the group...sub'd.

Absolutely love!!!! More more! This is my fav YT channel!!❤️❤️❤️

Thank you, I think this podcast helps aspiring musicians like me understand music so much more!

Just found ur channel and it is a gift. Been making music for ove a decade and ive had thoughts of doing this exact format with my musician friends. Im glad you did it before me and ith people of noteriety and legitimacy. I think as musicians we eally value hearing the ideas and impressions of professionals we aspire to be successful like.

Absolutely love the music recommendations segment! Keep it going!

as someone who wantsa to get into music more production playing instruments, this Chanel is so great! appreciate the breakdown and the people who are behind these videos

Love the analysis as well as the music recommendations from what y'all are listening to. All of it makes me more enthused about music.

The last question at the end is what I’ve been dying to ask other musician! I can’t believe someone actually asked it on this show! Thank you!

As a musician I absolutely love you guys talk about new music your listening to. You got a sub from me.

Amazing video guys! Looking forward to hear new stuff from Abel Ton!

Music Recommendations: 1:25 Ryan: Elton John - 11-17-70 1:30 Theo Katzmen: The 1975 - Notes On A Conditional Form 1:51 Arianna Powell: Charley Crockett - Honky Tonk Jubille 2:05 Mid-air Thief - Crumbling 2:17

After Hours was an amazing experience of an album. You guys should react to Alone Again and Faith. Those two songs easily withing the top 5 best songs from the album!

Well done ! I’d love to hear more current stuff, as 90% of what i listen to is from 70-90s / the weeknd perfect example :-)

thank you! we need this kind of talk show

The way you explain everything, to a person like myself who basically know nothing about production of the songs, just for a very weird reason adds an nth degree of depth to the way I, on a personal level listen and feel the music, and not just the lyrics. Also it makes you want you to appreciate the amount of hard work singers, music producers and all the other people involved. P.S. Please react of Charlie Puth's songs as well 'cause as far as i know he writes and also produces his music. I'm not sure about all his songs , but he is super involved into the production.

I’m so happy the KZfaq algo fed me this channel tonight. This is f**king awesome, I love it, instantly hooked, subscribed, the whole 9. I will now binge the entire back catalogue until 4am. Woo hoo 🤠

Thank you for another episode. Love it! Thoughts on anything from post ‘The Bends’ Radiohead discography? Feel like that has a lot sonically to discuss, but also touches on how artists change (an unavoidable topic with that band).

This seems to be the go to line-up now, absolutely perfect!

I really REALLY loved how this episode evolved from talking about the Weeknd to talking A/B synth comparisons, to how chord progressions make you feel, to how you digest music in your daily life, to your personal experience listening to stuff as a teen. It felt a lot more organic than previous videos (not that they weren't also great). Also everyone's music recommendations were on 🔥. EARLY Elton is the BEST ELTON (hot take)

Great analysis, and a quite brilliant USA 94 cap. Sheeeeeet, I was looking at the sweater just this week!

I effing love you guys and I have been binge watching every episode (not chronologically). Best content on the internet, or tv for that matter. Thanks for everything. Keep it going please.

The dynamic range in Chick Corea's ""Return to Forever" is amazing. Thanks for the content!

Your channel is amazing I just discovered it with the Leeland Sklar video and fell in love with your channel keep up with the good stuff

Tasty for the brain and heart. I loved it! Congrats pals, this content is refreshing. Thanks!

Thankyou guys love learning about music.

I’m so glad I found this channel!!

Just found you guys! I’m a music teacher and this is incredibly fun and informative for me- Thanks!

Great channel, great video. Nice of you to explain stuff you talk about as well.

This is great. Love this interaction with each other.

Sounds to me a lot like Synthwave music, which may explain the 80's intent. It is pretty decent for a commercial venture but there are many more interesting examples in the Synthwave universe.

It only took this video for me to subscribe. I never saw anyone else who pay attention to sounds like you guys, even in music production channels.

Keep going guys, those sessions are gold!

New favorite channel for sure!

Great content! Please continue to educate us about music!

Oh hell ya Ryan. So glad you gave 11-17-70 a shout out. Top 5 for me as far as live albums. You're taste is excuisite. Vibe vs. raw talent.

Been using the Vulf Compressor plug-in for a couple years now. "Vibe" is the only word that really captures what this thing creates. Awesome stuff!

Loving your show such a great vibe!

I love how accessible these videos are for someone like me without a music background

Looking forward to your take on An Evening with Silk sonic album.

Fantastic. Thank you so much!

I love all these videos! Indy Band Recommendation: Onward, Soldiers out of Wilmington, North Carolina

Takes back to my mid 80's !!! Very nice

On the topic of poppier stuff, I would love to see your reactions to some I DON'T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME, their new record is absolutely killer

Amazing as always.

if y’all enjoyed this, i recommend looking into some synthwave artists that are out right now too. the midnight is one of my all time favorite artists across all genres, DEFINITELY recommend if you want immersive, beautifully written music

I want to learn more about THE VOLUME WARS! I love being introduced to this concept and being encouraged to pay more attention to sound design as a subject in which Ryan stated Jack is knowledgeable. I had been a fan of Bon Iver and similar musicians with somewhat unique or innovative production and arrangement for some time. I think this subject and how it affects or contributes to arrangements and dynamics is what I enjoy so much about these styles.

Just an amazing evolution of an artist that I followed when he used to give away his albums via website.

When I first heard “Blinding Lights” it straight up reminded me of “Young Turks” by Rod Stewart.

LOVE HIM

This series is such a treat.

Love your channel! You should do one of these with someone who worked on the track (e.g producer, mixer) present

gotta check out “Take My Breath”, his newest single. straight club bop

The first thing the snare reminded me of on the Weekend track was "Young Turks" by Rod Stewart, but I can see why "Take on Me" would come up too.

Yes I agree dynamics give a song so much feeling😭

Watching your reactions to The Weeknd makes me like the song, wasn't sure why he went so '80s, but it's cool. I have experience, I used to babysit Rockstars in the studio, occasionally play some Guitar! 🎸🎼 🎶

I did a cover a while ago mixing blinding lights with take on me. That synth is amazing!

So very good. These feel too short, but that probably means you're doing it right. Never heard that Thelonious note about the bridge before. Little gold nugget.

Hard rock and classic rock fan, punk fan here. I went out of my way actually get After Hours on CD for my library.

Fun Fact: Max Martin (the guy who produced both songs) co owns the company that makes RC-20.

Great video!

The Spirit of Jack Stratton visits! Now get him on this program!

Just want to say thanks for using four different iconic dynamic mics to record the conversation haha

To simplesmente apaixonado por esse canal. Continuem! Abraços do Brasilll

The first song sounds like "Take On Me" and the second sounds like "The Neverending Story" theme. The Weeknd is a subconscious nostalgia factory!

React to a Tyler the Creator track, he puts so much detail into his production. Its also different from the style that you guys ususlly cover, so it would be interesting to hear your perspective.

For all the (well deserved!) acclaim that Phoebe Bridgers gets for songwriting, I find the sound design to be so deep and rewarding. I'd love for you guys to dissect "Scott Street" or "Punisher".

very sneaky to insert a vulf compressor ad in there

"see through lyrics" that's a really apt description....but to me the Weeknd is a vibe. The music seeps into a time of day or a mood that you feel. I do feel like when i listen to the Weeknd, I am doing something or I am moving, driving especially at night... Also please do Dancing in the Moonlight by Thin Lizzy.

Wow, finally... Thank you algo! Subbed.