Thursday (album) explained

Thursday
Type:mixtape
Artist:the Weeknd
Cover:The Weeknd - Thursday.png
Border:yes
Genre:
Label:XO
Producer:
Prev Title:House of Balloons
Prev Year:2011
Next Title:Echoes of Silence
Next Year:2011

Thursday is the second mixtape by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released on August 18, 2011, by XO. Like his debut mixtape House of Balloons (2011), the Weeknd collaborated with producers and songwriters Doc McKinney and Illangelo; the duo produced Thursday in its entirety, and it contains fewer samples than its predecessor.[1] Recorded in Toronto, the mixtape features a guest appearance from the Canadian rapper Drake.

Thursday has an unconventional and diverse musical style, drawing on downtempo, dubstep, dream pop, hip hop, rock, and reggae music. It contains similar themes to his previous works, exploring the Weeknd's drug use, libertinism, and experiences with love and newfound fame.[2] He titled the mixtape as a reference to a contentious open relationship he had with a former lover.[3]

The project was preceded by two promotional singles, "Rolling Stone" and "The Birds, Pt. 1". Thursday received favorable reviews, critics drawing comparisons to House of Balloons. It was later commercially released as part of his 2012 compilation album Trilogy, with "The Zone" being released as a single. On its tenth anniversary, the original mixes were released alongside a limited edition line of merchandise designed by artist Mr. Yanen.

Promotion

Promotional singles

The mixtape's first promotional single, "Rolling Stone", was released on May 25, 2011.[4]

"The Birds, Pt. 1" was released as the mixtape's second and final promotional single, on June 15, 2011.[5]

Critical reception

Thursday received critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the mixtape received an average score of 80, based on 17 reviews. Evan Rytlewski of The A.V. Club said, "It's a rare songwriter who can craft music that's so repellent yet also so irresistible." Winston Robbins of Consequence of Sound said, "Despite the ridiculously high highs of this album, it fails to maintain a great pace throughout. It struggles back and forth between "good" and "great," whereas its foregoer grabbed "great" by the balls on the first track and never let go." Benjamin Boles of Now said, "It's not quite perfect: his voice is the star of the show but is occasionally buried under the clever beats and production. But that's a small complaint about someone who's looking more and more like one of the most exciting artists to emerge this year." Q magazine stated, "Toronto outfit, The Weeknd, has been hailed as one of the most exciting new sounds in modern R&B -- hype that, on the basis of this equally startling follow-up, seems entirely justified." Brandon Soderberg of Pitchfork said, "Though there's less breathing space on Thursday, and fewer melodic hooks, it still feels of a piece with House of Balloons."

BBC Music's Mike Diver made a positive review, saying, "File him beside Frank Ocean as an R&B star set to climb to new heights in 2012."[6] Matthew Cole of Slant Magazine wrote, "The Weeknd is in full command of his craft, and at this point it's almost impossible for me to imagine that he won't deliver on the finale. He's earned my trust, as would any other artist who had already released two of the year's best albums." Tyler Fisher of Sputnikmusic said, "Listening to something like Thursday is the ultimate form of escapism that so many of us flock to music for. That's a quality that should be celebrated, not criticized for its lack of immediate pleasure."[7] Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone gave a mixed review, commenting, "While it's refreshing to hear an R&B singer emphasizing the psychic toll of libertinism, his angst sex grows tiresome. Once in a while, can't this dude just get laid, and have fun doing it?"

Track listing

All tracks produced by Doc McKinney and Illangelo.

Credits for Trilogy adapted from liner notes.[8]

Sample credits

Release history

RegionDateFormatEditionLabel
VariousAugust 18, 20119-track free of chargeXO
August 21, 201510-track remastered and remixed
February 1, 2016Cassette
August 18, 2021Original 9-track
April 29, 2022LPOriginal 9-track with alternative cover
Original 9-track

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Phillips. Amy. The Weeknd Releases Thursday Mixtape. Pitchfork. August 18, 2011. September 24, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170608051628/http://pitchfork.com/news/43571-the-weeknd-releases-thursday-mixtape/. June 8, 2017.
  2. Web site: Ortiz. Edwin. Interview: Illangelo Talks About "History of Man," Working with The Weeknd & Elijah Blake. Complex. September 4, 2013. September 24, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160510203527/http://www.complex.com/music/2013/09/illangelo-history-of-man-the-weeknd-interview. May 10, 2016.
  3. Web site: Morris. Matt. The Weeknd – Thursday (Mixtape). Hypebeast. August 19, 2011. September 24, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170925025450/https://hypebeast.com/2011/8/the-weeknd-thursday-mixtape. September 25, 2017.
  4. Hughes. Josiah. The Weeknd - "Rolling Stone". Exclaim!. May 25, 2011. April 5, 2024.
  5. Web site: Fitzmaurice. Larry. Listen: The Weeknd: "The Birds (Part 1). Pitchfork. June 15, 2011. April 5, 2024.
  6. Web site: Review of The Weeknd – Thursday. BBC Music. June 14, 2014. Diver. Mike. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150925113630/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/jgq4. September 25, 2015.
  7. Web site: The Weeknd – Thursday. Sputnikmusic. August 25, 2011. June 14, 2014. Fisher. Tyler.
  8. Trilogy. The Weeknd. 2012. CD liner. Republic Records. 19793-4.