The Weeknd - House Of Balloons [Decade Collectors Edition]

In March 2011, Abel Tesfaye quietly uploaded a mixtape that shattered the boundaries of modern pop and R&B, altering the musical landscape forever. This official Decade Collector's Edition brings that legendary debut to vinyl exactly as it was meant to be heard, featuring the original, unedited 2011 mixtape mixes and samples that were later altered for commercial release. Melding dark, atmospheric production with raw, nocturnal lyricism and iconic indie-rock samples, this heavyweight double-LP gatefold set delivers essential tracks like "Wicked Games" and "The Morning" in true analog quality, making it an absolute holy grail for XO fans and serious vinyl collectors alike.

Long before he was headlining the Super Bowl, breaking chart records, or selling millions of albums, Abel Tesfaye was a struggling, 21-year-old artist from Toronto, who had floated a few tracks out on YouTube, and was readying to release his debut mixtape under the pseudonym "The Weeknd." Originally released on March 21, 2011, House of Balloons launched the career of a new musical force - putting The Weeknd on the radar of critics and fans alike.

The freely distributed, nine-track mixtape featured The Weeknd's earliest three tracks from YouTube ("What You Need," "The Morning," and "Loft Music") as well as his debut single, "Wicked Games." It also included "The Knowing" - which spawned his first music video - and "High for This," which was featured in promotional spots for HBO's final season of Entourage.

Primarily produced by Doc McKinney and Illangelo - who would both go on to become longtime collaborators of Tesfaye's - the mixtape featured samples from a wide variety of artists, including the Cocteau Twins, Beach House, Aaliyah, and Siouxsie and the Banshees.

House of Balloons quickly garnered underground buzz, as well as rave reviews - eventually gracing more than a dozen year-end lists. Complex declared it the "best album of 2011," while it landed in the Top 10 of annual roundups by Stereogum, The A.V. Club, and Pitchfork.

Features

• Decade Collectors Edition -  This specific edition features the original 2011 mixtape mixes and tracklist (including samples like Siouxsie and the Banshees and Cocteau Twins), rather than the altered versions later found on the Trilogy compilation.
• Limited Edition
• Double LP
• Black Vinyl
• Gatefold Jacket
• Explicit Content
• Made in Canada

Notes

• Label: XO