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House of Balloons is the debut mixtape by Canadian singer the Weeknd. It was released on March 21, 2011, by the artist's own record label XO. The mixtape was released for free on the Weeknd's website and was the subject of increased media discussion upon the use of its songs on television, as well as the relative anonymity of the singer-songwriter. House of Balloons was entirely recorded in Toronto, with production handled primarily by the Weeknd, Doc McKinney, Illangelo, and Cirkut; the Weeknd would later collaborate with McKinney and Illangelo on several future releases. Its title is derived from the nickname the singer gave to his former home in Parkdale, Toronto.[3]

House of Balloons
Mixtape by
the Weeknd
ReleasedMarch 21, 2011
Recorded2010–2011[1]
GenreAlternative R&B[2]
Length49:34
LabelXO
Producer
The Weeknd chronology
House of Balloons
(2011)		 Thursday
(2011)
Singles from House of Balloons
  1. "Wicked Games"
    Released: September 25, 2012
  2. "Twenty Eight"
    Released: November 13, 2012

The mixtape received widespread acclaim, with critics praising its dark aesthetic, production, and lyrical content. It is widely regarded as a major influence on both contemporary and alternative R&B.[4] House of Balloons also contains elements of soul, trip hop, indie rock, dream pop, and electronic music.[5] Lyrically, the mixtape explores the Weeknd's drug use and experiences with love, heartbreak, and promiscuity.[6]

House of Balloons was commercially released as part of the compilation album Trilogy (2012) and included the singles "Wicked Games" and "Twenty Eight", the latter of which is a bonus track. On its tenth anniversary, the original mixtape was released in digital formats, and included samples which failed to gain copyright clearance on Trilogy.[7] The reissue was accompanied by a limited edition line of merchandise designed by architect Daniel Arsham.[8]


Music


The album's eclectic music uses samples of Beach House's "Master of None" (2006) and "Gila" (2008), and Aaliyah's 2001 song "Rock the Boat".[9] The title track heavily samples Siouxsie and the Banshees' 1980 single "Happy House".[10] Pitchfork said: ""Happy House" is worked into a softly anthemic slow-burn number full of diva-ish vocals tied to a chilly beat". The guitar 'riff remains untouched and runs throughout most of the track, giving it a filmy pop feel that periodically peaks with a generous swipe from the "Happy House" chorus".[10] The track "The Knowing" samples the 1990 track "Cherry-Coloured Funk" by Cocteau Twins.[11] Joe Colly of Pitchfork observed "weird, morning-after tales of lust, hurt, and over-indulgence", complemented by "lush, downcast music" on the album, and compared its "specific nocturnal quality" to that of The xx's 2009 self-titled debut.[12] Pitchfork's Eric Grandy wrote that the title track has the Weeknd "emoting in an androgynous falsetto one minute, muttering unbelievable curses the next".[13] Paul Lewster of The Guardian viewed that, although more than half of the mixtape features samples, only the title track makes it "evident".[14]


Promotion


The song "High for This" was featured in the promo for the final season of the HBO show Entourage in July 2011.[15] On November 24, 2011, the Weeknd's first official music video, for his song "The Knowing," hit the Internet on his Vimeo page.[16] The song was first released on House of Balloons and the video was directed by French filmmaker Mikael Colombu, who has also worked with American singer CeeLo Green.[17] The nearly eight-minute clip is described by authors Carrie Battan and Amy Phillips of Pitchfork as, "a time traveling, Afrofuturist, science fiction battle of the sexes that demands to be watched in HD."[18]


Critical reception and influence


Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?8.0/10[19]
Metacritic87/100[20]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[21]
The A.V. ClubB+[22]
The Boston Phoenix[23]
Consequence of Sound[24]
Drowned in Sound8/10[25]
Fact4/5[26]
Now4/5[27]
Pitchfork8.5/10[28]
PopMatters9/10[29]
Rolling Stone[30]

House of Balloons received widespread critical acclaim, and it is considered by many to be one of the most influential R&B releases in recent years, specifically the 2010s. Preceded by a string of low-profile buzz single releases throughout 2010, the mixtape attracted significant interest due to the then-anonymous identity of the individual behind the Weeknd.[31] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, House of Balloons received a weighted average score of 87 based on 16 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[20] Sean Fennessey of The Village Voice was impressed by the mixtape, calling it "patient, often gorgeous, and consistently louche... with the sort of blown-out underbelly and echo-laden crooning that has already made Drake's less-than-a-year-old Thank Me Later such an influential guidepost."[32] Maegan McGregor of Exclaim! stated that House of Balloons "easily stands as one of the year's best debuts so far, hipster, top 40 or otherwise."[33] Sputnikmusic's Tyler Fisher said that "despite being a free album, House of Balloons feels like a true album, a true labor of love."[34] Tom Ewing of The Guardian felt that while the Weeknd's vocals and lyrics on House of Balloons "aren't especially strong by R&B standards," much of the album's attention was attracted by its strong command of mood.[35]

In December 2011, Metacritic determined that House of Balloons was the third best-reviewed project of the year.[36] Additionally, the mixtape was featured on several music critics' and publications' end-of-year albums lists. Complex called it the "best album of 2011;"[37] Stereogum ranked it number 5;[38] The Guardian ranked it number 8;[39] The A.V. Club ranked it number 6;[40] SPIN ranked it (as well as Thursday) number 13;[41] while Pitchfork ranked it number 10.[42] As a whole, House of Balloons was the seventh most frequently mentioned album in music publications' year-end top ten lists.[43] The mixtape was named as one of the longlisted of nominees for the 2011's Polaris Music Prize.[44] The mixtape's title track was placed on Pitchfork's list of top 100 songs of 2011 at number 57, while "The Morning" was number 15.[45] In 2021, it was listed at No. 488 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time".[46]

Julian Kimble of Complex wrote, "House of Balloons, in tandem with Frank Ocean’s Nostalgia, Ultra, was responsible for a sharp pivot within R&B. The project invaded this stale area, soldering genres together to bring much-needed originality to a template mired by stagnancy at the decade’s turn. Neither his songwriting nor subject matter were cavalier, but his overall aesthetic was enticing." He later describes how, "Its channeling of temptation’s distinct gleam is a significant part of its legacy."[47] Pitchfork wrote, "Of course, a significant part of House of Balloons’ appeal was that it was unexpected, and that it tapped into our subconscious. It satisfied an unrealized need."[48] Bianca Gracie of Uproxx stated, "House Of Balloons is frightening in its relatability. It forced listeners to confront the loneliness they feel after realizing partying is the only thing that sustains them." Continuing to add, "Being only a year younger than Tesfaye, we had parallel coming-of-age experiences: dabbling in similar substances, using all-night college parties as escapism from depression, and ultimately sought comfort in a mixtape that targeted a shared despondency." She later stated, "The mixtape reflected a doomed generation who grew up with films like Kids, Trainspotting, Requiem For A Dream, and A Clockwork Orange. We didn’t want to be seen. Like Tesfaye, we hid our faces behind Tumblr photos that showed both a brilliant, snarky sense of humor and a not-so-subtle cry for help."[49]

During an interview with Rolling Stone in 2015, the Weeknd said the mixtape "definitely changed the culture. No one can do a trilogy again without thanking The Weeknd [and] a lot of artists started doing things faster and quicker. Just listen to the radio: every song is House Of Balloons 2.0."[50][49]


Track listing


No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."High for This"
4:07
2."What You Need"
  • Tesfaye
  • Jeremy Rose
  • Rose
  • The Weeknd
3:26
3."House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls"
6:47
4."The Morning"
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • Doc McKinney
  • Illangelo
5:15
5."Wicked Games"
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • Rainer Millar Blanchaer
  • Doc McKinney
  • Illangelo
5:25
6."The Party & The After Party"
  • Rose
  • The Weeknd
  • Blanchaer
7:39
7."Coming Down"
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • Doc McKinney
  • Illangelo
4:55
8."Loft Music"
  • Tesfaye
  • Rose
  • Legrand
  • Scally
  • Rose
  • The Weeknd
6:04
9."The Knowing"
  • Doc McKinney
  • Illangelo
5:41
2012 reissue bonus track[51][52]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
10."Twenty Eight"
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • McKinney
  • Illangelo
4:18

Sample credits


Charts


Chart performance for House of Balloons
Chart (2015–2022) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[53] 113
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[54] 10
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[55] 37
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)[56] 4

Certifications


Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[57] Platinum 80,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[58] Gold 100,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.


Release history


Region Date Format Edition Label
Various March 21, 2011
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 9-track free of charge XO
August 14, 2015
  • CD
  • LP
 10-track remastered and remixed
  • XO
  • Republic
February 1, 2016 Cassette
March 21, 2021
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Original 9-track
February 11, 2022 LP Original 9-track with alternative cover
Original 9-track

References


  1. "IamA the Weeknd Ask Me Anything!". September 13, 2013. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  2. Abebe, Nitsuh (August 14, 2011). "R&B Records With an Indie Affect". New York. Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  3. "The Weeknd Reveals Origin Of Name, "House Of Balloon" Whereabouts & More On Reddit". HotNewHipHop. September 14, 2013. Archived from the original on March 25, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  4. "'House of Balloons' Turns 10: How the Weeknd Beat the Odds and Turned R&B on Its Head". exclaim.ca. Archived from the original on March 20, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  5. Matt Carney, "New Music Tuesday: 'House of Balloons' by The Weeknd," Archived November 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine The Oklahoma Daily, April 19, 2011.
  6. "The Weeknd's House Of Balloons Launched A Pop Career Shrouded In Mystery". MTV News. 2021. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  7. "The Weeknd reissuing debut mixtape House of Balloons for 10th Anniversary". Consequence of Sound. March 17, 2021. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  8. "The Weeknd Reissues 'House of Balloons' for its 10th Anniversary". Highsnobiety. March 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  9. "The 25 Best Albums of 2011". complex.com. December 19, 2011. Archived from the original on December 27, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
  10. Neyland, Nick."The Weeknd’s House Of Balloons" Archived July 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Pitchfork. March 28, 2011.
  11. whosampled (March 2, 2013). "The Weeknd's The Knowing sample of Cocteau Twins's Cherry-Coloured Funk". Who Sampled. Archived from the original on January 26, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  12. Colly, Joe (March 29, 2011). "Album Reviews - The Weeknd - House of Balloons". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on June 14, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  13. "The Top 100 Tracks of 2011 - Our list of the best songs of the year". Pitchfork. December 12, 2012. Archived from the original on January 14, 2013. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  14. "Best albums of 2011, No 8: The Weeknd – House of Balloons". The Guardian. December 7, 2011. Archived from the original on June 18, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  15. Osei, Anthony (May 22, 2011). "The Weeknd Entourage". complex.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
  16. xoxxxoooxo (November 24, 2011). "The Weeknd - The Knowing (Official Video) on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  17. "Video: The Weeknd "The Knowing"". Complex. November 24, 2011. Archived from the original on June 27, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  18. "Video: The Weeknd: "The Knowing" | News". Pitchfork. November 25, 2011. Archived from the original on July 6, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  19. "House of Balloons by The Weeknd reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  20. "Reviews for House of Balloons by The Weeknd". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  21. Kellman, Andy. "House of Balloons – The Weeknd". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 14, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  22. Rytlewski, Evan (April 5, 2011). "The Weeknd: House of Balloons". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on January 8, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  23. Battan, Carrie (April 27, 2011). "The Weeknd | House of Balloons". The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on March 1, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  24. Koren, Daniel (April 13, 2011). "Album Review: The Weeknd – House of Balloons". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  25. Pott-Negrine, David (August 3, 2011). "Album Review: The Weeknd – House of Balloons". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on April 13, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  26. Lea, Tom (April 1, 2011). "The Weeknd: House of Balloons". Fact. Archived from the original on October 20, 2016. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  27. Ritchie, Kevin (March 31, 2011). "The Weeknd – House Of Balloons". Now. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  28. Colly, Joe (March 29, 2011). "The Weeknd: House of Balloons". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  29. Beasley, Corey (May 9, 2011). "The Weeknd: House of Balloons". PopMatters. Archived from the original on August 11, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  30. Hermes, Will (April 5, 2011). "House of Balloons". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  31. "How House of Balloons Changed R&B". The FADER. March 21, 2016. Archived from the original on April 7, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  32. Fennessey, Sean (March 23, 2011). "Love vs. Money: The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, and R&B's Future Shock". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on May 12, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  33. McGregor, Maegan (March 28, 2011). "Get the Latest from the Weeknd, Teenage Kicks, TV on the Radio and More in This Week's Click Hear Roundup". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on November 26, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  34. Fisher, Tyler (March 25, 2011). "The Weeknd – House of Balloons". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  35. Ewing, Tom (March 24, 2011). "The Weeknd's VIP Area Exposé Was Made for the Indie Crowd". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 1, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  36. "The Best Albums of 2011". Metacritic. December 30, 2011. Archived from the original on May 13, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
  37. "The 25 Best Albums of 2011". Complex. December 19, 2011. Archived from the original on December 27, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  38. "Stereogum's Top 50 Albums of 2011". Pitchfork. December 5, 2011. Archived from the original on June 13, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  39. "Best albums of 2011". The Guardian. December 7, 2011. Archived from the original on June 18, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  40. "The best music of 2011". The A.V. Club. December 6, 2011. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  41. "SPIN's 50 Best Albums of 2011". Spin. December 12, 2011. Archived from the original on October 2, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  42. "Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2011". Pitchfork. December 15, 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  43. "2011 Music Critic Top Ten Lists". Metacritic. January 7, 2012. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
  44. "2011 Polaris Music Prize Long List announced" Archived October 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. aux.tv, June 16, 2011.
  45. "The Top 100 Tracks of 2011". Pitchfork. December 12, 2011. Archived from the original on November 16, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  46. "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  47. "'Caine & Abel: Why 'House of Balloons' Was the Weeknd at His Purest". Complex. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  48. "The Weeknd's House of Balloons Remains Pop's Great Mysterious Entrance". Pitchfork. March 21, 2016. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  49. "The Weeknd's 'House Of Balloons' At 10: Sounds Of The Doom Generation". UPROXX. March 21, 2021. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  50. Eells, Josh (October 21, 2015). "Sex, Drugs and R&B: Inside The Weeknd's Dark Twisted Fantasy". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  51. "House of Balloons – The Weeknd". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 30, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  52. "House of Balloons by The Weeknd". iTunes Store (US). Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
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  54. "The Weeknd Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  55. "The Weeknd Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  56. "The Weeknd Chart History (Vinyl Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  57. "Canadian album certifications – The Weeknd – House of Balloons". Music Canada. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  58. "British album certifications – The Weeknd – House of Balloons". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 21, 2022.

На других языках

- [en] House of Balloons

[es] House of Balloons

House of Balloons es el mixtape debut del cantante canadiense The Weeknd. Fue lanzado como descarga digital gratuita el 21 de marzo de 2011, por XO, y luego se encontró disponible en su sitio web oficial. Su música incorpora géneros electrónicos y urbanos, incluyendo R&B y soul, junto con trip hop, indie rock y tonos de dream pop.[2] La producción estuvo a cargo de los productores discográficos canadienses Doc McKinney, Zodiac e Illangelo, entre otros.

[ru] House of Balloons

House of Balloons (с англ. — «Дом из воздушных шаров») — дебютный микстейп канадского певца и автора песен The Weeknd, выпущенный 21 марта 2011 года на официальном сайте исполнителя как доступный бесплатно. Был записан в Торонто. Микстейп стал предметом оживлённого обсуждения в средствах массовой информации из-за использования песен из него на телевидении, а также из-за относительной анонимности певца-автора[2].


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