The Weeknd [update

Alternative R&B guy from Toronto.  Not sure what "alternative" even means when put before R&B, because this just sounds like R&B to me.  His real name is Abel Tesfaye, and while the critics seem to love him (according to what I have seen on the internet), it is pretty generic falsetto-driven R&B. His most popular track on Spotify (by far, unless you count the track he sings on Ariana Grande's album) is off of the soundtrack for 50 Shades of Grey, with over 158 million listens (!!!!), and is called "Earned It"

"Girl you're perfect.  You're always worth it." We aren't looking at someone really stretching the boundaries of music.  Sounds like R. Kelly before he found the closet.  Or Jamie Foxx singing for the Annie movie.  Before the 50 Shades soundtrack, he had three mixtapes that got gathered onto one album (Trilogy from 2012) and then put out a proper album in 2013 (Kiss Land).  I wonder if it is a bad sign when your most recent album doesn't have a single song that cracks your top ten most listened to tracks on Spotify?  Seems like a bad sign, like maybe your most recent album (that was not all that recent) maybe sucked?  It ended 2013 at #151 for the year on the Billboard 200.  A real barn-burner.  So very confused as to why this guy would be a top four artist, worthy of the top row. The top listened-to song from the Trilogy album is "Wicked Games"

Don't get me wrong, his voice is fantastic.  But the guy ought to be singing great hooks for top rappers instead of headlining ACL.  I have now listened to his top ten tracks a few times, and I just can't fathom standing out in a crowd after a long day listening to music and finding any enjoyment in this music.  It is so chilled and quiet.  Naptime.  No thanks.

[update 9/10/15]  Of course, since I originally published that post in May, this guy has blown up in a major way. firing up the likely winner for 2015 Song of the Summer (tm) with "Can't Feel My Face." Which is a 10-megaton, King-of-Pop-flavored bomb that cannot be stopped.

And along with that major hit (180 million spins on Spotify and climbing) he put out his new album, Beauty Behind the Madness, which has (other than the 50 Shades song) entirely taken over his top ten most popular tracks on Spotify.  Again, his voice is really great.  But the majority of this music is entirely forgettable.  "In the Night" sounds like part of the music is full-on taken from an Michael's "The Way You Make Me Feel."  "Often" has 75 million freaking listens, and it is a super generic trope about how frequently he is going to get your ladyparts excited.  "The Hills" boasts 124 million listens (!!!) and is another basic beat with some sad story about getting messed up on drugs and getting it on and the "real me, babe."  More of this is just soft R&B blah.  I don't get it, but I will fully admit that the hit is a real deal hit.