Ranking the discography of Abel Tesfaye is an absolute nightmare for any die-hard XO fan. Over the past decade and a half, Abel has evolved from an anonymous, shadowy Toronto blog sensation into one of the biggest, most visionary pop megastars on the planet. From pioneering dark, atmospheric R&B on Trilogy to crafting cinematic synth-pop epics across his After Hours trilogy, every era carries a distinct identity. Ranking his ten major projects—balancing nostalgic classics against mega-hit powerhouses—means making painful cuts. Here is my definitive, unfiltered ranking of every The Weeknd project, from my least favorite to his absolute magnum opus.
10. Thursday
Starting off the list at number ten is Thursday. In my opinion, this stands as the weakest entry across the original Trilogy era—and frankly, my least favorite project in Abel’s entire discography. Highlights like “Lonely Star,” “Rolling Stone,” and “The Birds Pt. 1 & 2” remain incredible cuts, but as a full body of work, the mixtape often feels overly monotonous and lacks the electric, atmospheric punch of House Of Balloons. It isn’t a bad project by any means, but it ultimately lands at the bottom of my personal XO ranking.
09. Dawn FM
I know putting this so low is controversial, but I simply don’t hold Dawn FM in the same high regard as I did on first listen. Initially, I thought it was Abel’s absolute best work. Over time, however, the album’s second half bogs down noticeably, and the guest features from Lil Wayne and Tyler, the Creator miss the mark entirely. Their appearances feel like the weakest stretch of the record. The album’s core narrative—a purgatorial afterlife framed by a haunting ghost radio station—works brilliantly on synth-pop highlights like “Gasoline,” “Sacrifice,” and “Take My Breath.” But shoehorning out-of-place rap features into that deeply emotional, conceptual soundscape completely disrupts the immersive atmosphere.
08. Echoes Of Silence
When ranking the Trilogy mixtapes, Echoes Of Silence takes second place, but across Abel’s full discography, it lands at number eight. Darker, more haunting, and significantly more cohesive than Thursday, this project proved that Abel knew how to execute a brilliant finale. His cover of Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana” is fantastic, “Montreal” remains an absolute banger, and “Next” stands out as one of the most underrated cuts in his entire catalog. Overall, it served as a dark, captivating prelude right before he stepped into the world of Kiss Land.
07. Starboy
Ranking The Weeknd’s catalog as a die-hard XO fan is an agonizing task, and I know putting Starboy here will spark serious debate. While many consider it his crowning achievement—and it remains one of my most-streamed albums ever—it functions more like a playlist than a cohesive album experience. The bloated tracklist creates jarring tonal shifts; jumping directly from a modern hip-hop flex on track four, “Reminder,” into the 80s dance-pop bounce of “Rockin'” feels remarkably disjointed. I love all the lead singles, but as a full front-to-back LP, it falls short of greatness.
06. Beauty Behind The Madness
Beauty Behind The Madness takes the sixth spot on my list. This album houses some of my absolute favorite Weeknd tracks—including “Tell Your Friends,” “Often,” “The Hills,” and “Angel.” However, the record loses momentum toward the back half, with cuts like “As You Are” dragging down the pacing, even if the closing track is sheer perfection. BBTM remains a massive, hit-packed milestone that launched Abel into global pop superstardom, but he simply has five superior projects in his arsenal.
05. Hurry Up Tomorrow
HUT serves as a monumental finale to the After Hours Til Dawn trilogy. Initially, I thought the album was about the afterlife, but it ultimately feels like a final goodbye from The Weeknd. It reflects themes of purgatory and the repentance of past mistakes and sins.
I was impressed by Abel’s religious-themed tracks like “Baptized In Fear” and “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” Overall, I think this album features more than 15 solid tracks with excellent production. Standout pieces like “Niagara Falls,” “Big Sleep,” “Take Me Back to LA,” and the title track are quite underrated. However, I wasn’t fond of the collaboration with Future or the track “Drive.” While I believe it’s a great album, it could have been even better if some tracks were replaced with unreleased songs like “Runaway,” “Society,” and “Closing Night.”
04. My Dear Melancholy
I’d say “MDM” is the mainstream and LA version of “Kiss Land,” and it’s definitely one of my favorite Weeknd projects. I’ve heard many people say that it’s less adventurous and too short, but I believe it’s dark, concise, and the most cathartic album he’s released. If you’re going through a breakup, you’ll resonate with this album; it feels like it was made just for you. Songs like “Call Out My Name,” “I Was Never There,” “Try Me,” “Hurt You,” and “Privilege” represent catharsis every time I listen to them. I consider it the most underrated Weeknd masterpiece, and I think it’s better than “Dawn FM” for sure.
03. Kiss Land
On first listen years ago, I thought Kiss Land was an overly long, inaccessible slog. Today, I view it as an unheralded masterpiece and the most criminally underrated record in his discography. It is cinematic, tightly woven, filler-free, and profoundly emotional. The album captures the terrifying, isolation-filled origins of dark fame—a theme that went on to define his career. It lacks massive radio hits and commercial fluff, but if stream numbers are taken out of the equation, Kiss Land comfortably secures its place in Abel’s top three.
02. House Of Balloons
Securing the runner-up spot is House Of Balloons—the legendary 2011 mixtape that redefined modern R&B and birthed the dark alternative R&B scene. The raw production and tracklist double as a gritty, unvarnished score to Abel’s early life in Toronto. For true XO fans, this is the foundational story of Abel Tesfaye before he became a global icon. Immersing yourself in tracks like “Wicked Games,” “House Of Balloons / Glass Table Girls,” “The Morning,” and “High For This” instantly transports you straight into his dark, atmospheric world.
01. After Hours
To wrap up my list, I have to mention “After Hours”. I don’t think there’s much room for debate about this choice, as “After Hours” is truly the magnum opus of Abel’s career. It’s a cinematic masterpiece that reveals the devastating dark side of fame, almost like a film. The album visually resembles a movie, and its tracklist tells a cohesive story, with all the songs interconnected.
There shouldn’t be any arguments regarding this placement, especially considering it features mainstream hits like “Heartless,” “Blinding Lights,” and “Save Your Tears.” It also includes storytelling tracks like “Faith” and “After Hours.” Moreover, there are no fillers here; in my opinion, it’s a perfect 10/10 album.
Ultimately, ranking Abel Tesfaye’s discography isn’t about picking good albums over bad ones—it’s about choosing between different shades of genius. Whether you crave the raw, toxic nostalgia of the original mixtape era or the sprawling, cinematic pop universe he built throughout his career, every project marks a pivotal chapter in his evolution. Abel’s ability to constantly reinvent his sound without losing his core identity is why he remains in a league of his own. Rankings will always spark debate, but one thing is undeniable: the XO legacy is completely unmatched.
