Everyone will probably have a different favorite part of Mikael Columbu's new video for The Weeknd's song "The Knowing." As is the case in Columbu's other videos, there's lots to enjoy. (It's 7 minutes and 45 seconds long!) Some people like the laser beams shooting out of the people's' crotches. That's pretty cool, sure. But I think I prefer the part around the 4-minute-mark where the earth (or is it "Ethio"?) splits into two flaming semi-spheres that float together in space like when Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man meet. I also like when The Weeknd gives his pet miniature giraffe a present (which might be [...]

Two new projects are sparking a lot of discussion right now about the current state of R&B. The first is by The Weeknd, a mysterious singer (or group?) who has enjoyed a quick rise to critical-darling status since releasing the free debut album House of Balloons last week. The second is by Frank Ocean, the lone singer in Rap Group of the Moment, Odd Future. Ocean's album, nostalgia,Ultra, also excellent, also free, came out mere weeks before The Weeknd's project, so the two acts are getting joined together as poster children for what's being called a new wave of R&B. The terms being thrown around to describe this new [...]