Beauty Behind the Madness (BBM), the second studio album by Canada-native The Weeknd dropped on Aug. 28, is rather… interesting. Currently holding the number one album spot on Billboard, it differs greatly from his previous albums and mixtapes.

The Weeknd, infamously known for his unique hairstyle, first blew up in 2011 with the release of Trilogy, which consisted of three mixtapes containing nine tracks each. The mixtapes House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence, in my opinion, quickly became a classic. To this day, it is not uncommon to hear “Wicked Games” played on the radio. “High For This,” a song also on House of Balloons – my personal favorite of the three mixtapes on Trilogy– has even been featured in previews of the new hit movie The Perfect Guy.

What contributed to Trilogy becoming such a success is The Weeknd’s unique style of music. Differing from the upbeat pop songs heard on the radio, The Weeknd brings a dark, gloomy side to R&B that pulls you in as much as, if not more, than those same catchy pop songs. His somber appeal is highlighted with his masterfully-made beats which integrate guitar chords and eerie voices in the background. His debut album Kissland continued to follow his signature sound, although not all tracks can be said to capture the audience in the same fashion.

Upon hearing the first track on Beauty Behind the Madness, I could distinctly notice a difference. Expecting the first track to be one highlighting his style of music, I instead listened to a song that sounded like it would belong in a training montage of a movie and not The Weeknd’s album. I was surprised, to say the least. Maybe his recent single I Can’t Feel My Face, a cheery, upbeat song that is currently number 7 on iTunes and that appears on BBM, should have gave me warning.

Straying from his blunt lyrics that push the limits of what should and shouldn’t be said, this album for the most part follows the rules. However, there are songs that resemble his previous works. The track “Often,” which was released at the end of 2014, is simply brilliant. The beat alone is enough to get you hooked, and The Weeknd’s voice is a plus. “The Hills” a raw, potent song, became number 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 as it rightfully should have. The seductive song “Earned It“ was featured in the soundtrack of the movie 50 Shades of Grey, and soon became a huge hit, peaking at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Tell Your Friends,” a song that rapper (and fellow Canada-native) Drake freestyles on, is a breath of fresh air that fuses piano, drums and guitar seamlessly, as well as his usual references to drugs and sex; the influence Trilogy had on these songs is evident.

Some of the songs on the album such as “Dark Times” ft. Ed Sheeran and “Shameless“ will grow on me. Some songs on Trilogy weren’t my favorites upon initially hearing the mixtape either.

BBM is not a bad album, just different, and change is not a bad thing, especially when it comes to music. Obviously, The Weeknd has realized this, for he had two songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 and in the top 10 of iTunes, simultaneously. Perhaps what he needs is to continue with this mainstream vibe in order to broaden his audience.

If you haven’t listened to Beauty Behind the Madness, I would greatly advise that you do. It’s a unique experience that can only be related to through listening.