1001 Albums Generator
Channel Orange by Frank Ocean

Channel Orange

Frank Ocean

2012
3.34
Rating
29721
Votes
1
9%
2
16%
3
27%
4
27%
5
20%
Distribution
Genres: Hip-Hop, Soul, Pop Styles: Contemporary R&B, Neo Soul

Reviews (page 2 of 14)

R&B without Soul, I did not enjoy this.

Liked it.

Timeless r n b with a message. Can’t believe it’s over 10 years old.

So many amazing songs on this album its unreal. Sierra Leone, Sweet Life, Pyramids, Bad Religion, the list is literally as long as the album. Mr. Ocean has an angelic voice, its like this guy was singing out the womb. I would recommend this album to anyone, regardless if they are familiar with the genre. The album cover is simple, but classic. If it wasnt Frank Ocean, it would be uncreative, but somehow this man makes this cover look full. Best Song: Pyramids. Worst Song: Super Rich Kids.

Frank Ocean sickness. Pyramid was interesting. I’m a gonna pass.

Pyramids. channel ORANGE by Frank Ocean is a near perfect album with endless standout tracks to the point where the whole record stands out. It would be a crime to avoid “Pyramids” in this review, as that is a masterpiece of an almost ten minute long experience. It showcases Frank’s talent and artistic abilities, and makes me more than content to rate this album a 5.

Sentito con fra crack rock

I liked this way more than I expected to, but (even if he doesn't want to classify it as such) it's still R&B which is not my jam. It is not BAD, it is just not what *I* enjoy. But I liked most of the songs more than I would have expected!

Fine, relatively boring, but definitely not good. Feels like the emperor is wearing orange clothes with this one.

I think I liked this; the latter half of the album with Pyramids, Lost and Pink Matter saved this from being an average album. Sometimes I feel Ocean’s lyrics don’t add anything and I genuinely think my favourite part of this entire thing is Andre 3000’s verse. I still feel people want to like Frank Ocean for the sake of it.

I just auto-tuned and remixed a recording of my 8-hr workday and it sounded better than this.

Thinkin Bout You is an all time great song but Pyramids is where this thing really shines. A ten minute R&B saga laced with beautiful imagery and documenting a woman's journey from Cleopatra to working at the Pyramids tonight. 4.5/5

I'm not normally into RnB but I dug this. Really enjoyed the production and the vocals had enough change up to keep me interested for what was quite a long album. 3.75* rounded up to 4* to upset all the racists in the the review section.

Fantastic album such a good one!

I always forget how good Frank Ocean’s music is, this album put me in a good mood

Very delicate pop/rnb. Well considered, and theres a level of serious dedication for perfection. Making it a nice and working package. Good lyrics too. Well done Frank!

Not good

This record was much better than Blond. I enjoyed it a lot.

Her gjorde eg ein førebuande innsats og motiverte meg for å vere open og lyttande. Men, eg får ikkje til dette og appellen er uforståeleg for meg. Eg får rett og slett ingenting utav det. Utifrå status og anmeldelsane av plata ligg nok mitt krevjande forhold til dette meir på mi side enn på Frank Ocean si.

Sometimes maybe good. Sometimes maybe shit. 4/10

Mykje med denne plata som tilseier at eg ikkje skulle likt den. Moderne r&b, viss ein kan kalla dette det, er generelt ganske så jækla langt unna spelaren her. Så er det først siste året eg har fått augo opp for den då, og eg synst den er glimrande. I tillegg til at låtane er gode, har den ei ro over seg i produksjonen, framføringa, framtoninga. Samstundes som den har ein rikdom av idear og innfall. Det let organisk, eller jaffal kledeleg lite tukla med og han har evne til å la ein vokalmelodi få stå på eigne bein.

I starten så tenkte eg at her har me med ein moderne Stevie Wonder å gjere. Detaljrik produksjon, nydeleg stemme, varmt lydbilete. Ikkje heilt sikker på kva som får meg til å miste konsentrasjonen etterkvart, men eg trur det er kvaliteten på låtmaterialet. Frank snakkar seg fort ferdig til meg, rett og slett. Eg kan til ei viss grad høyre storheten i dette, men for meg er det meir eit eksempel på veldig bra handverk enn på ei plate som treffer meg i hjerterota. 6/10

Har vært innom denne plata flere ganger men neppe hørt hele start to finish før nå. Mye fint men når ikke helt opp da det ikke helt er min greie. Ville nok landa på en 7/10 på den skalaen

Jeg er generelt lite begeistret for sånne små sketsjer og innslag mellom faktiske låter. Det blir litt for mye greier som bare duver forbi uten at det er stort å feste seg ved. Helt til "Pyramids" og "Lost" kommer og løfter opplevelsen fra meh til, hei, dette er jo virkelig bra greier! Og gjør ikke alt det som skjer før disse låtene at de på plata låter enda bedre enn de gjør hver for seg? Da er det kanskje et poeng med det hele likevel. Jeg vet ikke jeg. Annet enn at formatet gjør at det blir vanskelig å sette karakter for en stakkar. Han/noen burde bare se til å få ut en variant av Nostalgia, Ultra også. Mine favoritter er fortsatt "Swim Good" og "Novacane".

Frank Ocean - Channel ORANGE Me er halvvegs inn i plata og så kjem synth-klokkene som opnar "Pyramids". GÅSEHUD. Eg tenker at dette er den beste musikken frå moderne tid. Og då har eg allereie vore gjennom "Sweet Life", "Super Rich Kids" og den heilt fenomenale falsett-balladen "Thinkin Bout You". Og veit du kva som skjer ETTER desse magiske synth-klokkene? Jo, me går rett inn i "Lost" og ei rytmisk, uimotståeleg historie om å smugle narkotika. Så "Pink Matter" med André 3000. "Forrest Gump"? Desse historiane er heilt fantastiske og musikken høyres like mykje ut som framtida no som den gjorde i 2012. 10/10

Tinha expectativas altas

Interessante

Para voltar a ouvir com mais atenção

Pessoalmente, não sou o maior fã deste álbum ou do próprio Frank Ocean. Ele é incrível e um ótimo artista sem sombra de dúvidas, mas não é tanto uma sonoridade que me agrada, apesar de ótimas músicas nesse álbum e em outros. Apesar disso, reconheço a qualidade e toda intenção que ele coloca em suas músicas, definitivamente uma grande referência musical. Te amamos Frank.

Det er noe ålreit her, blant annet de 39 sekundene Fertilizer varer.

I think crack rock is my new favorite

A nice listen with diverse music category.

Transcendental

Like if drake made a good album. Nah but fr this is very good, I’m partial to blonde but there’s loads of great cuts here.

Pessoal da minha idade glorifica esse álbum, e o Frank Ocean no geral. Ele apareceu em um momento bem específico de nossas vidas e marcou muitas de nossas juventudes. Seu som é nostálgico, e era assim mesmo naquela época, quando tudo ainda era novo pra nós. Difícil desvincular as angústias e memórias associadas à muitas dessas canções. A sonoridade de Channel Orange é complicada de se delinear. Ocean claramente puxa influências de vários lugares diferentes, e essa grande mistureba é a melhor forma de enxergar esse álbum e, de certo modo, todo esse período musical da década de 2000 e 2010. O que mais ouço aqui é Marvin Gaye, sempre, é impossível não fazer a conexão, parece a ressurreição do homem. Mas há algo engraçado que acontece nesse disco. Ele possui canções magnânimas, como Pyramids e Lost, faixas clássicas e incríveis… Mas penso que minha vida inteira, eu ouvi esse álbum inteiro capa a capa pouquíssimas vezes. Eu sempre ouvia as mesmas faixas, Pyramids, Lost, Pink Matter, Thinkin Bout You, entre outras. Mas o álbum, como obra completa, que é o que de fato estamos avaliando nessa lista, possui alguns defeitos sim. Muitos interlúdios desnecessários, e algumas canções que parecem não ir a lugar algum, e acabam parecendo apenas enchimento de linguiça. Indubitavelmente é uma enorme estréia de um grande artista, mas há alguns defeitos. Os altos são extremamente altos, mas os pontos baixos te deixam ansioso para pular logo para as melhores faixas. Sinto a vontade de colocar um 5 na nota, especialmente por causa das clássicas, mas um 4.5 basta. 4.5/5

It's good, and it has some fantastic singles, but I don't know that I'd put it above Blonde frankly.

love except for the occasional cringey lyric

I’ve always wanted to do a FO full listen. Knew the name and a couple songs but did not understand. Now I think I have a clearer picture. It’s boring AF and reminds me of a phony yet glossy instagram photo. I enjoyed the Crack song.

Feel like I need to be listening to this at nighttime, alone, in a super modern LA house overlooking an empty pool, feeling unfulfilled by my great success. On one hand, I see the appeal. Sort of a thoughtful, moody take on R+B, like Kendrick Lamarr. On the other hand, it feels a little like Usher without the hooks or dancing. He obviously has a great soulful voice, but on the whole, outside of the one hit, it's hard to connect to the emotions he's expressing - they are at turns too muted, too abstract, or delivered in his kind of breathy talking voice which fails to elevate the really sparse and lifeless music in the background.

Never got into this when it was first released, so it a nostalgia album for me. Remember trying it but never really “got” it. It’s like even more story driven than Kendrick stuff. I still don’t think I could put into words what makes this good. But on a random Saturday, while my kid is napping, finding myself bookmarking more of these songs than not. Such a cohesive album - a 5 from me just for something I could see myself coming back to for a full listen.

Neo-soul, not quite hip-hop not R&B. It started a bit cheesy for me and I didn't think I would like it at all after a few songs. Then it settled in to a cool psychedelic soul record with some cool hip hop beats. I still think most of the lyrics are a bit corny but it did earn another few spins to get a full feel for this album. It's not my thing but not as bad as I thought it was going to be at the start.

I love this album and listened to it a lot when it came out. I enjoy R&B and this is in the vein of 90s and even 80s albums in that genre with a little bit of 2012 thrown in. Not a 5 but pretty close.

this album really shifted the landscape of hip hop and R&B. crazy. pyramids goes so hard Would I listen again: it's good Deserves to be on this list: yes 4.2

Terrible. Start to finish.

I didn't have that much time to listen to this one, but my first impression was really positive. I'm glad I got to listen to it. The music is sparse overall but the sounds are rich and strong. The arrangements were interesting and not as predictable as a lot of more traditional R&B. I didn't spend enough time listening to the lyrics but I think that is a big draw for people and what I did hear sounded OK. The arrangements leave a lot of room for his voice, and he's got a great voice... but I didn't always like what he was doing with it. For one thing, there is just way too much falsetto for me. On at least one of the songs, he spends more than half the song in falsetto. It became a bit irritating to me. Mostly his singing really seems to work with the emotional core of each song, allowing you to feel what it's about without reference to the lyrics. I think that's a real talent separate from singing skill or technique. Essential listen: yes, this is a really different and modern take on R&B. I hear it's influence in a lot of places but this is better Desert island disc: I definitely think I will listen to this a lot more but I'm not sure I'd need it if I was stranded on a desert island

Ekki minn tebolli en ég meina, ég þykist bera kennsl á gæði þegar ég heyri þau og hér eru gæði.

Örugglega plata sem að hækkar í áliti eftir því sem maður hlustar oftar á hana.

Not the type of music that I would normally listen to - seems a bit over produced/commercial. But it had a diverse variety of sounds including soul and funk that didn't get boring.

Very... different. Low 3.

Fine musically...just not my thing.

Za nešto okarakterisano kao soul očekivala sam da ima malo duše... Zvuči mehanički i sterilno, kao Drake ili nešto drugo novo i loše (ne mislim automatski da je sve novo loše ali to nije daleko od istine, šta ću) kad bi pokušavao biti inferiorna kopija Stevie Wondera kojeg također nimalo ne volim. Još preko toga svega je veoma dosadno i dugo.

A defining album in 2010s RnB - almost perfect from top to bottom. I think because of the sheer brilliance of Blonde (which also belongs on this list) I forgot about how consistently brilliant this album is from top to bottom

Never listened to, but I was met with what I kind of expected for frank ocean. Some great story, melodies, production, and vocals that I really have never found altogether like Channel Orange anywhere else.

my favourite frank ocen album

Better than I was expecting l, but still lacked proper soul.

I wasn't able to get my head around this album. Too much going on, but nothing to hold my attention.

This dull flat male voice is one of my least favourite genres of music. Nothing on this album could make up for that.

Great voice. But, to paraphrase the hallowed Pythons, one for which you might want to lay down and avoid. For that it receives the rare, and much coveted, 1*.

Solid album. Not my first time listening - I enjoy it.

Pretty good. Enjoyed it.

AMAZING. I’m glad I got to listen to his album through because I’ve heard songs of his individually and have been wanting to check him out more. God it was fantastic. 4.8

Seriously enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Thoughtful compositions, smooth sounds and top notch production. I am not usually into recent R&B but this is an exception. A delightful discovery.

Immense and almost overwhelming nostalgia from the jump. RYM: Y (#296) Saved a song: N

This album is one of my most listened to from my teenage years, feelings of new love, electric organ, Pharrell, Andre 3000, Earl, what else is there to say?

Another album I know and love. So good.

Beautiful stuff, top notch production and vibes.

This album is huge for my generation, though it always skipped over me. Have to say, masterfully crafted and really enjoyable. Super Rich Kids has always been a favorite song of mine though - more of that please!

Weird interlude tracks. Genre I don't really like. Overall not my jam but not overtly obnoxious by any means.

Really thought this was Billy Ocean and was sorely disappointed ha. Not for me but not annoying.

Frank Ocean — Channel Orange Pre-Listening: Avoided this album for 14 years because I got sick of hearing how I needed to listen to it. So, I guess we’ll see what all those hipsters were talking about at UNI a decade ago. Best Song: Pyramids. Really good beat to just mosey around to. Then you look down and realize it was 9 minutes long! For that alone, it gets the top vote. Runner-Up: Pink Matter. Love the subtle guitar in the background. Really love Andre 3000’s feature. Interesting sample sounds in the background make me wonder if this is really a sad song or a fallen warrior song. Third Place: Super Rich Kids. Honestly, thought that I was listening to a Chance, The Rapper song. I love songs that do little but do a lot and this song is that. Post-Listening: If you’re into this style of hip-hop/R&B, I can see why you’re amping it up to everyone else… personally, I’m glad I avoided this song over the years. Ocean’s a great artist, but not for me. Rating: 5/10 Stars: 2/5

Pleasant enough, but doesn't excite me at all

Hated it. Only complaints on a semi interesting electronic beat

Nice voice and sound, but mediocre songs.

Crack Rock, Crack Rock. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Alguna que otra canción me gusto, las demás son repetidas.

first album i ever bought digitally. special place in my heart. different songs were favourites at different times in high school and young adulthood but crack rock is i think, my favourite track on the album.

Not from the same album, but I'm beginning to understand why that guy cried to a Frank Ocean song. Absolutely loved every single track. Also loved the Street Fighter II audio samples.

The lyrics are witty and vacuous, set in the production’s immaculate lounge. Not a bad spot to spend an evening.

Hyped to shit when I was distracted being yelled at by a toddler, I've always been curious about this album. And - it's OK, some skillful songwriting ("Pyramids", once I looked up the lyrics, and "Pink Matter" especially), but with the vapidity of 2010's LA to the fore (much of the rest). Sounds like a typical Tyler, etc album, who I am aware of due to aforesaid toddler having grown up in the interim. Better than a 3, not good enough for a 4.

Lo adoro, mi trasporta nel viaggio che Frank Ocean ha voluto creare tra tutti i suoi temi. pyramids è la mia preferita in assoluto

dit was zowat het slechtste dat ik in deze lijst ben tegen gekomen... ik heb zowat evenveel muzikaal talent als de heer Ocean en dat is tevens de reden waarom ik nog nooit een plaat heb uitgebracht (en ook nooit zal uitbrengen)

I love you Frank Ocean.

Lowkey quite good

It is not racist to not like this album, contrary to what you might read in the other reviews here

I prefer Blonde, but there are tons of gems here. A really special front to back listen.

Perfection of an album.

Never was a big frank ocean fan but this one from 2013 has his bangers. I’ll have to admit it’s good, the radio station that was queued after it ended however…

I guess I don't like R&B. This is incredibly boring to me.

This is a great album, I mean amazing great. Very chill RnB, soulful and moving. Some bangers on there, the biggest let down is the skits breaking the momentum and flow. But this is well worth a listen little man

This was certainly interesting. Didn't really know Frank Ocean before this.

Nice voice. Just not for me.

Very good

Another album I'm very glad to see show up here. This album (and Frank Ocean) is a cornerstone of my generation's pop music. The colors of R&B, soul, psychedelia, the creative layering of vocals, the bass and keyboard playing, the skits, the cohesiveness, and so much more elevate this album to be far more than the average pop album. Everything song has something unique and intriguing to offer. I don't think I need to say much more or even listen to the whole thing because I'm very familiar with this album and comfortable giving it 5 stars

Dang it! My notes are gone; apparently, I forgot to save them. I wrote them over 12 hours ago, and now don't remember very clearly what I wrote but, I think, this is the gist of what I wrote: I started off thinking it might get 4 stars, rather than 3, but, before too long (just a few tracks in, I think), I discarded that idea, and started to wonder if I'd even be able to give it 3 stars. My biggest complaint, I think, is that it all started to sound kind of the same, after a while. (Is this what orange is supposed to sound like? is orange depressed?) But, still, I'm glad to have had the chance to check this out (though I don't think I'm too likely to come back to it), since I remember hearing about it, and being curious about it, when it first came out. Curious to hear what you guys think, especially Sam (who I think might be a fan?). Anyway, this one gets 3 stars from me.

This is definitely one of the most important albums of the 2010's. It's beyond genre. I can see how people think of him as Prince's successor, but he's also unique. Except for a couple tracks, the album refuses to be background music. It is atmospheric, world-building, storytelling. It is also mellow, perfect for reflection and wanderings of the mind. At first impression, this music seems overly simple, paired down. Looking deeper reveals that it is steeped in emotion, with evocative lyrics and a variety of atmospheric breaks and textures. It's not the straightforward Pop or R&B that some people might take it as. And that's why it's really disappointing to see the ignorant comments here. It's one thing to give 1 star if it's just not your thing, but it's incredibly ignorant to equate this album with a supposed downward trajectory of music. I agree with those who are suggesting racism, because I suspect the motivation for those reviews is bitterness about Rock music petering out and losing mass appeal. As hard as it may be to accept, it should come as no surprise that people will eventually get tired of a genre of music if it doesn't evolve. Ok rant over I'm split between 4 and 5 because it's an album I really respect, but don't quite love. Gonna go 4 because of that hesitation

Another great continuation to my 1001 journey. This is such an all round solid experience. It’s extremely coherent sonically and thematically, and honestly I like some of these songs more within the context of the album than I do individually. As a kid of the 2000s, I of course knew a good few of these songs going in, but had never listened to the album in full, and I’m far more impressed than I thought I would be. Thinking Bout You is obviously a strong start, but because of how familiar it is it didn’t blow me away on this listen. Sierra Leone piqued my interest a tad more, and then from Sweet Life onwards the album feels pretty flawless give or take a few moments. Sweet Life I’ve known for years and that’s a great song in every way. Super Rich Kids and Crack Rock were big surprises for me because I’d never heard them before, but wow they were great. Honestly as I write this I’m realising I liked it more than I even thought. I’d give it a 4.5/5 but there’s no .5s on here so it can have a 5 haha.

This album was baffling for me. I had so many mixed feelings about it I was not sure how to rate it. There were moments that I thought were really good and moments that just made me say huh? It had this sort of hip hop meets crooner fusion feel to it and sometimes it gave me modern day Gatsby vibes. It was different and thought provoking. While at times I really was into it I wasn’t always sure I liked it.

A modern classic of moody originality and fierce independence.

still some skips but overall GD not many people do it like Frank

Earl sounds like a baby here! High school throwback big time!

Listened to Claire’s vinyl

This wasn’t at all what I had expected. It wasn’t bad but I feel like I’d have to listen to it a few more times for it to really click with me.

Unique perspectives and song concepts from Mr. Ocean

STREET FIGHTER I HEARD STREET FIGHTER SELECT THEME IN THE FIRST SONG!! A tornado flew around my room before you came. And all I’m hearing is that one vine It does feel like ocean is sifting through channels on his tv with this transitions in the middle. It’s like he watching his life and maybe commentating on past mistakes and venting class struggles.

Producción y sonido del siglo XXI muy competente pero quizás falta de alma.

Pink Matter is one of the best Hip Hop songs of all time.

defined the 2010s

Billy > Frank

This genre is not exactly my thing. Even though I enjoyed some tunes, most of it was a bit slow and boring to my taste.

best of the best

An absolute blast to listen to. The grooves were cool, the vocals were accomplished. The album gave off an air of deep lore whether it was there or not. One of the best of the challenge so far

This had a lot of style and I can see why people really like it. I ultimately found myself wanting less programmed tracks and more instrumentals, but clearly wasnt made for me. The lyrics were interesting and the video game intro at the beginning was great!

Not for me but not a badly produced album

A personal favourite that I was surprised to see pop up on the list. Amazing vocal performances throughout!

Frank ocean music is my soulmate, period.

During "Pyramids" I accidently switched to listening to another album

Never heard of this guy but this is a lush album well produced. A nice chill out LP for after work or a slow weekend. It helps to have Pharrell Williams assisting you too.

He's a gamer? Ew. I really need to get my psychic powers checked because this is the second time some form of portent has foretold what album I was going to get.

forgot how good this one is - why hasn't he made music in so long???

Channel Orange was quite a solid hip hop record. I have always heard of Frank Ocean's name with the praise his second album Blond gets and the anger people have with him for doing anything but releasing new music but i haven't been too familiar with any of his songs though. The music for the most part is pretty good bringing in a very Kendrick Lamar vibe with a couple of R&B elements too. There are a lot of intermission tracks with some having a bunch of sounds from the PS1 and one of the Street Fighter games (i don't know which one though). The vocals were also a bit hit or miss at points too. All that is to say this album is fine, just a bit unremarkable. Except for Pyramid though, whole extra star for that track alone. Best Song: Pyramid Worst Song: Super Rich Kids

Frank Ocean should make an album of sea shanties

Soul / R&B albumi. Ihan kivaa chilliä musaa. Ehkä omaan makuun liian hidasta.

C'est une coche plus correct que bon. Ça m'a rendu très las.

Start har PS1 start up lyd, mega sejt. Pyramids: 5/5 banger. Lost, Crack Rock og Forrest Gump er også bangers. Er ikke så meget til R&B stykkerne nødvendigvis dog. Albummet burde nok have 4,5 stjerner, hvis muligt.

I understand why some people love this and some hate it. The grooves are good, there's some good vocals here and there, some solid lyrics, but for me it just doesn't excite me.

mixed for me - a few tracks really hit (pyramids, lost, pink matter) but i think it could have been edited down to a single instead of double album

This is more than an album; it’s an experience. Pyramids alone is like a well-written novella. Frank Ocean has the voice of an angel. I could listen to him sing anything. I love his stream-of-consciousness lyrical style. There’s some heavy material here you could almost miss because it’s ensconced in velvety smooth vocals. Something about the deep bass grooves pitted against Frank’s falsetto tickles my brain in the right kind of way. This is the kind of concept album I prefer with clearly defined edges and proof of concept throughout, not just nebulous snippets of concept like some others. Much of this album is already in heavy rotation on my playlist, and I’m happy I finally listened to it in totality.

meu favorito do dr. frank oceano, e ao mesmo tempo, no meu coração é um dos maiores representantes da sonoridade dos anos 2010, lindo de bom produção impecável inclusive, acho que uma das melhores da década btw

A TORNADO FLEW AROUND MY ROOM BEFORE YOU CAME EXCUSE THE MESS IT MADE IT USUALLY DOESN'T RAIN IN PEDRADAÇA!!!!!!!!!! dos maiores debuts da história do r&b, foda-seeeee bão demais e super influente. se manteve MUITO bem, inclusive. moderno e fresquíssimo!! concordo com o amigo aí, tá, NO MÍNIMO, no top 10 dos anos 2010. absurdo demais.

I had heard Lost before as well as a track or two from Blonde so was looking forward to hearing this given that's its highly regarded. The second half of the record is stronger then the first I'd say with Pyramids, Lost and Forrest Gump standing out. I remember in the years after this first came out it was cited everywhere as a great album but I think it's legacy may have suffered some what from the lack of subsequent material, Kendrick for example has released four albums in the time since Frank has only managed one and seems to have overtaken him as the critical darling in hip hop. Light 4 for me.

Some good RnB in here but is overshadowed by some really bland and even bad tracks. As generic as some of them sound, the poppy and easy jazz chord progression harmonies are a bit guilty pleasure. I think any TTC album clears though (where is Flower Boy or Igor bro...). Favorite(s): Sweet Life Monks Least: Pyramids (the most "9-minute long 3-minute song" ever) Pink Matter 1.5/5

Fav: Sweet Life, Lost L: Super Rich Kids 2 To start, orange is my least favorite color. Most of the songs needed something more in my opinion. The lyrics got kind of annoying repetitive in parts. I wouldn’t be bothered if somebody put this on, but I don’t think I would ever listen to this again.

I listened to this one 3 and a half times because I couldn't decide how to feel about it. It's definitely an album that's trying to be an album. The songs tell a story. But that story sometimes just isn't very good, maybe. I struggle to relate much to the two "rich kid" songs. But maybe I find it preferable to rap/r&b songs that just gush about having tons of money. Idk. I might be going crazy, but I'm pretty sure the vocal track peaks throughout the album. I don't think it's a stylistic lo-fi thing. It's most noticeable in Sweet Life. When he says "weren't" in the first line. Am I crazy? It makes it seem like they just did one audio take and didn't bother re-recording parts that peaked. Lazy/cynical or amateur/naive? The songs have somewhat inconsistent layered production. It reminds me a bit of Jockstrap. Not so much the end product, but the production philosophy I guess. I like it generally, like they're taking risks. Sometimes it lands and sometimes it doesn't. Through multiple listens, I noticed I was gravitating towards different songs each time. So it's almost random on where it lands and where it doesn't. Except maybe Crack Rock, that's a certified banger for me. It might end up in the vocal stim rotation. I had listened to this album before today, but I didn't really get the hype. The album started as a 2.5 on my first listen, then went up to a 3, and now it sits at a 3.5. Idk where it'll be long-term. I was kinda hoping on the third listen it would spur a bit so I could stop rating things 3 stars. Oh well. I am who I am. W: Crack Rock L: Sweet Life 3.5/5

My initial reaction to this was EXCITEMENT because I love Frank Ocean. His music has helped me survive some shit. Should be interesting to listen to some of his early work. Oh man the Sweet Life ending was such a jam. I could have listened to just that instrumental for hours. Super Rich Kids was a bop... i get how it would be great for a piano bar. Love the guitar riffs at the end of Pyramids. Well we're wrapping up and even though I enjoyed my time, I expected more songs to stand out to me than they did. That could be an issue with me though... because Swim Good was so impactful to my life that nothing will ever measure up to that song for me. Overall I enjoyed it and would totally listen again but no songs made the playlist this time.

Nä usch

My favourite Frank Ocean record. Amorphous grooves, ephemeral vibes, loose, aching, sweet, weird.

“Pyramids” is a tour de force, and most of the other tracks are strong too. You can’t hear R & B now without hearing it through the filter of Frank Ocean.

An excellent album but not really for me. In between 3 and 4* Let's do 3* and if I return to the album I'll come back to update 3/5

Liked: 2,3,5,10,11,12,13,15,16,17 Disliked: 1,4,6,7,8,9,14 Total Songs: 17 Ratio: 10/17 Converted Score: 2.94/5 Top 3 1. Sweet Life 2. Pyramids 3. Lost

I can appreciate that this isn’t generic R&B and hip hop but it’s not something I see myself returning too

I thought this album was smart, interesting, and innovative. I appreciate how different it was from most R&B that came before it, and how it opened up the world of "alternative R&B." I'd heard tracks from "Blonde" before but not this one, and I think I like "Blonde" better. But I'm glad that I sat down and listened to this one (I even listened to "Pyramids" twice!).

This was recommended to me when it came out, but I didn't have head space to get into it - happy to be focusing on it now (for one day at least). After a run of shallow albums, I'm glad there's heaps to attend to here, in the music, lyrics, vocal delivery. It's creative, ambitious, well-produced, stylish, way more interesting than so much else in the list. But I don't think the effort always lands, eg Pyramids (sketchy concepts, messed-up about history and cartoony about the present). And the vibe and values aren't great fits for me: the lyrics relating to women are often off-putting, which is easy to say but not my whole unease; maybe the whole is a bit too “young Californian” for me. Trying to pick my favourite song of the album, I realise I find the songs interesting and mildly impressive, rather than actually liking them, or specifically wanting to hear them again (apart from trying to put my finger on various uncomfortable feelings about the story/lyrics). I want to get what the people who love this album are getting, but it isn't happening for me. So I'll call it Good, 7/10.

An ex gf tried to get me into this album when it first came out, I wasn't interested at the time. I dig it now, I understand it better in my wiser years. Album has intelligence and depth.

Luftig RnB, jazzigt, väldigt snyggt och chill. Allting har en tendens att flyta ihop dock, vilket gör det lite småtråkigt att lyssna på hela albumet från början till slut. Stabil 3/5

not my bag

A college fave, had on REPEAT...I hadn't listened to the whole thing in a while and it was nice to. Not a weak point here

A younger version of myself would've given this an instant 5. I still like some of the tracks (Lost, Pink Matter, Forrest Gump), but a lot of the appeal of this album has faded for me as my tastes have changed and expanded. I'm not nearly as big of a fan of a lot of the album's tracks as I once was (Thinkin Bout You, Pyramids, Bad Religion). Still solid, just not great and doesn't stand out for me much anymore.

Finally an album that allows you to breathe fresh air. In spite of me liking old music I have got to admit that listening to “contemporary” music from artists that are still alive gives a different perspective to listening to music

To be honest, I gave it a listen, but I’m not going to waste my time listening to the whole thing; there’s one thing to be said about it: it’s cheesy.

Sååååå många klassiska låtar på den här plattan. Transporteras tillbaka till ettan i gymnasiet så fort jag hör dom. Dock riktigt tråkigt album-omslag.

i'm so ridiculous, i keep putting these albums on in the background without paying any real attention to it. i was surprised by how many songs i already knew though. some of these were *such* a throwback. it's a Crafted album that's for sure

perfeito

It's okay. I honestly don't get much of the hype with Frank Ocean. Favourite Song: Lost

Is this album about a guy coming out as gay? Weird flex but okay. Its okay I guess.

Como ya es usual, no es el tipo de música que me gusta o estoy acostumbrado a escuchar. No suena mal y de hecho creo que tiene una buena producción. Tal vez es demasiado lento para mi gusto, a veces me gusta lo lento, pero hay muchas canciones en las que no llega a ningún lado y no hay algo que me llame la atención como para decir que me gusta. Aún así, Pyramids y Lost fueron las canciones que más resalté del resto del álbum. No volvería a escucharlo.

This is a great album. Not sure why the blatant incel racist reviews are getting upvoted.

imagine being so racist that you think frank fucking ocean is the herald of the end of western civilization lmfao

Olipas yllättävän hyvä

i haven't really ever gotten into frank ocean... listened to a few of his tracks and left it off. i think i see my mistake, tho. this is meant to be listened as an album not as songs sporadic listening notes. the piano chords in super rich kids are so familiar this is killing me pyramids--usually i'm absolutely not about 9min tracks. this one will pass muster, however. musically it's almost three distinct songs. love the synth in part i. very well done contemporary interpretation of 80s synth. lost had a nice backing keyboard line the jazz electric in white is also great. bad religion--this is a simplified pachelbel's canon on the opening organ, right? what are the strings? ok yah. ok. for sure 4/5. maybe approaching 5/5 territory. i know that there is some story or theme in the lyrics tying this album together but tbh i have no idea what it is. unrequited love and forbidden things and loneliness while living the life, probably. idk. i'm gonna let this one percolate and finalize 4 or 5 tomorrow. the album flows very well, well put together. tbh i'm too lazy to relisten right now and reading my listening notes, i think a 5 is fair and valid. but this is more like 4.75 rounded up.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Some real talent and originality here. Enough so that I may try more. 4/5

It's a really nice vibe, and I really like how groovy some of it is, like the piano in Super Rich Kids and the bass in Sierra Leone, but I'm not a huge fan of the vocals at some occasional times. He's really good, but the lyrics are a bit boring (and I don't really like the personality/themes that come through) and I'd just rather listen to Stevie Wonder for something like this, it's just more consistently what the peaks of this album are like. Ocean is obviously pretty talented, but in music like this I can't help but feel a little bothered it's just listened under "Frank Ocean" when I can hear so many other talented musicians that should be more overtly credited (like drummer and keyboard players on Crack Rock), and yes I feel the same with Kendrick who I glaze, but with albums like TPAB and GKMC, Kendrick feels more uniquely talented in a way that couldn't really have been done by anyone else. Sorry, dumb rant over. The album is genuinely really solid and there's not really a single bad song, although Piramids is a little overrated in my opinion, but I would come back to most the songs here, just not as much as other stuff.

I think I understand the frank ocean hype now, I have always felt that he tries to be mysterious which may be true but his music is undeniable. This album is proof of that, an eclectic mix of songs, pyramid was a favourite

Holy crap, this is goooood

Wasn't convinced at the start but it really grew on me. A few duds but it's outweighed by the bangers. Forest gump, crack rock, lost, pyramids all highlights.

This was way better than Blond, so that was a pleasant surprise. He's got such a good voice and almost all the songs here are smooth as butter. Such a vibe, 4/5

Enjoyed this more than I thought- still struggle with this style of music. Beginning made me wince

I may not understand the appeal of this genre, but, this album is actually tedious to listen to, bland and so so insipid and uninteresting. The minimalism in the production added to that kind of singing with disdain is absolutely soporific. There is not much to say about an album that is full of songs that sound the same, that feel like a very paused Contemporary RnB with hip-hop influences all over the place but with no actual sense of transmitting anything. It is a soulless album, even if the lyrics try to make it feel like something else. It is nothing else than a very polished album that has nothing to express or to move.

Never heard of this guy, don't think I missed much.

Absolute fucking shite. Mumbly processed crap autotuned to within an inch of its life.

I was ready to write this off as an insta 2. Not into it but not as terrible as Kid Rock. Whiny voice, he's no Marvin Gaye, better rappers/RnB singers who talk about drugs. Who cares that the selling point is that you go falsetto then back to tenor with ease and grace. Then Pink Matter came along. Gamechanger. Or maybe it just took that long. All the songs have the same tempo and beat so I may have been lulled into acquiescence if not appreciation. Would have been better with some rain. Standing by my 2.

Nothing special

This felt longer than it was, and by the end I just very ready for it to be over, despite the fact that I did enjoy it. The music, the vocals were quite good. I don’t know. 3.5/5

This was catchy and melodic R&B music led by a smooth-voiced Frank Ocean (his voice is perfect for this genre). There were occasional samples. I liked the instrumentals and sound effects in this, too. This is not a typical listened-to genre for me, but this album wasn't bad.

Trop bien, ça défonce, très sensible, très beau.

Wow. That was fucking boring. Contemporary R&B is garbage, bring back the soul.

(Decent to strong 9/10) The production on this album is the first thing that stands out to me. The mix is incredible and the way the drums hit and the bass pops on tracks like "Monks" and "Pink Matter" give me such chills. This record is also sequenced amazingly, starting off immediately with "Thinkin bout you" sets the whole tone of the album. While the beginning half is summery and effervescent in tone and atmosphere, after the sketchy "Crack Rock" things get a bit darker and then we transition into the monumental "Pyramids". An 11-minute odyssey with a deep groove and a subtle-yet-effective beat switch that keeps this song fresh for it's runtime. "Lost" immediately following this up keeps the momentum rolling with the danciest and brightest instrumental on the LP, making sure you don't stop moving. The album winds down with some deeply soulful tracks invoking feelings of depression and intolerance and really setting in stone what this album had been alluding to the whole time with the song "Forrest Gump". Confessing his feelings to a man who doesn't feel the same, the album's finale feels forlorn and given up. A sad end to a rollercoaster of a summer. This album and subsequently Frank Ocean as an artist are on par with the likes of D'Angelo in the sense that all of the time and effort put into the production, the sonic details, the lyricism and the mood, is entirely worth the long spans of time between albums. The fact this is a debut record of all things just makes this feel like one of those miraculous wonders of art that couldn't be replicated. A fantastic record, and a must listen.

Interesting in that his work is supposed to be avant garde but I felt this was just your typical, albeit nice, RnB. Perhaps I am missing something here.

High highs and middling lows. There are some great tunes and some boring filler. I think Frank has gotten worse about that since then.

A surprise. I did not expect to like this. The vibe, the beats — they got me before the lyrics did. Channel Orange is R&B that doesn't ask you to be an R&B person. It just creates an atmosphere and pulls you into it. I've listened several times now, which doesn't happen often with albums from outside my usual territory. Sweet Life was the one that landed first — and personally. I posted Aska asleep in the sun with that track running, because the line "my TV ain't HD, that's too real" said something true about where I am right now. Simple things. Real things. That's the sweet life. I haven't fully followed the lyrics on everything yet. I'll be back. 4/5 — already downloaded to my phone, already thinking about the vinyl.

I just can't see the appeal in this kind of music. And this album in particular just doesn't engage me at all. The vocals are annoying, the songwriting as boring as the instrument parts. The idea with the sample interludes didn't work either as the samples were shit. To say something positive... "Lost" was okay I guess. 1/5 - very weak

On the whole, the album was fine. "Pyramids" went on too long though.

A beautifully leftfield take on soul/r&b/whatever.

Really liked this album. Found some of the lyrics a bit goofy but generally just really enjoyed pretty much all of the songs. Top songs: Thinkin Bout You, Sweet Life, Super Rich Kids, Pyramids, Lost, Bad Religion, Forrest Gump

Day932 - might be some of the worst lyrics i’ve heard.

These reviews are wild so I’ll keep it simple. Not my style, but not an unpleasant listen. Kinda faded into the background.

Perfection, prob the best album of the 2010s

My personal favourite album from Frank, some really gorgeous songs. I really like the instrumentals he has here too, songs like super rich kids and pyramids are really amazing. Has to be 5 stars from me.

Surprised i didnt like this more, pink matter is the sexiest song ever

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I mina öron är detta så mycket klassisk soul men ompackat i en modern krispig kostym. Detta var en stor aha upplevelse för mig, jag har såklart hört om Frank Ocean tidigare men aldrig lyssnat aktivet och aldrig på ett helt album. Detta är så bra, produktionen är riktigt bra, albumet är jämnt utan dåliga spår, det är funkig och engagerande soul med egen touch. Tycker även om att han variera sin sång från falsett till att prata vilket ger dynamik. Galet att detta är ett debutalbum. Jag kanske är lite till mig och kanske lite uppspelt över att ha hittat något jag verkligen gillar men jag kommer ge detta albumet en 5a.
Bäst är Thinking bout you, Sweet life, Pyramids, Lost, Bad religion, Forrest Gump

Not my style. ★★

Better than some.

A potato flew around my room the other day… This was a good album! Some seminal songs of the 2010s.

Я розумію чому Френк є культовим артистом і багато людей прям фанатіють, але я щось як тоді не викупав, так і зараз не викупаю.

Listened to this while driving to Montclair in the worst rush hour traffic I have ever experienced. Lost years of my life while listening to Super Rich Kids and Monks - both good songs, but this album was middle of the pack for me, maybe because I was too stressed to pay attention to the lyrics. 2.5 rounded up.

Good album

Decent album. Some songs with great hooks.

I admit it: this is the first time that I've listened to this album in full. I'll never forget the day I first heard Frank Ocean perform. It was on SNL in 2012, performing "Thinkin Bout You" (with a full band, John Meyer on guitar). I had never heard anyone sing like that - such rawness, so traditional yet contemporary, with notes of blues, ambient music, and trip-hop. "Pyramids" was cool as well, and it was clear that Ocean had *something* that made him destined for greatness, in the same vein as Lauryn Hill and D'Angelo, maybe Prince at times. Alas, like the former two artists, Ocean has not released any new album in a long while (10 years as of this writing). I find this to be a shame, and a shame especially that I wasn't listening more attentively to his stuff, as this is a gem through and through. Ocean has an odd vocal style. It sounds generic at first, until you listen more carefully. Every note is intonated with emotion, and finished with an emotional gasp. The beats and textures ooze and meld with his voice, providing a beautiful milkshake of tone and density. If I could taste this album, it would be so sweet at first, so bitter in the finish. The lyrics are filled with clever juxtaposition and irony, and often very direct about his points of view on society's degradation. I'm old enough to realize that great music is to be found everywhere - what matters is sincerity and the daringness to explore new sounds and ideas. Ocean plays it safe, but only so much. There's so much experimentation and every song is completely different. Add that to his mystique as an artist, and you have a timeless album for the ages. How he didn't win best new artist or AOTY at the Grammys is beyond me, but then I saw who did - Mumford & Sons, Gotye, fun., Adele. Artists that nobody talks about anymore. But, Ocean continues to fascinate, as we await his newest album, should it ever be released. This will regularly be on rotation here at home. 5 stars.

Not for me ta. It's not awful but also doesn't do much for me.

good album.

Channel orange, more like Chanel beige. What an absolute bland non descript dog turd is this. This is one of the very very few albums I haven’t managed to finish. Listened to half of it then stated skipping through the rest.

i dont get it i'm sorry

s/s, RnB, 2012 -> 2

I remember when this album came out and the waves it made on Tumblr at the time, so I had high hopes coming into it, but something about it didn't click for me. the André 3000 feature was a highlight though.

Thoughts before listening: Outside of the heavyweights from the 60s and 70s, few albums have received the perpetual praise that both of Frank Oceans' albums have gotten. I never really saw the hype if I'm being honest. It's very good r&b, but why have these been singled out from all the other r&b releases of the past 20 years? Maybe this will be the time it clicks for me. Review: Ok so this isn't my normal style of music, but maybe I finally get the appeal. Cool, mostly mid-tempo r&b with production by Pharrell and others. Lots of different elements thrown into these songs, with Frank's evocative, storyteller lyrics and strong vocals. Often this type of music just melds into background noise for me because it doesn't really catch my attention and all sounds the same, but there were multiple times on this album where I put down what I was working on and listened. I'll give this 4 stars.

aboslute goated listen, goat artist, goat album, goat single, goat music video, goat errything

Not my style.

Not sure about why this is considered so great. Its not bad, but didn't find it that interesting

This album would have been so much better if it was about 25 minutes shorter

The rare album that I thought had a better second half than first half, but that could have also been me just acclimating to the sound. Big fan of Monks and especially Pyramids. This isn’t the most immediately attention grabbing album out there but I quite liked this. 3.5.

I do enjoy this album even if I've never understood the intensity it looks like it inspires.

Frank is a talented vocalist, and his chill, electro-soul hip hop always makes me think of sitting in a pool on hot summer day with a tropical drink, all chill vibes. I don't get why he's so polarizing, his music is good, not spectacular but worth a listen now and again (3.5)

Could've been better

Easy listening, what a debut (was it his debut??!!)

This has definitely not aged as well as it should have done, some of the beats and melodies sound antiquated and it's only been a decade. I rate Blonde better than this, it's quite a middling album really.

Unconventional, eclectic, astonishing. These are 3 words specifically made to describe a record that was born after the frustration from his mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra. Frank Ocean wiped out the entire structure and gave these songs a whole new embodiment bringing into the table a cozy, flawless and mellow sound that has his roots in R&B and neo-soul. With Pharrell Williams as one of the producers, and featuring collaborations with Andre 3000, Earl Sweatshirt, Tyler The Creator, and guitarist John Mayer, The californian debuted at number 2 in Billboard 200 making a name for himself with this debut album that still today surprises many people due to to the influences that ranged from Sly and The Family Stone, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and even Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix. From the first track you can tell that these amount of great artists served as an inspiration for an album that even when more than a decade has passed by, we still need to talk about as one of the most amazing pieces in contemporary R&B. Relying also on noise and film dialogues that function as interludes and with lyrics about Ocean's sexuality, you can perceive that there is something that feels somehow erotic and naughty in this anthology of songs. Definitely a collection of sounds you don't wanna miss out if you are new to the genre, or if you wanna explore something outside the standards.

I’ve heard this one before and I still really like it.

This album hit the UC Berkeley campus so hard in 2012 I am unable to be objective. It's great? Every song is a hit. A lot more structured than Blond(e) - really keeps moving and has good hooks. Impressive how seamlessly and can switch between beauty and ugliness - love songs next to songs about crack addicts + rich pill addicts and always some nice electric piano and beautiful vocals. I also really love the Earl Sweatshirt + Andre 3000 verses but I might have just heard them so many times that they sound like classics. Bad Religion is so good it should have more streams.

One of the best R&B albums of the 2000's. Great beats that lay the perfect foundation for Frank's soulful vocals. Favorite track: Pyramids

I find the production here vastly more interesting than any of the singing/lyrics. He doesn't have a bad voice, but I find myself listening to this album trying to concentrate on the music itself and he's just getting in the way. Not a huge R&B fan to begin with, but this is overall pretty good. Glad I listened to it, appreciate it, wouldn't ever return to it again.

Several of these tracks are part of the backdrop of my teenage years, so I'm quite biased. A cohesive and solid rnb album.

Like it 3/5

The songs are very vibey actually. I do not like interludes but again I am the problem. Sweet Life and Sierra Leone are good. I liked the musical bit of pyramids. I like Lost, probably my favourite track of the album. Pink matter - 'butter knife, what a life, anyway' goddamn that was SMOOTH.

Channel Orange doesn’t sound like anything else I’ve heard so far on this project. I’m not sure what to think about it after one listen, but I also didn’t really care for it. There is so much going on sonically that I feel like I’m missing something. Is there a narrative that explains the different songs or is it all just a vibe? I prefer more direct music. On a side note, the fact that this album needed an explicit lyrics warning is almost laughable. A couple of f-bombs and a few shits: compare that to Straight Outta Compton (which absolutely deserves the warning label). There should either be levels of warning or no label at all. As far as a rating, I can’t give more than a three, but it’s worth hearing and there seems to have been an impressive production behind the music. So for me it’s a 3 3 stars

I can't imagine what life must be like having this as your favourite record.

Frank Ocean is new to me. I enjoyed this. Didn't notice anything on my first listen that I wasn't fond of but nothing jump out as exceptionally good. Will be listing to this again.

- Most definitely a genre (alt R&B, I guess) that I never listen to. Not unpleasant, just not my thing. - The album production is fun; the inclusion of a lot of intermediary tracks with their lofi characteristics (like you are changing radio stations) is interesting. - Enjoyed the four track stretch from "Pilot Jones" to "Lost" the most. Each of these felt unique in the soundscape that was made. Unfortunately, a lot of the other tracks just blended together between the subject matter, lyrical quality, and overall tone.

There's clearly a whole lot of creativity behind the production and the songwriting here, but melodically it falls a bit short. Not that it doesn't have its moments, but it never quite sticks with me as much as it feels like it should. (Incidentally, I have this same problem except even moreso with Blonde!)

I’ve listened to this album a few times and really liked it. I need to give Frank Ocean his due with some other offerings too. The storytelling in these tracks is matched by few others. What a list of features as well. An all timer to be sure.

This album grew on me a bit as it went on. What started as just just a rap and r&b sound slowly saw some other influences leak in like electronic pop and jazz. Pyramids was my favorite. Not something I’d come back to but a good listen I otherwise wouldn’t have found.

One of my absolute favorite albums - so many great high school memories listening to these songs. A wide range of genres and influences, truly a work of art.

I prefer blonde and I still enjoyed this

Liked it, but definitely not in my wheelhouse generally genre/artist wise

Frank ocean is a talented man. This was a very fun listen and I will defintely revisit again at a later date. 7.75/10 Top song Thinking about you

There are TOO many classics on here, I love this album so much. First album I've known beforehand too! 5/5

Frank Ocean's Orange is an interesting listen that balances modern production with a laid-back, easygoing atmosphere. The album's smooth beats make it easy to get lost in, while its blend of R&B, soul, and alternative influences keeps the sound fresh and engaging. Beyond its accessible production, what really stands out is Frank Ocean's songwriting. The album explores themes of love, identity, nostalgia, and personal growth with honesty and subtlety, allowing the music to resonate long after each track ends. His vocals are understated yet expressive, complementing the intimate tone of the project. While some songs are more immediate than others, the album rewards repeat listens as its layered lyrics and nuanced production reveal new details over time. Overall, Orange is a modern, thoughtfully crafted record with great beats, a relaxed vibe, and emotional depth, making it both an easy listen and a memorable one.

Definitely wasn't bad and I see the appeal but this one didn't grip me fully I'm afraid.

Frank Sinatra then Frank Ocean what is this a Frank Off? Anyways. This was good but I’m not raving mad about it.

Or do you not think so far aheadddd, because I’ve been thinking about foreverrrrrr, oooohhhh…….. So many great alt-r&b-pop hits imbued with Frank’s ingenious sensibilities. I also liked the interludes—I don’t know if that’s a hot take. It gave the album a sense of cohesion where there otherwise might’ve not been. Some vocal and instrumental patterns dragged a little by the end, but it didn’t distract me from the crux of this record: a melange of skillful, melodic, summer-glistened tracks. Call me Colleen Ballinger if you must, but haters need to back off!!! STAND-OUT SONG: “Sweet Life” HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Thinkin Bout You”, “Super Rich Kids”, “Bad Religion”, “Pyramids”

🗣️ 4.6/5

surprisingly enjoyable

Color me surprised when I flipped to this channel

Saved? ✅ Would listen again? ✅ Would recommend to anyone? ✅ Would buy on Vinyl? ✅

Favourite Tracks: - Thinkin Bout You - Sierra Leone - Sweet Life - Pyramids - Lost - Bad Religion - Pink Matter

Good album, liked it but for me it just doesn’t come close to blonde, that’s why this is a 3/5 for me. There are quite a few tracks i found boring or I would skip. Highlights: crack rock, pyramids, lost, pink matter

so boring bruh

okay so here’s the deal. I have previously liked some songs on this album so naturally I was excited to listen. Mr. Ocean’s voice is so beautiful and I enjoyed the theme of the album with the little radio static interludes to tie the songs together. HOWEVER, compared to the other albums I have given 5 stars on this journey so far, I was lowkey thinking this album is NOwhere close to how good other albums are. Some of the lyrics were so trashy that I understood why older generations are disappointed in us. I think in a biased scope of mind this album is good but in the music analyst mode and in terms of other albums on this list this one really does not hold up. It shall be a 3.5 for me.

ya lo escuché lol

Enjoyed listening to it. Won't listen to it again.

3/5 Favorite Song: Forrest Gump

Rap meets Prince in places but not my genre

A strange album, I can't decide what I think of it. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it, but it was much better than I anticipated but only in parts. Odd.

Album starts with thinking bout you which is full of depth and sang beautifully. Sierra Leone is also diverting and interesting. So far so very good. Follows up then is sweet life, possibly the albums highlight. Oceans voice really shines on this song. The narration flows from slight rapping to again wistful and powerful. Super rich kids which takes the piano riff from benny and the jets and injects new life into the song. A couple of ok songs follow then pyramids blasts into focus. Both retro and futuristic this doesn't really belong on this record but this is a certified banger as the youth would say. Lost is next and amazing, possibly the most accessible song on the album. Monks is a ton of fun too. Very funny but yet again it hits home. Bad religion and pink matter are the closers and are scene setters for most wistful future songs oceans would release. A quite amazing piece of work. Album of the 2010s without a doubt

Production is great and this album is more funky than I would have thought, albeit through my rather snobbish lens of pre-implied hate towards anything released after 2005, i still thought it was okay. Nevertheless, I found frank ocean to sing in a sort of mumble rap/whine and I find it deeply unsettling; softness as a singer is a virtue when the lyrics pertain to the same ideals, these two stars do not align when I’m listening to Frankie boi, for whatever reason that may be

If you gave this record 0 stars i am judging you

Well, I was all set to get on here and leave a mediocre review, but after reading that unhinged post blaming this album for the downfall of western civilization, I just had to give it another chance

What is there to say? There is really nothing like Frank Ocean. It's a tragedy bordering on a crime that Blonde isn't on this project, but Channel Orange is unequivocally one of the best albums in history, so I'll take what I can get.

Start & Fertilizer very unnecessary in the Album, beautifully songs, great as background music especially in summer, calming, love the messages in the lyrics, high, love his voice, comforting to listen to in the background

I don't exactly know what this was - Soul? RNB? Rap? All of the above? Anyway, high pitched singing and strange rhythmic phrasing. I miss rage and anger instead of the high pitched whining.

I feel this is probably actually about a 3 for me, but nostalgia is pushing it to a 4...

This is amazing. Heard great things about Blonde but not heard as much praising this album. So many bangers on this. Pyramids alone is worth a spin. Thinking About You, Sweet Life and Pink Matter are personal favourites. I love the little intro with the PS2 music

incredible stunning spectacular. have heard before of course. one of my all time faves. thinkin bout you was one of the first songs i learnt on drums. slay. pyramid, long as fuck, incredible. god i love this album

Orange is my favorite color and Channel Orange is my favorite Frank Ocean album. So many all timers on here, especially “Pyramids.” One of the great albums of the ‘10s.

i liked it, first time listening to frank ocean

Highlights: Crack Rock, Bad Religion, Sierra Leone -> Super Rich Kids sequence

Channel Orange is an incredibly iconic album that was difficult for me to categorize. It's really personal and emotionally raw regarding its feel. But genre-wise, it is an album that blends R&B, soul, funk, and psychedelic music into something I haven't really heard before. What starts as a slow-burning mellow sound with themes of vanity and excess, gradually builds to one of the most honest and ambitious albums I've heard. "Start" is a short instrumental intro. I don't have much to say about it, but it sets the mood nicely. "Thinkin Bout You" I was skeptical about at first tbh. My first thought was literally the Vine "a potato flew around my room" before I realized the Vine was referencing this song. On relisten it resonated w me more, especially as I connected it to my own experiences with relationships. "Do you think about me still?" is my fav lyric. 7/10. "Fertilizer" is a short but kinda funny interlude. The "I'll take bullshit if that's all you got" made me laugh. 3/10. "Sierra Leone" is emotional and sounds heavenly in parts. The bass is incredible. But it's too short, and the topic didn't rlly land with me all that much. As I listened closer to the lyrics, I realized it's about a version of Ocean facing unwanted/unexpected fatherhood. 4/10. "Sweet Life" has an amazing bass line and I love it, the lyrics are pretty cutting too. It critiques wealth and privilege, which I appreciate. But for me, the lyrics just didn't hit hard enough. I could see this rated higher by others but for me: 5/10. "Not Just Money" is a conversational interlude that hits hard honestly. A mom explains to her kid that money isn't just "money": it's happiness, it's the difference between a house and the street. It reminded me of my own family's financial instability growing up. So honestly it's short but rlly powerful to those who find it relatable. "Super Rich Kids" was one of the first songs that really grabbed me. The storytelling is great, reminds me of Kendrick although more metaphorical, also the Earl Sweatshirt verse is awesome, and the song is actually bumpin. Added to my playlist. 8/10. "Pilot Jones" has some amazing lyrics about addiction and codependency. But musically it meanders (at least for me). I think the lack of a rlly strong hook made it feel a bit aimless to me. 4/10. "Crack Rock" is one of my favorites. The beat is crazyy (not to mention him again but yea its something I could hear Kendrick using) and the lyrics are great criticism of the police surveillance state in lower income neighborhoods plagued by addiction. ACAB. The topic of addiction is handled with the weight it deserves. As I researched a bit abt the song, I found out Ocean's grandfather struggled with addiction, which gave the song even more depth. 8-9/10. "Pyramids" is the album's masterpiece. That beat shift (from Daft Punk synth to a groovy guitar second half) is awesomeeee. The symbolism, the complexity, the lyrics and poetry. It's the best song on the album and one I'll be coming back to for sure. 10/10. "Lost" is bouncy and catchy but carries some real heft. It tells a story about addiction and exploitation that hits really hard. Less epic than "Pyramids" but still really good. 9/10. "White" is a chill instrumental interlude. Nice background music. "Monks" is super funky and relatable. I grew up Buddhist, so the stark contrast of mosh pits and Buddhist monks was awesome to hear. Not as tight as "Pyramids" or "Lost," but good for the playlist. 7/10. "Bad Religion" is incredibly emotional, almost brought me to tears at work. It's devastating. As I listened, I found out Ocean wrote this about his first love, a man he met when he was 19. The line "I could never make him love me" hit especially hard. 9/10. "Pink Matter" is romantic and thought provoking. André 3000's verse is great as always. It reminded me of coming back to my girlfriend after a long day, that warm, familiar feeling. The Majin Buu lyrics is also super funny. Could even be considered one of the earliest mainstream albums to reference anime (tbf Kanye did it a few years earlier, and Wu Tang all the way back in the 90s). 8-9/10. "Forrest Gump" I haven't seen Forrest Gump and from what I've heard I probably wouldn't like it anyway, so this one didn't hit for me. 4-5/10. "End" is actually a pretty cool and atmospheric end to the album. Interlude quality, not playlist material for me, but well-made. Channel Orange is a slow burn that took me a few listens to really appreciate. The first half felt distant at first, but by the end I had warmed up to the R&B sound in a way I wasn't expecting. Songs like "Pyramids," "Crack Rock," and "Lost" really show off Frank Ocean's lyrics, musical genius, and ability for deep vulnerability on the mic. Rating: 9/10

One of the best R&B albums of all time. Thinkin Bout You, Sweet Life, Super Rich Kids, Lost are all such bangers. This is handily a contemporary five-star album. I even think Monks is a good song.

Starts silence that gradually eases into an almost mystical technology start is so interesting. Thinkin About You is a summer song in the way that humidity acts on you. Summer allows for you to think longer about things such as relationships, but it leaves a sticky feeling on your skin. Thinkin about you is a reflection on how we'll never know how the ex people in our life felt. Fertilizer is a nice comic relief and has a really happy instrumental, and interestingly it echoes the start of the album. Sierra Leone echoing conversation creates a storytelling effect that’s hard to replicate ; how Sierra Leone shifts into a representation of love for his hometown is a unique comparison. When you hear about hometowns you usually hear about wanting to run away , while Sierra Leone skies serve as a representation of home he feels who Ike having sex with his girlfriend. In the album you also hear about the metamorphosis he undergoes as he acts as an irresponsible teenager to a mature older man. Sweet Life is a surprising call to action and a call out of the wealthy. He describes a sheltered life that the wealthy live in , one that hones in on the fruits of their vine. One of the most poignant lines of the song is “ So why see the world, when you can see the beach?” Showing that the direct people of the song are sheltered away. Not Just Money switches the perspective of money , showing the heartache that money can cause while also simultaneously the stability it can lead to. Super rich kids talk about the carelessness of kids when they have economic resources to be careless. Though he highlights how the kids will never be fulfilled because there are some things that money can just not buy. Pilot Jones talks about the youthfulness of love and first love while comparing it to drugs. Crack Rock also discusses drugs but it shifts it to an empathetic understanding of a crack addict ; while also describing the effects of the crack addicts addiction on other people. Pyramids immediately shift into a whole different universe and have a more disconnected feeling. The song feels so hypnotizing as Ocean details the fall from grace of two doomed lovers , Marc Antony and Cleopatra into a modern couple. With pyramids the common motif is throughout it. Lost details a drug dealer always needing his girlfriend , his drug mule, to complete one last deal. And it’s a really beautiful song. White is a little instrumental track that is another song called the same things. Monks has such vivid imagery that really captivates you the whole song and I just really love this song. Bad religion talks about the almost worship that comes from loving another person unrequited. Pink Matter is a great song that laments his love for another person that turns blue as the song goes on. Frank Ocean talks about having sex with her by fully immersing himself in her, and by doing so he commits a worship towards her . Forest Gump pays reference to the film and crosses film to the feeling of first love. It creates a really beautiful portrait of devotion from a distance. End closes the album by cross referencing and creating a beautiful tapestry of different styles of art. The lyrics “ Our daughters and our sons are staples of the sun” is really magnetic. This album was a really great listen and definitely a staple of modern music. Favs Monks Pink Matter Bad Religon Forest Gump

Pretty far outside my usual music tastes, but I am a fan of The Weeknd, so it didn’t feel too jarring. I bet after a few relistens, I would love this album. But as a first-time listener, it’s a 3/5 for me.

I don't think I've really heard an R&B album quite like this one before. I really enjoyed the uniqueness of the sound and the longer I listened, the more I enjoyed it.

The song Lost suits his style. I would've put it in as a single. I wonder if they did? This almost feels like yacht rock of R&B and rap coming together. Like it's easy to listen to and has moments but doesn't feel it's doing anything beyond that.

This seems fine. Reading about it, I'm not sure why this is required listening. There is some pretty good instrumentation. His voice doesn't do much for me. The production makes his voice sound separate and on top of the music, not a part of it. I probably just haven't found my way into this style of modern R and B, yet.

sierra leon is a bizzare song but like frank ocean is a vibe

A little long, but a lot to really like here. Pyramids and Sweet Life were standout tracks

I'm sorry, but this is not an album I needed to hear before I die

normally i like little bits in between songs in an album but i feel like this actually pulls down my rating a bit for this one.

Not my bag, but certainly not bad.

20260627 1. mal gehört. chillig

Pretty and there’s some decent songs but I would need a bit more energy to properly enjoy this, Pyramids is a real stand out because of its change of pace.

Have I listened to this album before No How familiar am I with this album I don’t know any songs but I remember when this came out How do I feel about this artist? Neutral Pre-Listen Thoughts: We’ll see of this lives up to the hype Favorite track(s): Bad Religion Post-Listen Thoughts: The lyrics were great, the instruments were great, this isn’t my usual genre but I enjoyed it enough.

There's some bangers on here I still have in the regular rotation. Probably too many duds on the album to get a 4 though.

ermano q buen album