Channel Orange

This felt like hard work. While critics praise its emotional depth and genre-blending, the album’s slow pace, hazy production, and introspective lyrics come off as dull and uninspiring. Tracks meander without much payoff, and the overall vibe leans too heavily on mood over melody. If you’re looking for energy, hooks, or sonic variety, this album likely won’t deliver. It’s a critical darling, but for me, it’s simply not engaging.

Eh.

I have listened to this album many times and I cannot say that I fully get it. It has made multiple top 100 album lists and has received rave reviews but the music of Frank Ocean eludes me. I find it rather droll and not very melodious and it has never been my go to. Pyramid stays in my mind as it is a tragic song about the unsexy side of stripping and the desperate measures someone will go through to put food on the table. Sierra Leonne also works but the rest of the album just drags on.

This is a bit of a frustrating listen. The instruments (everything non-vocal) are almost impeccably clean, synth-drenched, and harmonically tasty – jazz fans would be proud. Unfortunately, the chill lo-fi-esque sound falls apart when Frank Ocean attempts to add vocals. Because his singing, particularly his melodies, don't mesh with the chords being played. At all. It's almost as if he recorded a freeform vocal line, then composed a completely unrelated electronic mix on a completely different day. The disconnect here makes channel ORANGE hard to legitimately groove with. At a glance, you notice "whoa, perfectly-mixed synths and drums. this sounds crazy cool." and at another glance, you hear the singing and think "hey, this guy's pretty good with his voice." But the two don't go together at all – save for a few tracks like Thinkin Bout You, Lost, and the surprisingly great interlude Fertilizer. Speaking of interludes, though: man, hip-hop artists really didn't learn from the 90s. Interludes break up an album's flow rather than glue it together. Ocean's ones aren't as egregiously jarring as most of his contemporaries, but the album still would've been better without them (or in the case of Fertilizer, it should have been a full-length song). One thing I have to mention is that this guy sounds like Stevie Wonder. The chord progressions, voice quality, and frequent use of keyboards are common elements. But where Wonder shines with catchy melodies, incorporation of big-band textures, and moving lyricism, Ocean completely falls apart. 2/5 Key tracks: Thinkin Bout You, Lost, Bad Religion

Music for the women who were painfully aware of Drake's behaviour pre-kendrick-feud.

It's good in the background and pretty boring if you actively listen to it.

p923. 2012. 2 stars. Formulaic, bland, uninspired plastic high pitched vocal "R&B". Background music when shopping at Monsoon. Big Joe Turner must be turning in his grave.

Millennial music. The guy has a good voice but there is a lack of cohesion and energy on this album for me. So far I am having trouble understanding the structure of the melodies and I can't get past the sound of what seems to be some type of auto tune or pitch correction on his voice in some songs. There seems to be a lot of abstract feel throughout the album that is making it hard for me to get into. It's a little rambling for me. Very cool that Andre 3000 makes an appearance but I found his verse kind of unexciting. Seems like there are a lot of r and b albums like this that come from younger generations. Toro y Moi is an example of a younger guy that keeps r and b interesting when he does it. Alabama Shakes is another. Maybe I am showing my age in associating r and b with the solid musicianship of people like Earth, Wind and Fire, Anita Baker, Prince, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson, Hi 5, Sade, Al B Sure and so many other heavy hitting r and b artists. I feel like I see what he's going for. Some of the songs echo Prince's 'Insatiable', EWAFs 'Reasons' and Elton John's 'Benny and Jets' but the creativity and innovation just isn't there for me. Frank raps in some parts, but I'm coming from the school of Busta Rhymes, Tribe Called Quest, Method Man, KRS 1, Immortal Technique, Biggie, and Mos Def so its hard for me get into a more Xanax type rap delivery. I hear Jimi Hendrix 's 'Little Miss Lover' drum intro in 'Crack Rock'. Best song for me on this album is 'Lost'.

So R&B – and whatever derivatives of it that I’ve been exposed to over the years, are most definitely NOT my wheelhouse… That said – if this is some sort of “Alt-R&B” that he has created, then I can say that it is better than any other R&B out there… The sound it very unique and original, and I like the diversity throughout the album – as clearly Frank is quite talented… No songs really jumped out though as being exceptional, but there weren’t any throwaway’s here either… Solid 2 for me, and I’d listen to another of his albums if it comes down to it…

Never understood the hype around Frank Ocean, can't stand his voice

Wikipedia says this is a rhythm and blues album. It has rhythm, in that same way that a washing machine has rhythm when it’s off-balance. It’s a beat that you never want to hear because at best it’s annoying, and it worse it’s going to cost you money. As for blues, it certainly gave me the blues listening to this hot garbage, but I didn’t hear any resemblance at all to any blues music I’ve ever heard. A dog howling at the moon is more in tune with blues music than this. Honestly, this album sounds like rap music, but whiner. Truly awful.

I always think there are 2 sides to music like this. The base they lay down to skat over and of course the actual skatting. Now I usually have a problem with both and as much as R&B showcases some pretty impressive tallent I just have a personal distaste of the over indulgence on the personal. Deepest pain, love, life, whatever. They also love to sing a single word in as many pitches as possible which to me sounds sloppy and I know its not just R&B artists that do this but when the main aim is to make the groove of a strip club it just doesnt resonante with me. Cinematic background is OK at times but again its only purpose as I can tell is to make you want to entirely focus on the over indulgence of the orgasmic vocals resonnance and falsetto which I dont like so that doesnt help. Has as much appeal to me as standing in a pile of warm sick.

Honestly, tough listen. I don’t think this is a good album, and it’s badly overrated. I can’t see the praise for it. Going in, I thought the first half had aged reasonably well, but by the end I couldn’t believe how poorly the rest of it had held up. Production seems so egotistical and songwriting seems so pompous Here’s my take. This feels like an album made for rich people in LA — mostly celebrities — which is ironic, because Frank Ocean wasn’t really a celebrity yet when he dropped it. It comes across as performative. Even if, at his core, Frank genuinely felt these things and meant the lyrics, I still think they’re cringe. What frustrates me is how overrated it is. To actually relate to this album, I think you have to be a pretty shallow person — and the people who do relate to it are the loudest about it: the celebrities, the magazine-cover crowd. That feels like the only reason it has the traction it does. It’s not actually good. I feel like I should give it 2 stars for some redeeming quality, but I actually just can't stand any part of this record

Terrible

I’ve thought about getting into Frank Ocean. I’ve heard he makes great music that is really emotional. I’m guessing that’s not about this album because I felt no emotion listening to it and it didn’t sound that great either tbh. Maybe it’s just not my thing but I didn’t really care for this one.

I think I heared first song a lot of time in mall and the whole record felt like I'm stranded in a shopping center without my earphones on. Fuck.

Not even a little bit.

This didn't land for me at all. I'm not generally an R&B fan but this made me feel very old, like I didn't get the music these whippersnappers are playing these days. While I understand making the songs slower with a lot of space and atmosphere can be interesting, I don't understand how this can be your only trick on a whole album. There were barely any attempts at hooks and nothing particularly notable to me about the singing or lyrics. This guy is a huge deal I think, headlines festivals and stuff, how that could be a good closer I've no idea. Yep, hard 1.

El disco no solo es una mierda si no que además es terriblemente aburrido.

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

Classic

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

If you gave this record 0 stars i am judging you

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.

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.

Rate: 10/10. SUPER RICH KIDS!!!

Like it

Excited to see this on the list. This is my favorite album of his.

Probably one of my top 10 albums of all time. From my first listen when it originally came out I fell in love with this. The amount of musicality across this and the depth of content is so impressive. Pyramids is by far the crowning jewel of this album.

I don't understand the hate, this is great.

Love this with all of my heart.

10/10 - 100% personal preference but this is one of my favourite albums of all time. No skips on the album, even the start, interlude and end songs. Frank's voice, lyrics and story telling is amazing. Couldn't want to improve this album if I tried, it's just fantastic from start to finish.

I used to be obsessed with 'pyramids' and 'lost' and that they were back to back and so unique always blew my mind. Production is brilliant on this, and his voice is incredible. Tackling topics that a lot of hip hop and R&b artists wouldn't. A crime that he's only got 2 LPs. We need more!

I already listened to this one, holds special place in my heart. Listening to the songs off this album after getting rejected by my now girlfriend was a true feeling. I associate this album with the Sonoma County house that I lived in. It's an amazing album, influenced by Elliot Smith, and I've always enjoyed it.

Forrest Gump is GOATed

Don't tell me storytelling is dead. At least not as of 2012.

Stevie Wonder meets Kendrick meets Marvin meets D`Angelo meets Sly meets meet a a very difficult time of my life. Eines der von mir meist gehörten Alben in den letzten 15 Jahren, wenn ich meinem last.fm Profil glaube. Biographische Aufwertung auf 5/5.

Obviously 5 stars

Decadent like a boutique box of chocolates, filled with different flavors and textures, but all rich and lush. Hip-hop, r&b, with dollops of psychedelia and a sense of vocal melody that's very much from jazz. About as good as pop music gets. Even the interlude tracks feel like they belong, instead of feeling like annoying tracks to skip, and I'm an interlude hater. Definitely a milestone album that belongs on all the lists. 5/5

I have this cd bro

love this

Started listening to Blonde about a year ago on a friend's rave, but this hits me way harder, tsunami of longing. Love the sense of sounding like fictionalized memory, universalized love stories completely grounded in specifics, and even the sound bites.

I've heard so many good things about Frank Ocean but haven't gotten around to listening until now. The hype makes sense! This is such a creative and interestingly varied album. I feel like I will grow to like it more as I continue to listen, so I'm rounding up to 5 stars.

A modern classic!

Its an art work

Nostalgic but still sounds amazing

I need to own this album ASAP

Oh- Frank gets a 5! This album gets a 5. This album is quite a work of art - even if aspects of its production haven’t aged perfectly, perhaps. I… I wish Blond was on the main list. I wish Frank hadn’t disappeared. It makes it hard not to speculate about what might have been, but I believe the man’s a genius and that will never be shaken. Every song on here is amazing. Just an example of Frank’s incredible ability: Pyramids. This has to be one of the greatest songs I know. Perhaps only outdone by his own Nights on Blond. The way he changes the meaning and context of “pyramids” both inside the song and then in the song’s position in the greater progression of the album is so masterful- I could write pages, not just lines about it. 5 Boolean: yes, so very glad to hear Frank Ocean before I die. I love you Frank, wherever you are

Churn out a shorter, better album every 2 years instead of a longer, worse one every year

franky ocean 🤤🤤🤤

Always was a banger

Love him love this

Lowkey better than Blond

vai ser bom ouvir de o album inteiro de novo passado tantos anos. É tão bom, sem surpresa

When this album first came out I was going to a fancy university that a lot of wealthy students attended (although I was neither fancy nor wealthy), and at the end of the school year the neighborhood was littered with all the stuff those students threw out: perfectly good furniture, food, clothes. Just stuff they didn't want anymore, that many people would have been happy to have. I wandered around looking at all of this waste with "Super Rich Kids" in my head and thanked Frank Ocean for the perfect soundtrack.

this album reminds me of a time when the world was still optimistic and i was still looking forward to summer the songs flow very well together, im not usually a fan of interludes or skits, but here they feel like the images you get when you remember happy but fleeting times the production is so warm but actually daring; in contrast to the pop of the early 2010s, it breaks many of the formulaic structures that made its contemporaries sound outdated and overproduced frank dips his toes in a wide variety of genres but from a careful and minimalist perspective, managing to sound sophisticated without being overwhelming; the intimate lyrics, about small details and memories, give it that vulnerable and human character that makes it stand out

Very nostalgic for me, know almost every word. Reminds me of summer. Favs: super rich kids, lost, pyramids, thinkin bout you

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

I get the hype. Will revisit more if the discography.

Love, have listened before

Pretty much a perfect album. Amazing vocals, beats are great, samples and features are all good. Only real critique is maybe a couple songs felt a bit too long, and Andre 3000's verses weren't the best.

plz come home frnk

this album is great. used to listen to it very frequently. this and his mixtape "nostalgia, ultra". not a bad track on either album. highlights include: "pyramids", "lost", "forrest gump", and andre 3000's lines on "pink matter".

i already know that this is gonna be a 5 star album for me And it totally is!! My first time listening to the full album and it's AMAZING! Found some new songs which I rly enjoy This album still holds up to today, like, if you told me that it was released yesterday I'd believe you. Crazy how every. single. track. hits. (Except all of the interludes which might've been too many)

Beautiful

It is tragic that this album has a negative perception around it, because of some of the people that tend to listen to it. Those people are fake-deep, performative, and a little annoying. If Frank hadn't gotten so popular, I think the reviews might be slightly better to be honest. The primary drawback of this album is the length, it feels too long and I really think that takes away from how strong it could be. Songs like Crack Rock and White felt inessential; I'm sure there are other tracks that could have been shelved. However, this album is pretty damn good. The vibe is immaculately curated (Sierra Leone shoutout), the songs go from playful to deeply emotional and a little sensual. This album created many Frank-replicas, and I think that encapsulates how impactful it was/is. Favorite Tracks: Thinking Bout You Sweet Life Pyramids Forrest Gump Lost Pink Matter

amazgingggg

I loved this album when it came out and it holds up!

De lo mejor que tenemos en la contemporaneidad

i love this album, but i just know frank hates it

Why is there a five-star limit for rating this masterpiece? The limit does not exist. ✮⋆˙✮⋆˙✮⋆˙✮⋆˙✮⋆˙✮⋆˙✮⋆˙✮⋆˙

It's such a fun album to listen to all the way through. Pyramids, Lost, Super Rich Kids, all such iconic songs that stick with you and flow together well.

Man. I love this album. This is my favorite over Blonde, pyramids I think is one of the best songs of the 2000s easy, love the way it brought r&b back into the pop music conversation. So much to enjoy.

5/5 10/10 100% no notes perfect. This has been and always will be one of those albums I can always come back to and listen to from start to finish and love every song. Cliche, I know, but it has the hype that it has for a reason. Best Songs: ALL OF THEM Fav songs this listen: Sierra Leon // Pilot Jones (ALWAYS) // Pink Matter // Pyramids

i've been curious about frank ocean for so long but never bothered to try and listen to him, i'm so glad i did today. So many different genres and sounds in one work that still gives you the same vibe and feeling throughout the whole album. I still have to search the lyrics and anylize this better but i'm currently mindblown

I LOVEEE THIS ALBUMMM love love loveee

one of my all time faves, fucking hell the nostalgia, and fitting for the day before Francesca’s birthday, who introduced me to him all those years ago 🧡 I often think of 2012 as one of my favorite years - the year after graduating college, constantly in the city for John Jay (that alone is a pretty wild revelation, that my so much of my favorite year was spent in the city when the thought of moving there terrifies me)… it’s nice to know that Frank was part of it Flashback to singing Bad Religion at a taxi driver (“be my shrink for an hour”) What if the sky and the stars are for show and the aliens are watching live! (rage bait) They mosh for enlightenment! Frank is just incredible. I remember watching his Grammy’s performance of Forest Gump live and mom not getting it and me trying to explain his magic. I remember reading what was ultimately his coming out essay and I wonder how much his queerness being celebrated informed me slowly over time celebrating my own. A gift to essentially listen to this album all day.

Like he just is the goat. It is just true. Like two truly perfect albums is crazy. Please come back Frank we need you.

One of the biggest surprise albums I have heard. It was like a modern day Stevie wonder with a little edge and not a single track missed on this album. Blown away

i will never get tired of this album

An evocative blend of Stevie, Marvin, Prince and 2010s R&B

Still remember when this album dropped. Just as amazing to this day. Alt R&B at its finest.

Love this album. It's in The Pantheon. Going to be playing it as I dance on the grave of "music and society as a whole".

fucking Frank Ocean, the real G

Played the hell out of this one in the mid 2010s, but it's been a long time since I put it on. Still amazing. Layers and layers of stuff going on, but thoroughly enjoyable on its surface too.

Great album

Catchy songs, immaculate vibes, really nice flow between tracks

Love itttt

uuuuuuuuh starting off strong. super nostalgic album. love it w all my bones. 5/5. sierra leone, super rich kids, pink matter, pyramids n sweet life r top 5 for sure. listened at work, gave a good vibe for the day.

I liked it.

Thinking bout you is one of the most gorgeous songs ever.

Just a classic

I love it!!!

#87/1001 🇺🇸 🟧 This is a near damn perfect album with the exception of the thankfully short fertilizer. By the time we reach Sweet Life the album is in full swing, then before you know it we get the epic Pyramids right at the heart of the album. It's like everything else is built around this 9 minute track. The the second half of the record finishes really strongly. Something that i appreciate, not just loading the first 4 tracks with singles then filler in the second half. A masterpiece. Best tracks: Pyramids, Sweet Life, Super Rich Kids, Pink Matter, Bad Religion.

5/5 one of my favorite albums of all time. Super Rich Kids and Pyramids are my highlights on this record. Perfect summer vibe on this guy as well.

One of my favourite albums of all time, thuroughly enjoyed the vocals and the production and found peace in many of the songs lyrics.

Brilliant album. Its concept flows, the lyrics cut deep, the music is great. This is a masterpiece of R&B.

swietny album znam go lubie go :-) duzo milych wspomnien, szczegolnie z thinkin bout you, pyramids, czy lost pierwsze motyle w brzuchu przy tych utworach, duzo emocji wraca przy odsluchu

This is what happens when you mix R&B, Indie Rock & Hip Hop. It's not as great as Blonde but it's a masterpiece nonetheless. And the features are just so great. Perfectly placed too. Thinkin' Bout You, Lost, Pyramids and Super Rich Kids my favs but there's little not to love here...

No lo pude escuchar por la plataforma en la que está.

Fun, mysterious, complex, passionate, upbeat, distinctive.

GOURGOUSEAODNOMGLOVEITSOSOSOSMOCUH

So Peak, Pyramids one of the best of all time

Absolut briliant deci efectiv prea bun

Very good mix of different sounds and genres and good singing

Increíble álbum de r&b, como alguien recién iniciado a este género lo recomiendo para empezar a escuchar este tipo de música de forma contemporánea

Beautiful and perfect

Балдеж

Yeah he hasn't put out anything good in like a decade, but Thinking of You comes on, and you're right back in. A top yearner album, the interludes really make the piece. Decent variety of tracks and styles, oozes cool, the piano added such an amazing depth to it. Fundamentally this album just fucks. Pyramids into Lost is an all timer.

he debut of well-known musical artist frank ocean. this album was everywhere on the net back in the day! and it was quite the listen i think, actually sitting my ass down and listening to it all for the first time. i feel like an oldhead when i say that i prefer the pre-2010s level of production especially with both r&b and indie, but despite these preferences i can't understate how good these songs are. channeling a bit of simple half-century-ago flair and with a clean singing voice that i feel like sounds like drake but absolutely not as annoying... it's understandable why people look at his music so fondly.

This is the album that makes me feel proud of my generation. I only wish End/Voodoo was released as a full track

I'd heard the name Frank Ocean but never actually gave him a listen. I was very pleasantly surprised by this album. 10/10 solid bars.

Love this one. Annoyed that I haven't listened to more Frank Ocean already.

My thoughts on the Frank Ocean album: The first couple songs I thought the album was going alright, but not living up to what I had heard about it. By the end though, this album really gets going and is just fantastic. It managed to weather past slow start and turn it into something special. 4.5 / 5

Personal with experimental interludes. Fantastic production - I could melt into 'Sierra Leone'. Every track is gold, there's variety, there's depth. It is a modern R&B classic - I'd almost go so far as to say it might be the best R&B album of the 21st century. It's an album that I always come back to and will continue to do so.

Отличный альбом! Под меланхоличное настроение идеален. Bad Religion - бриллиант альбома! Невероятно красивая песня, а какой текст потрясающий!

Out of modern albums I enjoyed it a lot. Very nice to have on in the background. 9/10

I hadn't listened to this since 2012 when it was a big part of The Discourse. I was shocked how much of it I remembered, like re-watching a movie you loved when you were a kid. I think I actually like it better now, unburdened from the discussion of what-it-all-means. The songs are great, and I think all the guest spots on here are really perfect. Five star album for sure.

Junto a Kendrick Lamar y Kanye es el referente de la música americana del siglo 21. Negro cristiano y bisexual... pero sobre todo respetado porque lo que importa es su música. Compositor para Justin Bieber, John Legend, Brandy o Beyoncé, lanzó este debut que fue aclamado, con todo el merecimiento. Es Hip-Hop, es soul, es lo que sea pero suena estupendo, con retazos de lo mejor de los 70´s (Stevie, Marvin o Pink Floyd). La canción sobre la que pivota el disco es Pyramids. Un clásico instantáneo al que llegamos pasando por Sweet life o Crack life. La única que desentona es Monks, demasiado Lenny Kravitz. Sin embargo Bad Religion recupera al Prince más melódico. La lista de colaboradores es cosa seria: Andre 3000, Tyler, The Creator), John Mayer o Pharrell entre otros. Y no hemos hablado de Blonde que es aún mejor.

great album

great fucking album i can't believe i have never listened it before. It definitely doesn't sound like 2012. It sounds like 2018/2019. Frank needs to come back

I'm a little surprised by how divisive this album seems to be. I'm also a little surprised by how literally some seem to be reading the lyrics, with no sense of narrative social commentary. Personally, I think it's a stunning work of art.

easiest 5 stars of my life better than blonde imo

I liked it less than I thought i would, but i love how Frank Ocean is a liar right out of the gate <3

I sang along to this album as I worked on chores around the house and kept trophy hunting in Five Nights at Freddy's: Secret of the Mimic. I listened to it again as I was driving down the freeway in the middle of the night to go dancing at a queer bar. For the first time on this list, we have come across an album which I was already incredibly familiar with; while I prefer Blonde as an album, and I am quite surprised that it missed out on being included here, channel ORANGE still more than deserves it's spot. Ocean proves himself as an incredible songwriter and storyteller on this album, capturing such a wide array of perspectives and voices across each song. In this album, you can hear the wave of R&B and indie pop artists which would come to follow in Frank Ocean's footsteps, with his sparse yet carefully crafted instrumentals and expressive vocal style which stays technically beautiful while still bringing in spoken flourishes like a theatrical performance. Every song here gets stuck in my head immediately, and the beats have worked their way into my being; plus, André 3000 gets to show off his knack for showing up as a feature on an album and completely stealing the show. Unsurprisingly, this album is still incredible. Highlights: Thinkin Bout You, Fertilizer, Sierra Leone, Sweet Life, Super Rich Kids, Pilot Jones, Crack Rock, Pyramids, Lost, Bad Religion, Pink Matter, Forrest Gump, End

I wish I had more time to examine Channel Orange today thoughtfully, but suffice to say that lyrically and musically, Frank Ocean is in a class all of his own. I'd point to the beat shift/modulation halfway through "Pyramids" as one of the most profound moments in music you'll ever encounter. Nearly every song features something innovative, insightful, and delightful. "Bad Religion" packs an enormous punch more than a decade later. Channel Orange is one of the all-time albums of any genre, and rewards repeated listens exponentially. And its follow-up, Blonde (criminally absent from this list), is an even greater leap forward and has a permanent spot in my top 15 or so albums.

Even better than I remember, but somehow I think I still like blond better. Pyramids, Sweet Life, Pilot Jones, and Lost were the standouts for me

Sweet Life, Super Rich Kids, Crack Rock, Lost, Bad Religion, Pyramids, Pink Matter, Monks, like ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? Frank Ocean please come back, I would pay an irresponsible amount of money to see you in concert

Bro there’s no beaches in Idaho 😂😂

Masterpiece

That PS1 took a while to start up lmao

One of the most incredible albums.

When the world needed him the most, he vanished.

CRAZY GOOD

-One of my favs ever, time to re-review -

AMAZING, FLAWLESS, FRANK OCEAN IS THE GOAT

A very important album also for me personally, part of my soundtrack of my life, reminds me of Prince a lot…

Perfect album no notes

What an album.

This was a seminal album of my adolescent years so will always have a big place in my heart. I’ll love you forever Frank, even if you have disappeared off the face of the earth musically.

4.5⭐️/5 02.09.2026

One of my favorite R&B albums, he has to release another album soon... right?

my thousandth time hearing this album & loved it even more

There is so much I could say about this album. I remember being 15/16 and discovering Odd Future, which included Nostalgia, Ultra, absolutely loving it and then becoming a member of Odd Future Talk. I remember the day that the album cover was revealed and how much I loved the creative simplicity of it and talking with other member's about what we thought the album would sound like. Then him releasing his coming out letter before the album shipped and just being amazed by how eloquent of a writer he was outside of music as well. And then to finally get my hands on the album from FYE, pop it my car's CD player on the ride home from Chesapeake, and just get absolutely mesmerized by the record that Frank crafted. "Thinkin Bout You" became the runaway single from this, but man I could go into detail about so many of these songs. I remember when "Pyramids" was released on Frank's tumblr with the Simpsons cover art and just loving the first half of the song seamlessly transition to the back half with a 1 minute of so long instrumental section. To staying up late-ish to watch him perform "Bad Religion" on Jimmy Fallon and wanting his Sidian, Ersatz & Vanes blue and red mix shirt so bad (I still want that shirt even though I think that company is defunct). But the song that still sticks with me the most is "Super Rich Kids". That's the one my HS friends and I would play over the loud speaker over and over again while we drank and talked about life. So many great memories associated with this album that I'd love to experience again, but what makes the memories so special is that I was living my life to the fullest when I made those memories. With this album being such a critical part of them in that Summer and Fall of 2012.

I know this album, everyone knows this album, I love this album, everyone loves this album, everything is perfect about it, this is the first album in here that I’ve actually listened to the entirety of, and there’s a reason for that

amazing vocals by frank ocean, he's too good

good album idk why people hate it

❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

four five (six seven voice and hand gesture) Five as this captures the cultural zeitgeist of the 2010s more than any other album. Website bossman please add DS2 by Future I want to read the reviews

Odd Future was a bizarre early 2010s rap collective but their members went on to make some great solo stuff. Of all their solo works this is the magnum opus. Lo-fi chill synth soul to disassociate to on the beach with some epic stories and tender moments. Frank has only made one other album (Blond, which isn't as good) and has been dormant for a decade now, but like Rihanna I'm holding out hope he's got one more in him. Standouts: Thinking Bout You, Sweet Life, Super Rich Kids, Pyramids, Lost, Bad Religion

Beautiful from front to back One of the best vocalists and creatives of our time Excellent songwriting—he pains pictures with his lyrics One of my favorite albums of all time

maravilhoso. só não é perfeito pq perfeito só deus (ou seja, o blonde). amei a primeira vez que ouvi e amei agora de novo. bad religion é sensacional, thinkin bout you é perfeita, forrest gump incrível.

What a huge surprise this album was. I came in honestly thinking it would be very average, but it was great songs from front To back.

I have a very special connection to this album. I was living in Berlin in the second half of 2012. It was a ten minute walk from our apartment to the bar where my girlfriend worked. I used to listen to Pyramids on this walk. Putting this album on instantly takes me back there. Can't say I listen to it much anymore, but core memory = five stars.

I think this album is a little hard to talk about, cause in someone else's discography it'd be their best album for sure, I think this is like a near perfect album. But unfortunately this album exists in a world where Blonde came out right after, so like it just feels very overshadowed cause that album is like a genuine masterpiece. This is still amazing though, I'm still gonna give it 5 stars but it's just like a little below where it could be. Favorites: Thinkin Bout You, Crack Rock, Lost

I love Frank Ocean music, hope he'll come back one day

A perfect mix of RnB and Hip Hop. His voice is so pleasant on the ears. I feel lucky to have witnessed his iconic Grammy’s performance live in person - granted from the nosebleeds, but it was a standout that night!

A debut album that captured the zeitgeist of millenialism, released when most millenials were just finding their way in the adult world. Frank conjured a specific, highly-curated brand of nostalgia for the current moment. An apathetic, aimless, privileged cast of characters wandering through cinematic, sun-soaked settings, troubled by the dwindling prospects of an adulthood that bears any resemblance to previous generations. To quote his mother from a skit embedded within his next album blond, and referring to her son's penchant for weed smoke: "…sluggish, lazy, stupid, and unconcerned. Sluggish, lazy, stupid, and unconcerned." Within his hometown of LA Frank was also able to corral an impressive list of relatively unknown collaborators to craft a sound completely all his own — collaborators who in-turn would go on to blaze trails across the music industry bearing the Frank Ocean torch, a number of whom most recently collaborated with a Frank Ocean graduate Dijon, another artist capturing his current moment with neurotic, navel-gazing introversion and genre-bending production. To quote a one rating on here for Channel Orange, "The dire ramblings of someone with too much time and not enough tune". Couldn't have said it better, and a description that surely strikes at the core of all millenial's hearts — if they're listening to it beat at all.

Endelig på tide å høre på Frank Ocean for første gang, og er veldig glad for at denne dukka opp på lista!

I love this album!!!!!!

A great album. Impressive vocals (I then learned it his first studio album). Mix between melancholics / sadness and joy Potential for a personal top-shelf (weekly listen)

still remember the first time i heard this album, all time fav

another pretty perfect record for me. if this is a "weak" 5, then "blonde is an even stronger 5. I hope it's on here as well. i could go song-by-song about how amazing this album is, but "pyramids" is all i need to point to. it is 10 minutes of brilliance, one song broken up into 3 perfect parts. just stunningly good

*The* Gen Z album. Masterpiece

I love this. So much better than The Black Album. Im not sure how I have never heard this.

so so so good

Heel goed en leuk en fantastisch. Leuke baslijntjes synths en drums. Goede stem en gebruikt goede invloeden van alle hededaagse muziek. Een van de beste artiesten uit zijn tijd!

Dit is een 5 sterren-album, niet mijn meest favoriete maar wel 5 sterren. Veel goeie songs en een aanloop tot een van mijn meest favoriete all time favoriete albums. Mensen die zeuren om een nieuw Frank Ocean album moeten hier nog maar even op kauwen, er valt nog heel veel in te ontdekken.

fantastic album, mellow

Absolutely adore this record. Loved it when it came out and still like the melancholy

Holy nuts.

good

9/10

When to listen: feeling smooth or easy or sentimental. I really enjoyed this album even if a few songs I feel like were overplayed on TikTok. I think Frank Ocean is a genuinely impressive artist / this album top to bottom is a great listening experience.

What can I say. Haven’t listened to this in so long. Takes me back to being sad as shit in senior year of highschool and beginning of college.

I fucking love it sm

🫶🏾💯

I was happy with this pick and enjoyed pyramids, bad religion, Forrest Gump and crack rock

I can hear te in so many later songs

yessss loved blonde but never got the chance to listen to this one so let's see very strong, melodic presence in every song his voice on every instrumental is like knife through soft butter really good and even if one song lets me down the next one immediately hits in all the right places reallyyyyy liked the drums also, it's 14 years old but still sounds fresh

uyy, weird, i like that

Love it

brings me back to simpler times… a classic album.

I love this album!

so fucking good

grande album, ja estou acostumada a ouvir sou fã, para mim é o melhor trabalho do frank

uso de reverb, buen ritmo y combinación de instrumentos.Nuevo album favorito.

I remember when this came out and it’s so good so many good songs

Such an awesome album. Love frank ocean

one of my favorite albums. Glad it came into rotation

oh i already love this

perfect once again

The soundtrack to the greatest video game you’ve never played.

Top tier listen

One of my no-skips albums.

1001/1001

The second highest rated global review for this might be the most stupid words on this website. Astonishing album.

Perfect!

Love his voice, the production is very fun and varied. Classic.

I first tried to listen to this album a few years ago bc I youtuber I liked said it was one of their all time favorite albums. And I just really didn't get it. Idk what it was that changed since then, but I absolutely loved every second of this album as I listened to it today. I can see this becoming an album I listen to on the regular.

I already knew and liked the album, but listening closely to it today as I was waiting to board the plane to Hanover to spend New Years gave me a chance to appreciate the album again.

Super Rich Kids and Pyramids are favorites

Amazing. I have listened to it before but this captures modern love in all the right ways. It's so emotional.

Recently got in vynil

i looooove frank ocean so this was a treat although i don’t think i ever listened to the whole album faves: pilot jones, pyramids, lost and bad religion

First listened on 2nd and 3rd November 2022. Favourite songs are Sierra Leone, Super Rich Kids and Pyramids.

Solo habia escuchado canciones aisladas y no le hacen justicia a lo bueno que es este album, no le tenia tanta fe y me termino gustando muchisimo as a whole. Favs: Sweet Life, Crack Rock, Pyramids, Pink Matter !!!

capolavoro pyramids è la mia colonna sonora

Still one of my all time favorite albums. Just 🔥

So slick. Loved listening to it.

Frank Ocean will never not put out top tier albums.

but im still unemployeeedd

This was great

Favourite Songs: Thinkin Bout You Super Rich Kids Crack Rock Pyramids Monks

Amsterdam mentioned!

Orange = Ocean's summer where he first fell in love with a man

his debut album mind you. crack rock-pyramids-lost is an INSANE three track run

this album will always be a classic to me

Sooooo good.

5 stars. Excellent variety and creativity, ranging from introspective poetry to pop tunes and a lot in between. I suspect it's ranking will get tanked because this website seems to favour 80's rock above all else but this is a modern classic.

Favorite Track: Lost

Mm good

Can't remember ever listening to the whole album, but obviously some songs have been impossible to miss. It's a really good mellow album with a lot of highlights. Pyramids into Lost was a perfect middle and I really enjoyed the whole album.

Phenomenal

Extremely talented artist

Hello again my favorite album of all time when I was 15

Fantastic discovery!

Easily one of the best albums of the 2010s. A masterclass in modern R&B. Always in my rotation. No skips. Channel Orange. Frank Ocean. 10/10.

I think this is a 5, which is interesting since I didn’t care for Blond when I listened to ot. The jams are great, the musicianship is great. Would recommend.

The mixin on this is goooood. nice n smooth another point to this list - the kind of album I would never seek out myself, but gaddam he got flow how's the gutter doin best songs: super rich kids, lost

good vibes

great album. Frank Ocean is great man. Production went bonkers. 4.50-4.75/5

I listened to this album once some years ago, and was blown away by the originality and the production on it. Revisiting it today, it really holds up. I know this isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea - and honestly it wouldn't usually be mine... but there's such cleverness and depth and artistry going on here, and on a debut album no less! An easy 5. I like the part where he says Majin Buu. Also: "A potato flew around my room before you came excuse me..." God, I miss Vine.

i know blonde is considered his masterpiece but this one remains my favorite frank ocean record

9/10 Favorites: Thinkin Bout You Crack Rock Pyramids Lost Bad Religion Pink Matter

Lit CLASSIC

dear frank ocean...

It's just good.

An excellent album. Beautiful mixes, poetic lyrics, and great vocals by Frank Ocean. It's a great time, and one I listened to front to back twice.

I had heard many of the songs on this album bit had never listened to it straight through. What a fantastic album. Love the creativity of it and the way it flows musically. The sound and production are first rate. And, lyrically it's also interesting and feels immersive. I wish he would continue to make music but. even if he doesn't, this album would be enough.

Being a Frank Ocean fan is so frustrating. Ive loved his two albums since I was a young teenager and doubt we'll see a third. Frank has an almost Brian Wilson-like ear for melody, and his voice is just incredible. Channel Orange is banger after banger; most of the songs here have a dreamlike quality, whether its a sweet one (Pink Matter), a fever dream (Pyramids), or a nightmare (Crack Rock). He also is a brilliant lyricist, the lyrics alone of Bad Religion give me chills, and Super Rich Kids is so deftly written. Listened to this one many times and will listen many more times, a favorite

There are some days when I feel like I'm God's favourite. Couple tracks on this made me think maybe I've never heard this album in its entirety before. Still slaps. Aged like fine wine. If one of my siblings died I think I also would become a reculse

Best Song: Pink Matter. "Lost" is great in its own right, but that verse by André 3000 is really something else. Worst Song: none. Overall: I mean, obviously this is really fucking good. This kind of chunkier, more electronic R&B works so well. The production is phenomenal, Frank Ocean's voice is fantastic, every feature (especially André 3000's) is incredible. An album that accomplishes exactly what it tries to do.

Chanel orange Intro - ps1 sound? Thinkin bout you - potato flew around my room Fertiliser - guilty pleasure from the album Sierra Leone - really liked Sweet life - really good and I do quite like the beach Super rich kids - earl sweatshirt feature make me happy Pilot jones - I liked this one Crack rock - 🥇 listening to this on the train 8:30 in the morning and it’s foggy is something everyone should try Pyramids - totally complete conceptually and embodies the whole album in 1 song Lost - 🥈 i love this song White - instrumental Monks - really good Bad religion - great Pink matter - majin buu and Andre 3000 Forrest Gump - 🥉 never heard this before it’s really good End - super fitting outro Overall - I never listened to this album all the way in one sitting before but it is such an easy listen. The concept is super clear and gets over really well, top to bottom masterclass. 5/5

I remember the day this album came out and frank ocean just blew people's minds

day 1 and this is already prob my fav album of all time. its so nostalgic but also so good like so happy with this. still shocked this was my day 1 album. also i feel like this album is so culturally significant so great pick album generator.

Was not sure what to expect but quite enjoyed this in the end. The guitar, bass and drum breaks, amongst other things gave this album a more chilled laid back feel.

Really textured, melodic, and interesting. I can hear the references to Prince and Stevie Wonder.

yesssssss LET's go

Thinkin Bout You -- love the melody, falsetto. listening to the lyrics actually for once, kinda like em too. Sierra Leone -- a bit less psyched about this one Sweet Life -- enjoyed this one. lyrics pretty solid Super Rich Kids -- earl's flow goes hard. tone of rapping matches the spirit of the song Pilot Jones -- love the falsetto. ending of the lyrics hits hard Pyramids -- pretty sick storyline once i read the genius page Monks -- kinda mid Bad Religion -- enjoyed it but not sure how i feel about the lyrics basically being the same thing repeated 2x? allusion to actual religion or love? Pink Matter -- peaches/mangoes referenced again (from Sweet Life?); orangey fruits?

one of the best albums of all time. gets better with every listen

I get the Frank Ocean hype now

Tyler the Creator proved to be a force of gonzo songwriting and energy after Odd Future’s explosion. Frank Ocean the interesting, fluid musical core. This album exploded the scene and solidified him as an artist. It is a journey through the young millennial mind with influences and features that span the spectrum of music and art.

Classic. Loved it the first time I heard it. Holds up.

Perfection

Sooooo good.

Yeah Frank cooked. It was so exciting to see all the Odd Future guys to piece it together in a relatively short period of time. Some all time songs on here and Pyramids is probably a top 5 Frank song for me, the transition and theming are peak. Obscure shout out to this one video of geese walking across the road in a rainstorm while Fertilizer plays, probably watched that for 15 minutes straight (4.5/5)

Earworms all the way through

Just like the name implies, this album gives you the same type of feeling you get randomly scrolling through the TV in the middle of the night, channel-surfing through the different experiences that Ocean both heard about and lived through. The album itself can feel a bit disorganized as a result, lacking a consistent theme to tie it all together, but that doesn't take away from some of the peaks on this album. Pyramid is a 10 minute monster that just keeps on giving with each relisten, while other songs like Thinkin Bout You and Super Rich Kids have incredibly catchy hooks without them inherently being repetitive. It may be the nostalgia talking here, but even with all the imperfections it has I still absolutely love this album. It feels so sincere, that almost every song has a vibe that you can’t help but chill out and sink your teeth into.

This whole album is so superior.

Amazing album, one of pure nostalgia. Never understood the flack it cops, or also the mass appeal but it's well rounded and easy to spin

This is a 5 star album for me. Huge when it came out, huge now. Incredible vocals, incredible production on every single track. The live instrumentation on Sweet Life, with that funky jazz bass guitar at the end is just so damn good. I love the lyricism on Super Rich Kids, and honestly I think Pyramids is a contender for one of the best songs of the 21st century though I do think the main part of the song is slightly dated now, though I really enjoy the production and mastering from about the 3 minute mark. A masterclass until the song ends. I also just can’t get enough of the melody and vocals on bad religion. Divine. And Pink Matter. Just crazy for the instrumentation on this and André 3000 too. A really cool, sexy track. This album began my love affair with similar artists like Solange, James Blake, Childish Gambino, Blood Orange, so absolutely a monumental album for me.

Straight up bangers

My daughter was incredulous when I told her one day that no, I don't know what Frank Ocean sounds like. Well, that's taken care of. Now. Modern RnB is nothing I ever seek out. And whenever I am exposed to it, via blasting from someone's car stereo mostly, all I'm hearing is random, mumbled phrases drenched in Autotune, ♻ nothing I'd ever seek out. This is not that. It surely shares some similarities here and there with what I assume must be all the lame knockoffs it inspired - some languid vocals of someone who's just woken up, some more spoken then sung repeated downward cadences as melody and a glossy yet lo-fi production like the packaging of a blank VHS tape - but these are ingredients of something greater here and there's a lot of something else. It's good, 's what I'm saying. Listened through it once and then some more, I've had a pleasant and interesting time. Will keep this around, I think. [...] Rating day. I often judge these albums by how much I liked being introduced to them and I'm going to stick with that.

This is 5/5. Really hyper specific and niche but we love it. Perfection.

I wore this album out. 5.

Ocean’s blend of hip-hop, rap, gospel, and indie elements is masterful and groundbreaking. An album destined to be a classic. 10/10

I will listen to songs from this album for the rest of my life.

An old favorite. I remember listening to this one start to finish several times when it first came out.

pop

Ooooooooh yeah baby. Frank is the GOAT.

I love this album from the beats and style to the vocals and lyrics, my favourite frank ocean album and one of my comfort albums

so sincere and touching. “lost” is amongst 20 of my fav songs

Was jaw dropped the first time I listened to this album with all its twist and turns. Incredibly versatile singer and rapper who poetically depicts the cesspool that is LA.

Thinkin Bout You - 8.5/10 Sierra Leone - 9/10 Sweet life - 8.5/10 Super rich kids - 10/10 Pilot jones - 8/10 Crack Rock - 10/10 Pyramids 9/10 White - 8 Monks - 8 Bad religion - 9/10 Pink Matter - 10/10 End - 8/10 88/100

yup classic

This was a re-listen. Always one of my top favorite albums, not a thorough response here

Amazing artist, amazing album. 10/10

Probably the best album of the 2010's.

Frank oceano

Excellent

A-

Modern classic

Have never listened to him before and I love him! What an artist!

Ive heard this a ton of times and its always a hit.

Terrific start to end

Fantastic album

This album is like the moment you sit out on your veranda after a big night out. As a devilish cocktail of beer, rum, negroni, a half eaten kebab and only-God-knows-what-else still courses through your veins, you take a moment to reflect on the evening. Your heart is still pumping at high octane from the activities of the evening, so you take a moment to sit under the night sky and contemplate the night that just played out. While relaxing and watching the clouds drift across the front of a full moon, flashes of the evening streak through your mind as you feel your body calming. “One more negroni” you think to yourself. Not needing more alcohol, you head to your kitchen and slap together a quickly made cocktail, before returning to the veranda. You don’t need the drink, but you have had such an amazing night and this calming time under the night sky is so peaceful, that you simply don’t know why you’d consider going to bed.

yay franky 5/5

Отличный альбом, интересная концепция, хороший голос и звук

Banger after banger. I still hear the electric baseline from Cleopatra in my hand randomly all the time.

Classique du r&b millenaire, que j’ai du écouter une centaine de fois déjà. Voix doucereuse, beats envoutants, chansons mémorables. Avec en son centre le magnum opus qu’est Pyramids. C’était un beau retour à mes années d’université!

This was teetering between a 4 and a 5 but who am I kidding. I have always loved songs from this album (pyramids, lost, pink matter) so its getting the benefit of the doubt.

amazing n classic

Svakalega þétt og góð plata. Plata sem ég taldi vera basic pop á sínum tíma en fattaði fljótlega hvað þetta er mikið meistarastykki. Flakkað milli r&b, popps og rapps. Flottir synthar og skemmtilegar innkomur (Andre3000 í pink matter geggjað). Besta lagið Pyramids.

What an amazing album. Potentially the best production of all time. What a masterpiece of flow, storytelling and downright deliciousness. Carried me through the last few years

I really enjoyed this album especially with other artists contributions such as Andre 3000 and Earl Sweatshirt. The songs sounded very relaxed and had a sound that is unique to Feank Ocean.

Gawd, this album is, like... Such a vibe, y'know? Such a damn pretty-ass vibe. And I've tried about three or four times to write a review/babble about this album past that thought, and I haven't had much luck in getting too far, 'coz, like... Honestly, this strikes me as one of those albums where words alone would fail to do it justice? Y'know, nothing I say could compare to listening to it yourself and hearing just what exactly it has on offer. The closest point of comparison I have to this album is, like, another one that's heavily themed around orange: Tyler, The Creator's FLOWER BOY (or SCUM FUCK FLOWER BOY, if you're fun). FLOWER BOy evokes a lot of what CHANNEL ORANGE did, and, like... Y'know, I thought I liked FLOWER BOY a lot — not as much as I did IGOR, but either way. But this stuff? CHANNEL ORANGE? Oh, this is another level altogether. This is "float away and drift" music, where you get all in your feelings and such. It's just— every song is so damn pretty. They're all **so good**. There's not a dud in the lot. And, y'know, normally I wanna temper myself when I'm talking about an album; throw in a thing like, "Let's be clear; it's didn't **blow my mind**..." But, no, as I'm writing this review and thinking back on the album, I honestly think it did? Like there had been something missing in my music listening and I didn't even realize it until now? Something that not even, like, Stevie Wonder or Prince or any of the other similar artists you can point to have been able to fill. And, y'know, I'll give this: I'm gonna act like Frank Ocean is the **best** singer. Is he Stevie; is he Prince? No and no. But for what this is doing... Goodness. I just can't remember the last time I've been this positive about an album from the 2010's, where I wanna gush about it but I've been at such a loss for specific words. Maybe DRUNK by Thundercat? THat's the closest I can think of to where I was like, "Damn, where have **you** been?" But even then, this feels like something else entirely. I'm not even sure how well this review — "review," nah; it's a babble — I don't know how well this babble is gonna come across to anyone else. Y'know, it really has not been all too specific. But it's not **about** the specifics, y'know? It's all in the feeling. Just, what you feel listening to this and the color it might spark in your mind. And this is orange as hell music if there's ever been orange music. Even FLOWER BOY couldn't be this orange. So, y'know, take this babble more on its tone than anything else. This is incredibly good, from start to end. I cannot even begin to stress that enough, nor be able to properly express my confusion at the people who'd consider this to be the "degeneration of music and society." It's just... Yeah. Check the hex code #ff8100, that's the last thing I wanna say. That's how the album feels.

Simply immaculate vibes from this one. Solid 5 Stars.