Reviews (page 6 of 14)
It’s a vibe for sure, especially the instrumental one with John Mayer, who’s less cringe when he’s just playing and not singing.
Kinda bored me but cool Mitch Mitchell drum sample from Jimi Hendrix's Little Miss Lover on Crack Rock.
This album is a nice detour from the usual 70s/80s/90s fare in this collection, and a modestly interesting alternative to much of the R&B/soul-esque albums we've had so far. Much like the Wikipedia entry for the album, it's probably too long by half, and it never really struck me as a revelation the way a lot of people apparently felt. The best tracks of the lot for me were, apart from "Sweet life", largely from the second half of the album, especially "Pyramids" and "Lost" and "Bad religion", but I also appreciated the low-key vibe throughout. As his mother apparently noted, it's a great summer album if you're in the mood to chill.
Very mixed about this: like the concept and lots of this sort of works, but he doesn't sound comfortable with his voice and everything sounded like a little off.
I know Frank Ocean more for his persona and his interests rather than his music. (I know the dude has really good taste in movies, for example.) In 2012, his song "Crack Rock" got it's hooks in my friend group and I heard it a bunch. I liked it, to be sure; it's a soulful song with very pretty textures while discussing a depressing topic. Overall, this is a nice album, from it's PS1 intro theme to it's neo R&B grooves to it's electropop tunes. It doesn't *all* work for me. "Pilot Jones" is a clunker. I fucking hate John Mayer, the most overrated guitarist in my lifetime and a genuine asshole, so "White" is a waste of a good groove. (Ocean rightly seems to have lifted the only 60 seconds of Mayer's noodling that are worth listening to.) But the highs are high. "Super Rich Kids" with Earl Sweatshirt is great. The aforementioned "Crack Rock" really fits my sensibilities. "Lost" is so catchy and smooth. Rating this is hard because: 1) it's very good, 2) I'm not the biggest contemporary R&B fan, but I'm not a hater, 3) there's plenty I enjoy but there's plenty I could skip on a relisten. It's times like these I wish this site offered half stars. So this is a 3.5 or a 3.75 for me, but I feel reluctant to give it a full 4 stars.
Lit CLASSIC
More muzak.
Decent
Not for me, found it kinda boring.
Prods variées, mais ptn pas mon style j'arrive pas à accrocher à sa musique ça fait 5 ans j'essaye d'être dans la hype mais j'ai rien n'y fait. Je sais que je passe sûrement à côté mais j'y arrive pas deso franck.
dear frank ocean...
It's just good.
voor rap nog best aardig
The heights are really good, like Prince, but there's a bunch of short bits or joke songs that kind of mess up the flow for me "Sweet Life" and "Pilot Jones" "Crack Rock" uses the drum beat from Led Zeppelin's "How Many More Times" "Pyramids" is awesome
I will say before I listened to this album that I'd heard the name Frank Ocean before, but that's as far as my knowledge went. I'm a lyrics guy, I can deal with vocals I don't love when the lyrics hit right. In Frank's case, I don't love his falsetto, but his regular voice is just fine. Also, Andre 3000 nails his verse. John Mayer guitar solos. Album really has everything. It surprised me. I thought after the falsetto in Thinking Bout You that I might hate this album, On second listen though the falsetto doesn't bother me at all. I will absolutely listen to this again. It grabbed me.
I have a weird relationship with RnB. Sometimes it’s incredible and other times it’s awful. While no songs here were awful, some definitely did not click with me while others did. I like Frank Ocean still, just not an entire album of this vibe
Interesting but very of it's time
Great
Solid R&B album, just not quite my taste. The album is very focused on his vocals and he's a capable singer but not my favorite. Clever songwriting, generally good production. (I hate to say it in 2025 now that we know the full extent of Kanye's problems but there are a couple moments/production elements that feel like there were lifted from 808s or MBDTF) If I found this on a different day I might have liked it better. Lost is the standout track for me.
I barely give a shit about this genre of music
Absolutely a scenario where I rate this five stars but I think I settled on a four. Nearly perfect album, loved every track on it. I avoided anyone involved with Odd Future forever because Tyler is not a good dude and unfortunately that kept me from Frank Ocean. Plan to listen to this one a lot more. good enough that you're even willing to ignore John Mayer shows up Favorite track: Super Rich Kids, Pyramids, Sweet Life, all of them really added to collection
Extremt stark trea, men kan absolut se det här växa på mig
Helt okej härligt sound, men inte superintressant. Dock inte tråkigt!
Oj det här var riktigt bra! Hört mycket OM Frank Ocean men inte PÅ. Inte jättelättsmält men unikt och spännande.
Don't really rate modern R&B. Don't like how every male singer has the same industry manufactured, boyband voice. & I don't like the elevator music backing track. Find it all pretty dull. This is the closest I've come to liking it though. More of an atmosphere to this than other stuff I've heard. Don't think it's as smart as people think it is though. 4.5 / 10 Best track/s: Pyramid, Super Rich Kids
I cant believe the hype around this album vs how bored I was listening to it. Take the crappie versions of Kanye and Stevie Wonder and put them in a mixer and this is what you get
Incredible highs even if a few tracks dragged slightly - crazy I've never properly listened to this as a whole album before. I love a little found audio snippet track- also fan of fertiliser
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.
It was a bit underwhelming but it still had some heaters (e.g. lost, thinkin bout you, super rich kids, etc.) solid 7/10
Terrible
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
Not my thing....
I remember this album being massive when I was in high school, but I don't think I ever explored it much myself. I don't have the "nostalgia" that some others might have as a result. It's a fine album musically; R&B with some non-traditional aspects thrown in. Themes of love, drugs, the upper social class (can't relate!), with the aforementioned R&B and electro-funk make this sound and feel like a summer album (which is funny considering that November just started at the time of me listening to this). I found the start of the album compelling, sort of culminating with the ten minute epic "Pyramids". The pace kind of tapers off from there, however. There are some interesting features, with Earl Sweatshirt and Andre 3000 making notable appearances among others, and the production is unique/creative, but Channel Orange seemingly strives to do too much with uneven results outside of the singles.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS: i've never listened through the whole album before, knowing only thinking bout you, lost, etc. - definitely not a traditional r&b album! loves how there's absurd drumlines, groovy guitar lines, and electronic/synth elements FAVE TRACK: lost NOTABLE TRACK: pyramids - a 10-minute synth-funk track that feels like a trance, also feeling like the intermission, transporting you to a more vulnerable second half of the album A FUN FACT: he typed lyrics on a laptop for the first time for this album, previously only composing lyrics in his head
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
Imagine if Stevie Wonder was thirty years younger and grew up with modern R&B, hip-hop and himself as influences. It would sound something like this, and the result is fabulous. I could do without the track with John Mayer though...
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.
Album feels like rap soundbytes
Dreamy & surreal. I love this album.
3.5/5, but round to 4.
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 saw Frank Ocean live few years back and really enjoyed it. This album doesn't quite reach the same heights, but it has it's moments.
Really well made stuff but balls are missing.
Once again these background music albums.
Modern r'n'b is rubbish. Plays to me like limp hip hop and pop.
“A tornado flew around my room before you came. Excuse the mess it made…” Mr. Breaux’s debut studio album, set the tempo for Alternative R&B and permeated the greater West Coast vibe and contemporary music scene.
Terrible
Not my thing at all. Lasted 3 songs
Smooth melodies and lyrics that produce vivid mental pictures
More interesting than entertaining. I might give it another chance some day.
Pleasantly soulful album. How it can be also labelled on the hip-hop genre I have no idea..possibly because it has some waste-of -time 'skits' in it and he uses the N word, I dunno? But I'm not going to downgrade it because of that.
A decent RnB album weighed down by a lot of bloat and unengaging tracks. Would have been a much better EP/shorter album that highlighted the bright spots better. Overall a few excellent tracks, but a lot that is skippable. Top tracks: Pyramids, Lost, Bad Religion
Great songs
6/10 Not my usual cup of tea but I did enjoy the songs Sierra Leone, Pyramids, Lost, White, Monks, Bad Religion, and Pink Matter
Unusual. Not sure how I feel about this one
I like some songs like “rich kids” but overall not my vibe.
i dont get it
This was just not for me. I found it to be boring.
It was okay. I don’t really understand the hype.
Not sure if I understand the hype behind Frank Ocean. This album is very artistic and creative. He's clearly very talented. This just feels a little scatterbrained and all over the place. Offbeat in certain songs. I can't put my finger on it, but it just wasn't for me. I'm glad I finally got around to giving it an honest try.
I don't think whoever wrote his Spotify biography knows what the words 'visionary', 'celebrated' and 'critically acclaimed' mean, unless he's some USA phenomena that should firmly stay there. Every single song sounds the same. They're all really slow songs with meh lyrics and boring lowkey instrumentals.
Bro uses whole album to complain... jezus man.
I don't get it. Maybe it's just me. I don't get how this won so many awards. Some songs aren't awful (though some are laughably bad in my opinion), but most of the album just feels very low-effort.
I would rather be listening to Billy Ocean. Additional note, this is the second album in a row that features a song from GTA V. So apparently the guy who made this list has played a ton of GTA. We all have and that is fine. But just because a song makes it onto a video game doesn't mean we have to hear the full album.
I remember the day this album came out and frank ocean just blew people's minds
"Start" has a cool vibe. Maybe it does represent the album well. "Thinkin Bout You". I wasn't expecting this at all lol. Love this. Such a shock. Maybe a little repetitive. "Fertilizer" is so short, but it doesn't need anymore duration to hit hard. "Sierra Leone" has a sexy beat. Love it. Too short, maybe, but with an interesting sound. "Sweet Life". Love the beat and the evolution of the song. "Not Just Money". Love this message. I find very original that this album has these short tracks in the middle with so meaningful words. "Super Rich Kids" has a very flat melody, but the real impact is on the lyrics. I like that they did it that way. "Pilot Jones". Such a good start. "Crack Rock". Definitely not my favourite. Not bad. Just not for me. "Pyramids" has such a cool beat and a very interesting lyrics. A bit too long. Could've saved a lot of blank spaces. "Lost" represents perfectly the days we live in. Love this. "Monks" has some cool moments. Not my favourite. "Bad Religion". Finally some balaaaddd. "Pink Matter". Angelic. "Forrest Gump" has such a funny beat. Love this. Banger. "End" is a perfect ending for the album. A very interesting album, honestly. Some songs are not for me, but it discovered me a new style that I didn't know I liked. Also not my favourite, but I'll keep exploring it.
After the first seconds of "Thinkin Bout You" I paused and told my wife: "ah that's the crap our children are listening to". I read through some of the reviews, liked most of the 1 star ratings and found "r&b mumble rap" to be a fitting description. I decided to skip todays album. After all, I'm half sick. I laid in bed and thought, let's just listen to a few seconds every song. But then I got hooked. The guy actually sings. The songs have melodies. There are great synths, interesting chord progressions. Then there's lots of variation. This album is incredible! After 1 listen I don't think I grasped it yet, but I'll definitively put it on my "heavy rotation list".
This doesn’t speak to me, but it wasn’t made for a 40-something guy, so I’m not surprised
- Happy to have been introduced to the album, as I definitely wouldn’t have found it on my own. - I don’t love the first handful of songs, and there’s generally too much filler (e.g., Start, End, Fertilizer, White, Not just money...), but it picks up at Super Rich Kids (minus Crack Rock and Monks). - The endings of a lot of the songs were really abrupt. - Wish his voice was richer and more complex - most people seem to like it, but it doesn’t do it for me.
I really appreciate Frank Ocean for pushing some of the boundaries of pop music, there is obviously some very strong creativity and musical talent that shines through on this album. The songs that worked for me had clear and subtle lyrics. Towards the end there were a few more dance inspired tracks that really didn't do anything for me and I feel like took away a bit from the album overall. I do think this deserves a spot on the list and overall is an impressive piece of work.
Things I like: the interludes especially the PlayStation and Street Fighter samples in Start. The instrumentation in general is pretty solid. I dig the drumming and bass throughout. There’s a couple nice guitar solos like on Pink Matter. Things I dislike: the modern hip hop / poppy R&B vocals. I just can’t stand it. It also overstays its welcome quite a bit.
I love all the video game sound FX.
I heard so much about this at the time. After listening to it I'm not sure what all the fuss was about. I've listened to it once, I won't again, not for me.
Wonderful vocals, beautifully produced. Sometimes the lyrics are a bit too freaky though.
me gusta mucho frank ocean, muy lindas canciones, muy lindo album, ok unica queja es q es verdad es medio musica de instagram o un poco muy pop q hace q baje un punto, tb algunas letras son como muy literales y ñe
I prefer Blonde over this album, but still, really great stuff!
A stellar offering!
Not as amazing and profound as I thought it was when I was 18 and it came out but this album still rocks and I love Frank
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.
boyz2men meets animal crossing.
Liked one song, "Sweet Life", was very chilled and easy listening. The rest was not to my taste at all.
Didn’t care for
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.
Frank is good and this is his best but i don’t really love frank.
I've been aware of this for so long but was waiting for it to come up here and listen. I think there's a lot to digest here, but I was immediately impressed with the detail of the craft. It may one day be a five, but I couldn't really say without giving the time to understand it better.
Enjoyed more than I expected. Some of it lost on me but the production was strong throughout and great voice.
I don't get the hype with Frank Ocean, really I don't. What is everybody seeing in this shit that I am not? Sure I can give credit for the somewhat interesting instrumentals, but Frank's whiney whispering/singing/talking gets so annoying so quick that it destroy them completely. I was looking forward to 'end' if I'm honest.
AIDS cRap
Highlight Song/s: Crack Rock, Pyramids, Bad Religion and Forrest Gump My experience with Frank Ocean consists of like one song, I can't recall which one, but it has a chipmunk voice doing backing vocals, I think. Anyway, so this listen is coming from very fresh ears. The likes: -The production is amazing. -I'm a big fan of the interlude tracks, just nice and relaxing. -I like the laid-back style Frank's singing voice is quite difficult for me to get into. I think this album is superb, in like every way. I feel like in another life this would be in my top 10 albums, It just sounds like that; gives off that feeling. Re-visiting MIGHT help.
🍊
Glad I heard it, but his off-key singing sometimes made it hard to really get into. 4/5
A good RnB album with some great lyrics and vocal performances. The instrumentation too is great, with some nice sounding instrumentals. Overall, a 9/10.
not great just generic 2010s music
damn...................................
que produção é essa, meus amigos? pyramids excelente música!!!!
instant coolness
Alright but not really my jam
I didn't find it that interesting. I liked the organ-like synth on Bad Religion
i honestly cannot see what makes this standout from a plethora of R&B albums that puts it in this list. 2 stars
In what mood do you actually listen to this it's bland nothing clever about it. Maybe my opinion will change as I listen to it. Okay 'Sweet Life' is good. But does lack lyrical excellence. That goes for the whole album. Awful nothing good about this except the album cover. Like is Blonde the same too bored after this to actually find out.
I had never listened to Frank Ocean before. There's a broader genre bucket this falls under that is not really the kind of music I like or listen to and I just put it off for a long time. But the way this is produced and all of the choices made were actually really fun and interesting for me. Things like the kind of hypnagogic/nostalgic lofi recording of the playstation turning on or the almost Swans like sample loop in Pink Matter. Frank Ocean didn't make the whole thing strange and gimmicky which probably made this all the more successful but those are the parts I liked the most and I respect that they are there. Also I liked Earl Sweatshirts lines in Super Rich Kids I wish there had been more like that.
Was able to listen until we end so being loyal with 2/5.
A very chill album which I enjoyed
Really enjoyed this, I knew the singles but the album as a whole is really great and worthy of all the admiration it gets. Will listen again for sure.
Not my favourite style of music at all. There was some inventiveness here that kept it a bit interesting but I wouldn't rush back to this.
I loved nostalgia ultra and Channel orange built further on that. He manages to bring something new whilst conjuring up a level of nostalgia. The songs feel more personal than a lot of music out there.
I’d never listened to Frank Ocean before and had no idea whether I’d like it or not. Suffice to say, I’m not sure I’d actively seek him out, but I’d not turn him off the radio.
His falsetto is lovely. Otherwise I have very little to say. It was fine. Would have been a 2.5, but I'm rounding up 3/5
Really textured, melodic, and interesting. I can hear the references to Prince and Stevie Wonder.
Wikipedia says "Noted by writers as musically unconventional, Channel Orange draws on electro-funk, pop-soul, jazz-funk, and psychedelic styles, as well as nonmusical sounds such as film dialogue and ambient noise that function as interludes". Or to put it more simply this album is boring and pretentious crap.
I had heard the album once or twice before, but never paid much attention to it. Now, having played it again, I think it's rightly regarded as a groundbreaking album of the neo-RnB movement. Especially the multi-layered "Pyramid" and the irresistible "Lost" are amazingly produced, very special soul pop songs by an amazing songwriter and singer. Right now, I'm rating it four stars, but this has the potential to become even better for me.
Enjoyed it
yesssssss LET's go
3.5. Solid album but not as fresh as it used to be.
Couldn’t bring myself to give a 5 only one week in.
I was a little weirded out when I heard a sample of my own work in Frank Ocean's first album track, "A Start". I am sort of flattered, but also have mixed feelings. 5 tracks in and I'm not hearing anything to differentiate this album from sounds of the last 20 years of R&B. Unlike like some listeners, I don't mind the atmospheric samples, even kind of enjoy them, but while the production and engineering is top notch, the songwriting and pacing is plodding and tedious. Over stays its welcome like most albums that are released in Hip Hop and R&B these days. It probably doesn't help my enthusiasm much that this artist was a songwriter for Brandy, Beyonce, and Bieber, as I haven't yet really enjoyed any of their music. Typical victim mentality / self pity record of the type that has come out of the Hip Hop and R&B community for the past 40+ years. "Lost" has the most enjoyable groove for me, but the lyrics were the least enjoyable part of the song.
I feel bad saying I didn't like this album because I really do think Frank Ocean has a great voice. That isn't enough to save it, however. It was just kind of annoying. A bit of a childish way to explain it, I know, but there's no better way for me to explain the "impact" this album had on me. I wasn't a fan. I will give an extra point for the talent, but that's as much as I can give.
Absolutely dire. In no way does this deserve a place on this list.
This album is really chill and the content matter is pretty unique to me. The tragedy of some of his songs is presented so smooth and soft, even calm, and it really works.
Pyramids is my fav
I didn't love it, I didn't hate it. I listened to it and laughed once because I thought Thinkin Bout You was going to be the 1990 song by Londonbeat for some reason. I probably won't think about any of this music again after today.
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'm curious about this one. I've seen the album cover around, though I'm confident I've never heard of this artist before. "Frank Ocean" is an interesting name. Is this gonna be another neo-soul album? Oh, this kind of sound. I wasn't expecting to hear this brand of contemporary R&B on the list. Does anyone care for this style of music? Evidently so, though in my admittedly cynical ways I've always thought of this music as inoffensive radio filler. Nothing wrong with that, of course, though I find there's little for me to sink my teeth into - my jaws always slide off the overpolished sheen. The vocals are pretty lacklustre, too. Overproduced and lethargic, they take me out of the admittedly competent instrumentals. All that being said, the radio/television gimmick is always a fun concept to base an album around, so I did get some degree of enjoyment from this album. "Thinkin About You" is alright. I think I've heard it before. The mellow, atmospheric instrumental is nice, though the squeaky vocals aren't my cup of tea. "Super Rich Kids" is decent. The reuse of the blinker sound from the previous track is interesting, and I enjoy how the piano is paired with those wavy synths in the background. "White" is a good tune, even if it is an intermission. The sensual atmosphere is pretty good, and I dig that lead guitar. My 2005 edition of the book sadly doesn't contain an entry for this album (believe me, I've checked), so I'll just mosey on down to Wikipedia. A wide sampling of genres. Unique vocal style. Commercially successful and a critical slam dunk. Best-reviewed album of 2012. Hmm. Seems this like a solid pick for a contemporary album. I guess I can't fault it - it's influence is definitely felt today.
not really my favourite.
The songs are not for me and the other stuff that isn’t songs brings the rating lower. ———————————— My non-musician scoring system. 5 - Love it. Would play anytime, buy, see live… 4 - Good music. 3 - Average playlist. Depends on time and setting. 2 - I can’t listen to entire songs…skipped ahead on all of them 1 - No.
7/10
Kinda torn on this one. The highlights (Thinking Bout You, Super Rich Kids, Pyramids, Lost, Pink Matter) are incredible. The rest of the album is super hit or miss. A lot of songs feel kinda underwritten. Some feel like they're going for dreamy but end up being kinda sleepy instead. The interludes are kinds pointless and don't add much to the album unlike on Blonde. The flow of this album is kind of choppy because the great songs are surrounded by songs that are just kind of ok. His writing is really great on Pyramids and Super Rich Kids, but then there are songs like Monks that strike me as a bit awkward. This is a 7/10 album in my book and the highlights are probably enough to warrant this 4 stars, even if this is probably the most negative 4 stars review in history. Some positive notes: Crack Rock is better than I remember initially, the features from Andre 3000 and Earl Sweatshirt are among my fav moments on the album, the production a lot of the time is great and even kind of ahead of the curve.
prior to listening: i am intrigued by this as i did not like another one of his albums (blonde). the sounds were not for me. the first songs sounded similar to blonde in a way. 'super rich kids' got my attention though and made my head bop involuntarily to the rhythm. i also liked 'pyramids' a lot a lot. a lot of the songs still sound a bit of the same and are slow with weird sounds and a bit boring.
Took me a while to get into it as it's not my scene but I yeah I get it now I Understand
Love the album, it has so many great tunes. Pyramid made me smile particularly, it felt like it was an edm banger but actually a different song than you'd expect. I was surprised about how much loneliness plays a role in the album, as a theme. Generally it feels a bit melancholic.
A bit more annoying then I remembered ; he's whiney
Meh
That was quite pleasant. It had a tiny bit of an edge at times but it does feel a bit shy somehow - it is a debut album I guess so for that I think it has some merit.
I get the Frank Ocean hype now
Not my favorite genre
Smooth R&B. The dude's got talent.
It's impossible for me to review Frank Ocean and this album objectively because I don't understand it. I have a friend who insists good popular music ended around the turn of the century. I think he's wrong. Popular music just changed direction radically and many of us just don't understand or accept that change. I'm one of those people. I just don't understand most of this music (except for occasional forays into marginally decent r&b). Therefore, it doesn't affect me. I'll give it three stars as a neutral, non-understanding rating. Popular music has left me behind. I have left it behind.
Ya know, Odd Future probably needs to be studied. This one group of edgy teenagers somehow produced two wildly influential international stars (Tyler and Frank) and one king of the underground (Earl). Blonde would later cement Frank's status and influence, but Channel Orange is a vital stepping stone that often lives in its shadow. The two albums are honestly different beasts, and (I think) had influence on different worlds in music. Channel Orange very much feels like an R&B/Neo-Soul album, at times even like a psych album, and made it's impact on the development of that world. Conversely, Blonde almost feels more like an indie album, and I think it became sort of an archetype for a whole nook in that genre moving forward.Channel Orange is a bit more eclectic, almost sprawling at times, while Blonde is *laser* focused on a very particular sound and emotional landscape that comes across a little more abstract than Channel Orange. And while Blonde gains a lot from this, it kind of highlights some of the unique positives of Channel Orange. A sprawling, epic, narrative piece like Pyramids couldn't exist on Blonde, and to a lesser extent, singles like Thinkin Bout You and Super Rich Kids couldn't either. And honestly, the experience of listening to Channel Orange from front to back is really cool in it's own right. Th pacing is good, the interludes work really well as mood pieces, and a lot of songs here are fantastic set-pieces. The aforementioned Pyramids, Thinkin Bout You and Super Rich Kids are great examples. I'm also a big fan of Crack Rock, Monks, and Pink Matter. The latter of which has an exceedingly rare (and very good) Andre 3000 feature. While not as focused as Blonde, Channel Orange still feels deeply personal to Frank, and it is a really awesome debut. Some of the sound across here feels trapped in the 2010's, and these songs don't all resonate with me, but it doesn't exactly ruin the album. I really enjoy Channel Orange. Additionally, as one of his two studio LPs, Channel Orange is nearly as vital a component of Frank Ocean's legacy as Blonde.
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.
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.
unfortunately don't care for this as much as his latter albums but thinkin bout you and white are great
Badaba
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.
Good album that is great on occasion
I'm sure he's got a great voice. Unfortunately the album is so over produced I can't tell.
I'm not sure why it's been years since I listened to this, because it's great. Maybe I just have to be in the mood for it? This is the kind of album that rewards multiple listens because there are so many textures and ideas happening. I think I need to be in the mood for it more often.
Perfection
I honestly don't know if that was bad or just not a genre I like. There was influence from Motown, Stevie Wonder in particular, but it's buried under way too much overproduced crap music that I can't tell if the vocals are actually good. There were 2-3 really good tracks where I thought I heard good vocals, but the rest were just bad. And even on the good tracks, the songwriting was bad. Of course, that could just be coming back around to this isn't my genre.
nope, not for me
Personally, my favorite Frank album. The remnants of his Odd Future time bring balance to the more sultry aesthetic and content. Although seeing his Coachella "performance" in person has soured me a bit on him as a person over the years, and I've always felt his music was a liiiiittle bit overrated *ducks*, this collection of tracks no doubt approaches the heights of modern pop R&B. Listened to: at 5MW. Favorite tracks: Thinkin Bout You, Pyramids, Lost, Forrest Gump
Sooooo good.
Meh. Again, repetitive
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)
Reviews of this one are super polarized, you either love Frank Ocean or you hate him. Maybe that's a generational thing, where this resonates for Gen Z and some Millennials but completely loses anyone older than that? I don't know. But in this binary that I've invented, my elder millennial ass is fittingly somewhere in the middle. Low effort R&B is fine, and I think I prefer this to the Usher, R Kelly, Casey & JoJo, et al era when R&B was doing too much. I appreciate that there's a 10 year gap between those reference points and this album, but I wasn't plugged into R&B during that time and can't comment on what was happening then. I'm not going to download this, but I'd put it on while I make dinner at home. One of the top hater reviews blames this album for the rise of internet slut culture, mumble rap, and low effort internet musicians. I think that's kinda silly, but if you want to believe that's true then it kinda proves the influence, doesn't it? Hard to complain that this is on the list and, in the next breathe, prove exactly why it's here.
3.5/5
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.
En kuunnellu ihan kokonaan mutta vaikutti aika kakkaselta. Jotain ihmeen äänitehosteita ja jotenki sekava
Through this album I found out Johnny Cash played at a prison which is pretty cool. I am not a fan of live music on an album that I listen to in the car. I’m still pretty young and I thought the music was okay but he had a good voice.
It was good
Nah
I'm sure this is someone's cup of tea but it isn't mine. That being said, I did enjoy some songs on the album but every time I felt it was going in the right direction it veered wildly off course. 2.5/5
ugh.
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
I can see inspiration from Stevie Wonder and John Legend here. It's unusual without veering into whacky, and he has a nice voice. But something about this is just kind of meh. Nothing resonated with me, made me feel like moving, or grabbed hold of my attention. Also it's very long
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.
me aburrió un poco, siento que es música de fondo para momentos muy específicos. no está mal, el chabón tiene una voz muy linda y algún par de temas me gustaron, pero no es un álbum que escucharía completo
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.
this is good but not my thing
This was okay but very easy for me to ignore/push to the background. Very average, and nothing that jumped out at me as particularly groundbreaking or deserving to be on the project. 2.5/5
Eh.
Straight up bangers
Nope. Just not my thing.
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.
I've listened to this one through a handful of times and its damn good.
I was never really aware of Frank Ocean so was surprised to recognize a couple of songs on this album. Overall I did not super enjoy this one, but Pyramids was a banger
What a load of rubbish. Pure dross.
This sounds as fresh as the day it was released. Super Rich Kids is the high point for me - the opening piano chords always put me in the mood for this project. It's far from unimpeachable, though. I think Frank Ocean's writing is vastly overrated - there are some genuinely toe-curling bars here (Cotton candy, Majin Buu, close my eyes and fall into you - Ocean's part of this track is like listening to Jayden Smith free associate to the word pink). In virtually every song, I can count on being sucked right out of it by an equally terrible idea by Frank. However, the overall standard here is very high and it's very easy to go back to.
A marvellous debut. Demands repeat listens. Feels like the blueprint for much of the R&B that followed throughout the 2010’s (for better or for worse). Ocean’s style teeters on an obnoxiousness that his imitators tend not to get away with. In the hands of other artists this kind of music gives to the much maligned mumble rap subgenre. But here, Ocean hits a home run. Creative and confident. Favourite tracks are Super Rich Kids, Lost, and Bad Religion. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Songs of my youth, pink matter andre 3000 verse is forever goated.
It was fine. Not really my thing, but I see why people like it. Bad Religion, Pink Matter, and Super Rich Kids were all pretty good, nothing else really jumped out at me. 5/10, going 3 stars instead of 2 just because it wasn't, like, bad, just kinda not for me.
It's alright, though not something I listen to that often.
This is 5/5. Really hyper specific and niche but we love it. Perfection.
I find this album overall…fine. It doesn't sound bad, but you can compare it to any prefer Pharrell-produced album from 2012. His voice is at times interesting between tenor and falsetto but I just don't find it exciting. I think I don't have nostalgia related to this album which makes my enjoyment less intense. The Andre 3000 feature was awesome! 2.5⭐️
Good, very well made, enjoyed my listen (:.
83% Best: Sweet Life; Pyramids; Lost; Monks Must-Hear? Sure
Peisisirbkau dar keleta dainų, bet nepatiko ilgi intarpai be nieko, dainavimas labai ištęstas.
Prima
I have seen this album in alot of greatest of all time lists. I don't get is. It was hard to get through, guess its not my thing.
Des trucs cool
I wore this album out. 5.
Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
Great neo soul. Lots of subtle hooks that keeps the listener engaged after multiple listens. Pyramid is a perfect mid-album peak.
ok hip hop
2,5
Very meh
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 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.
Original, something different, quite musical rapmusic with different than usual lyrics. Still, not really my thing.
Very sexy and very real, with syrupy smooth vocals and stellar instrumentals throughout. Only bad thing I can say is that it makes me kinda sleepy.
Was excited to listen to this as I never fully dove into Frankn Ocean other than the singles. I should have stopped there. Outside the singles it's musically boring and hollow. He's got moments of interesting lyrics but mostly sounds like dumb stuff a teenager would write. Giving it a 3 since the singles are absolute bangers.
I will listen to songs from this album for the rest of my life.
Frank Ocean: channel ORANGE: This shit SUCKS. Repetitive, generic, boring, pretentious, pointless, etc. I have nothing good to say about this. This is dogshit. His voice is annoying and everything is like woah surface level shitty pop. Fuck this. The best thing I can say about this is I've heard worse stuff. 2.5/10
1. X 2. O 3. ~ 4. ~ 5. O 6. X 7. O 8. X 9. ~ 10. ~ 11. O 12. ~ 13. ~ 14. ~ 15. ~ 16. ~ 17. ~ Few bangers. Too much of the same thing.
Forrest Gump, Pyramids, Super Rich Kids, Thinking About You are all amazing records that I grew up with.
5/10
Muutamia oikein hyviä biisejä, aikoinaan tuli luukutettua paljonkin.
As one half of uk RnB singer songwriting powerhouses Houmous & Chutney I know good RnB when I hear it. 2.1 2/17 Thinkin Bout You
An old favorite. I remember listening to this one start to finish several times when it first came out.
The anthem of my shared university kitchen, Channel Orange is far better when properly listened to instead of as the soundtrack to cheap spagbol cooking and cheap beer sessions. An eclectic, escalating album that zigs and zags between every track, never happy to settle into one genre. I think on a few relistens, this will elevate to a 5, but on initial pass it's a really solid 4.
I liked this fine, but don't feel like I'd listen to it through again. It feels like a moment in time. the casualness of the album really dates it. But I mostly enjoyed the album.
Some interesting bits but overhyped. Overall enjoyable.
Knew this album was highly praised but has never listened to any of it. Not the style I usually go for but very enjoyable, bad religion is the standout track for me
3/5
not to bad, like a mix between modern and old school soul especially "sweet life".
A couple of ok songs, lyrics and and perspectives on the song subject seemed generic
Good to hear! Like his voice, r&b roots. Rich kids song - great lyrics.
Favorites (almost the whole album): Thinkin Bout You Sierra Leone (beat and layering) Sweet Life Not Just Money (just noisy sampling) Crack Rock Pyramids Lost White Monks Bad Religion Pink Matter Forrest Gump End Intriguing recording gimmicks/techniques - the album playthrough feels a lot like listening to the radio or watching TV. Calling the album R&B seems reductive too. Lots of color imagery (Pink Matter, Forrest Gump) which makes themes through the album interesting.
This was ok. I have listened before. I never got into Frank Ocean. I wasnt listening very closely
pop
It wasn't bad, but it all sounded like direction less noise
kinda boring
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, yesterday, I got Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks. For a while, at least for British markets, Van Morrison was considered at least very R&B-leaning. Then, this record pops up the day after. So, I guess R&B is on my mind a little bit right now. I don’t really dislike the genre, at least in principle. I loved old Van Morrison stuff (admittedly, a bit of a different flavor for the genre), love Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Al Green, Otis Redding…but I don’t love where the genre headed in the 90’s and onward. Music is always evolving, I’m sure. And with it, genres can shift. That’s what this kind of feels like to me. I know Frank Ocean’s channel Orange is probably a modern R&B classic, but it’s not a genre that resonates much with me these days. It isn’t a terrible record from a more objective perspective, I’m sure. But this record isn’t really something that holds much interest for me. I like that Frank can sing, but the subject matter is a little meh, the instrumentation is mostly digitally rendered as opposed to being played by musicians (although there are a few highlights here), it sounds slick, but it also feels like it takes place entirely in a studio. That’s may be a dumb comment…I guess what I mean is that with a band full of musicians, I can suspend my disbelief that they’re being recorded in a studio, because there’s still an energy to the recording. When everything is recorded using synths, 808s, samples, and a mic, that recording can feel pretty lifeless. Most of this record feels that way to me. I guess I’m glad I listened once, cause it really wasn’t terrible. A couple songs I actually like alright, and it got better toward the end. But I don’t think I’ll come back. 3/5
Bit shit honestly.
Not for me. It was good background music, but I found the lyrics uninteresting or repetitive.
Don't get it.
I have heard many great things about Frank Ocean such as he is the greatest song lyricist of this generation. I would have to agree as his songs carry many metaphors and double meanings that it makes you analyze each lyric. I love the fusion of the music genres such as R&B, funk, techno, psychedelic. My favorite songs were Sweet Life and Lost. I did enjoy the Earl the Sweatshirt collab since I like that artists music. Solid album.
frank ocean is solid but icl an entire album of him is a bit much for one sitting mmmm mmmm mmmm mmmm
Enjoyed this album more than I expected to. The genre isn't really for me still, but I respect this album a lot in terms of production and lyrics, and am glad I took the time to give it a listen.
I don't liked it. I mean, is not bad, but this isn't my type of music. I respect the ones who liked it. I didn't enjoy listening to it.
Great production and album flow. Thought it was going to be lower for me but I can't really fault it.
I was really intrigued about this album. Mainly because I've heard so much about Frank Ocean and Channel Orange but couldn't name you a single song of his. And also because this album cover looks like the easyjet logo The good songs were really good. Then there were a few bum songs thrown in. So overall it was a good album, but had the potential of being amazing 4 ⭐️
so sincere and touching. “lost” is amongst 20 of my fav songs
Still better than Kanye West.
Not totally into this neu-soul or whatever you'd want to call this genre but there were some pretty good songs on here. 2.5 rounding up
Not a huge fan of R&B, but this was pretty good. Won't reach for it, but didn't skip it.
Muy cantantecito negro pop de generación actual yankee, no me va
Mehhh Muy copado que arranque con el sonido de la play Pero después bastante plano se sentía todo
awful, just awful.
My first thought was, 'I wonder if he's Billy's crap cousin or something' This somehow manages to sound more dated than some of the albums I've had from the 1970s. Why is the first track just a PlayStation booting up? It improved as it went on, but the voice was annoying. There's no way they're related. I'm sorry, Billy.
Really not my style. Monotonous singing, boring beats and lyrics which completely lack substance . I guess the best I can say is that it was not actively offensive to my ears? But I found myself constantly wanting to turn it off, so hard to give it more than a 1.
i think blonde is better. fav track: pyramids
Unimpressed. This is what music has turned into after centuries?
Consistently ok but not for me.
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
Impressively immersive but still not really my thing
"Wow... once again i'm surprised... but this time... not in a good way... lol... before i listened to this, i was already preparing to pan it good... but, i had NO IDEA how worthless this cow patty was... it has been said that this album has been compared to Brian Wilson, in that it encapsulates the experience of youth for the respective times of their work... well, then i feel very sorry for the youth of 2012, when this sorry hockey puck was released... i couldn't find one groove... or any talent on it... EVERY word sung is auto-tuned to the point of sounding robotic... making me wonder if Frank Ocean is a real person or just some AI avatar... one of the songs is called "Crack Rock", which you need to smoke a bag of to like it... "White" has John Mayer playing some random guitar on it... and he's white... i guess is the reason for the title... who knows? "Bad Religion" tells us... for the UMPTEENTH time, that religion - bad... yay... what groundbreaking stuff, huh? "Pink Matter" has Andre 3000 on it... oh my... absolutely NOTHING could save this record... and lastly, i'll mention the song "Fertilizer" which is what this album is... if these lyrics move you, or mean anything to you, you... and i... are different... ZERO stars."
I've heard this before and didn't appreciate it when it came out. Going between the structured lyrics and songs to more smooth but formless makes for a fun album. It's got themes but the album is a vibbbeeee
The absolute chokehold this album on me had on me the summer it came out....
Can't get chill about it
I was expecting some generic R&B sound, but was surprised by how wrong I was... 4 stars
Interesting 🤔
Let me start by saying these kinds of reviews are a depressing reminder of how closed-minded people can be. “Oh, good music isn’t being made anymore” — what nonsense. It’s fine to dislike a sound, but calling it “the downfall of music” just because it’s not your taste? That’s ridiculous. Take a look at yourself. That said, this is undeniably an influential album — it just doesn’t fully click for me personally. I enjoy some Frank Ocean tracks like Novacane & Pyramids, but a full album of his style starts to feel a bit monotonous. The lyrics are strong, great singing vocals, the beats and instrumentals are excellent, but his calm, talky rapping style just doesn’t fully work for me. It absolutely deserves its place on the 1001 Albums list, but as a complete listen it’s not my thing. 7.5/10.
Great moments!
love it
I like the first song, and for the others, I only liked the music, not the lyrics. I wouldn't listen to them again, but it's okay if you don't focus on the lyrics.
For a genre I don’t really take to, this is pretty good. I think I like it more because of the variation in styles throughout.
Probably the best album of the 2010's.
If 3.5 existed, I'd give it that; I don't see the point of pretty much all of the short tracks, there are some enjoyable Stevie Wonder-ish neo soul and pop pieces Super Rich Kids epitomises this albums best (fusing soul, hip hop, and bedroom pop) and worst moments (pity me I'm a millionaire's son lyricism).
good album, insanely racist reviews though what's up with that??
3,5/5 I like the voice, I love the second song, especially the high pitched voice. Nice relax album.
Not even a little bit.
Cool
Frank oceano
Excellent
I liked this a lot, but not as much as I expected to with how popular this album is in my generation. I really like the more up-tempo and rap songs. There were too many interludes for my taste.
Hvorfor kender jeg flere sange?? Sweet life og Super Rich Kids kender jeg begge fra tik tok Kan også meget godt lide de der små intermissions Kender også Lost??
A-
New to me, sounded cool.
When I listen to these albums, sometimes I think that I'm not the right audience for the music. That it's not really my thing. It's probably great music that people love but I just don't care for the genre. I think this is one of those occasions. I don't think it's bad, really. But I did find it a boring and samey. I suppose it's good to hear some modern R&B after getting some of the older stuff the genre has to offer before. Boring beats. Slow, plodding, meandering stuff. Nothing that excites me. It's almost like a vocal jam session. I see a lot of the reviews say that they think Ocean's vocals are awful. I don't quite agree, I think they're decent enough. I actually think he sounds a little like a Stevie Wonder lite at times (see 'Sweet Life'). 'Forrest Gump' stood out as my favourite of the bunch because it was quite an uplifting sounding track and 'Pyramid' was pretty good too (funnily enough, they sounded the least R&B on the album), but overall I didn't really enjoy the hour I spent listening. When I first started these reviews I'd have probably given it a two, but I'm trying to be "harsher" and more accurate, and I genuinely don't think I'd find any reason to ever come back to this.
No songs added to repeat playlist, not my vibe tbh
An extremely consistent and incredibly well produced R&B album. This record may feel very straightforward in terms of ideas and mood, with almost every song that is not an interlude having similar structures, way of singing and beats. However, the quality of the sound is so good that is doesn't matter how monotonous the album may be, it still makes the experience very rewarding and pleasent to listen to. Besides, there's one single song in here that feels very different from the rest. It feel grandiose and epic and it also is the greatest and longest track of the album. That song is 'Pyramids'. My god, this song didn't have the right to be this good. The instrumentation and the chord progressions make this track spectacular. This record is a very very high 4 stars.
I’ve been doing some music archiving the past week and was struck by how much the 2011-12 set still hit. Hard not to notice the presence of Frank Ocean and the rest of the Odd Future folks back then. I’m in the minority here, but he’s never topped Pyramids or Lost and Thinkin Bout You.
I was excited to draw this album as my forth 'album of the day'. I'd heard that Frank Ocean was something of a legend in the pop/RnB world but had never heard really any of his music. The opening track Thinkin About You is a great track, but a little underwhelming compared to what I've heard / remember of it. That is the only Frank Ocean song I can remember hearing prior to this, too. Sweet Life, Sierra Leone, and Super Rich Kids were also decent songs but probably not a lot of staying power with me. I thought Pyramids was really artful and cool, though not a repeater either. The one I really liked is Crack Rock. Felt like that song delivered a more complex and emotive feeling. Past that point on the album, things sort of started to blend together. I really did not understand Bad Religion, that sounded like audible confusion and filler. In general I felt that a lot of the album was filler, but maybe just isn't my cup of tea overall. I can say for sure that I'm not a huge fan of the RnB style of elongating random words in the 'RnB accent' which is all over this album. And really, Frank's voice on the high end sounds a little rough and put on. Doesn't quite harmonize the way I think a lot of this genre from the 80's and 90's does. 5.5/10 for me.
Never heard of the artist, so completely new to me. Not something I'd normally listen to and wasn't horrible (I could get through the album) but not something I'd revisit.
Talented artist, but not my style of music.
Modern classic
Quite enjoyed this
I liked this one and will be relistening. some of the songs were a little meandering and it was a tad too long.
Used to hate this, has grown on me but some songs could definitely be cut near the end
Smooth
New rap
3.5
Bored
Хорошо, много разного по чуть-чуть, есть какая то история, нужно будет переслушать 7.7/10
1,2/5
Often when I listen to albums here I think that I might just not be the audience for this, or that it might be good but I just don't care for this genre or something. In this instance I can say that this is just objectively a bad album of meandering quasi R&B / Rap with nonsensical lyrics sung by someone who can't sing.
Ganz ok. Ich mag den beat.
Very chill one or too great songs but also forgettable
It's somewhat better than a lot of contemporary R&B I've heard (e.g., Ocean doesn't lean onto autotune with his full weight), but the interstitials of voicemails or whatever they are deteriorate the overall vibe of something that in the end is pretty mid.