Reviews (page 9 of 14)
Frank is great.
Perfect
Don't change the station
Weird but not bad. I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it. Atmospheric enough for me to enjoy it, but too distorted to really get into it 3/5
Frank ocean can make any topic sexy. Fucking guy could make the Holocaust sounds hot. He even has a song about Dragon Ball Z. I normally don't seek this kind of music out unless I'm trying to get laid. But I enjoyed this quiet a bit. FS: Pyramids
A classic. Not franks best work, but still a great listen. Some songs are a bit lame, but the ones that shine are so good you can easily forget that. Best song: Lost Worst song: Pilot Jones Most underrated song: Pyramids
I've not heard this album in years (it's 12+yrs old?!), but I knew I enjoyed it coming in. It's a solid album and doesn't feel like an R&B album, lots of experimental aspects. Sweet Life, Pyramid & Pink Matter are standouts. There's a few songs that I don't love, but even in those songs, I typically like the music/beat. They really should have half & quarter stars on this. 4.5/5 so it gets rounded down, mainly because I feel weird rounding up in this instance.
I’m way too old for this album. My granddaughter knew some of the songs. My candy coated feelings are what a nice young man who should stock up on more Trojans. At least he’s smart enough to use them.
I figured I’d listen to this when I was in the mood to hear Get Out of My Dreams and Into my Car. Then, I realized it was a different and forgot until the text chain yesterday. I am now listening to Billy Ocean then Gwar cover Billy Ocean to rid of this trash. One positive was Crack Pipe.
I don’t like everything on this album but I do like Thinkin Bout You, Super Rich Kids, Pyramids, Pink Matter, Lost, and even sometimes Bad Religion enough for 4 stars. Also. The Cure album was meant to get 3 stars, not 4 and that’s really only for Love Song.
Pretty sure I am not this album’s target audience. Felt more like a poetry reading put to music and kinda weird music at that. Wish he would stick to singing like a normal person and not fluctuate between kind of nasally and high pitched like his balls were getting squeezed. You got a couple really short songs that end just when they were getting good, then BOOM….9 minutes of Pyramids. The whole thing was confusing. It was like failing College English Tests all over again.
I love a lot of this album. "Thinkin Bout You" is a flawless song. Vocals/lyrics/instrumentation are incredible. "Pyramids" - I could listen to this ten minute r&b/pop/dance suite(?) ten times in a row and not get tired of it. "Lost" - fun little catchy beat on this one Andre 3000 and Earl Sweatshirt both drop a verse A few too many weak points (Forrest Gump, Monks, Pilot Jones, Sierra Leone) to be five stars....but this does have great replay-ability.
This was not for me
I really liked this. It felt very coherent and complete with the arc of a full album. It reminded me of Outkast in a lot of ways. I didn't love all the music, but I liked most of it. The lyrics and musicianship were great. I'm coming back to this for sure.
oh yes
I liked this a lot more than I expected. I thought it was going to be a rap album, but really I'd put it closer to something like 70's soul. At times I got a Stevie Wonder vibe from some of the songs. Good stuff.
I bought this when it came out given the hype and listened to it on repeat until I liked it. I have not listened to it much since then -so it was good to get reacquainted. For me its not quite a 5 as its a bit overlong and the quality does dip a little - but really enjoyed a number of the tracks. Stand outs being - Thinkin Bout You, Super Rich Kids and Pyramids.
This is worse than AC Milan’s banter era.
tres mid
obviously solid. I used to feel like I was just being cranky by thinking this, but now I think it's just not my style, but Frank doesn't really have a great singing voice...
I remember when this came out, and everyone was raving about it. I listened to it multiple times then, and still today I just don't get it. It's fine, but far from great.
Mumble rap. Just can’t get into it
Bisexual paradise Frank Ocean’s music lives in nostalgia - that unattainable feeling of what used to be. His first mixtape is literally called “Nostalgia Ultra” and this album’s cover starts with the sound of a PS2 booting up, and its title and cover reference Nickelodeon. The songs here sound like reminisces of summers past, where you’re old enough to be left alone, but not old enough to be responsible for your own life. So what else is there to do but lay around and fall in love?
A solid album. It definitely sounds like a Frank album.
Chill rap album. A few really good and fun. Nice use of PlayStation boot up.
It's quite experimental and ambient, with lots of sound effects and slow repetitive beats. There were a few songs I thought were ok but this really isn't my thing
Buen canal el naranja
Ooo, look at me! I’m an R&B “artist” and I can sing because of autotune! Utter crap.
sucks
Boring ambience that sounds like it should be playing in a starbucks
Inoffensive but not really my thing.
I actually liked this the most of his albums, has some of his best songs, and it's very consistent throughout, definetly influenced by artist I like such as Prince & Kanye. A
Very nice. I definitely want to come back to this one.
I own this
Not for me
This is so boring. It's elevator music. If lofi took lyrical form. It's peaceful but bleh, and it has such interesting opening samples or ideas but the actual songs are slogs.
Crack Rock. Instant 12 stars.
Not a lot here I like, though there are moments. Not a big fan of modern R&B or its production.
A mixed bag of really good soul and really plain modern rnb. 2.5 best tracks sweet life & crack rock.
Siento que el álbum es como un lienzo de cansiones un poco aburridas y similares, sobre las que se destacan canciones como Thinkin Bout You o Pyramids, pero no lo volvería a esuchar completo.
I know this one by reputation, it was popular and highly-regarded when it came out, but I've never heard it before, and can't swear I've heard any of the individual songs before either. It has kind of an interesting structure, sort of like Smiley Smile, a collection of short snippets and suites. The whole fits together well, but I don't really like any of the individual pieces. In particular I can't understand why it was noteworthy. It's fine R&B, closer to the 90s Boys 2 Men-type style than to Marvin Gaye. Ocean has a fine voice, but not enough to carry the CD, and there's basically nothing of interest going on musically. I guess you're supposed to get really into his lyrics - I don't typically do that, but would submit that there's nothing of interest lyrically on songs like "Crack Rock" either. I quote: "Crack rock (Ooh) Crack rock (Ooh) Crack rock How you feeling, girl? (Ooh) How's the gutter doing? Crack rock" Whatever. Post-2010 the pickings get real slim, if they want to include this one as their representative of the post-good-music era, fine by me.
Ein gutes Album
Superb
One of the most controversial artists I know of at the moment, barring legendary figures like Kanye. Frank Ocean had a great set of albums and then disappeared from the face of the Earth, only dropping lackluster appearances at festivals. The disappointment from this is understandable - channel ORANGE is a fantastic album that touches on many of the anxieties experienced by my generation. The album doesnt hold a special place in my heart, but the appreciation for the craft is audible in every song. Andre 3K feature is a nice bonus. 7.5/10
Heard "Blonde" before. Frank Ocean is awesome on doing those emotional stuff, and that album is extremely beautiful. But channel orange is just ok, pretty normal, not as good as blonde. 3/5
I had the unfortunate introduction to Frank Ocean when he self-sabotaged his headlining performance at Coachella last year. Thankfully it wasn't streamed at home, but hearing about what happened made me feel bad for the people who paid to see and support him. I understand that the man is reclusive, and has a history of this behavior, but there was an opportunity to be there for his fans. With that anecdote out of the way, I went into Frank's debut album channel ORANGE with an open mind. What I found was that I genuinely appreciated the sprawling, eclectic alternative R&B sound that he played with. The man was influenced by the likes of Stevie Wonder and Prince in his tenor delivery that can hit those falsettos, lyrics that deal with unrequited love in a rather descriptive and metaphorical manner, and the mixture of jazz, funk, and psychedelia in the instrumentation and production. Frank knows how to command a narrative and make the experience engaging, most notably in the 10-minute "Pyramids" with its extended metaphor of Cleopatra and the pyramids of Egypt to describe a pimp falling in love with a sex worker, over multiple movements that build into a sensual club beat ending with spacious guitar soloing from John Mayer. Frank also made the most of his guest features with Earl Sweatshirt's excellent bars on "Super Rich Kids", Tyler, the Creator's production and John Mayer's continued guitar noodling on "White", and André 3000's verse on "Pink Matter". Yet as much as I enjoyed this album's sprawling nature, it goes on longer than it should. At the very least, I would have cut out the interludes in the first half since "White" is the only one that genuinely contributed to the overall tone. That said, I'm glad to have tuned in to channel ORANGE and come to appreciate Frank Ocean, after that unfortunate first impression. Give this album a chance.
More tuneful than rap but generally the same sentiments. Definitely more listenable though. 3*
OK. Quite dull.
First off this a fantastic album and no one has really match Frank at what he does best. I do think this is an album that grows as it goes and hits it peak in the back half with Pyramids, Lost, Bad Religion and Pink Matter. This album also reminds me of a very specific time in my life and I think that adds an extra layer of depth. While I think it's a 4.5 with half stars, I'm going 5 as it's just better than a 4.
To all my fellow gen Zs (and millennials) , I’m very happy to report this album did not disappoint. After listening to Thinkin Bout You, I had fears that this wasn’t going to click with me, but with each track I was further convinced that the incessant praise frank has received is deserved. Pyramids especially is fantastic, the R&B equivalent of a prog rock song. I guess he was right, the best song wasn’t the single. Giving this an enthusiastic 5
Not my kind of music but cool and innovative
Very interesting vocal.
interesting sound, reminded me of electronic influences to R&B. Overall liked it.
the best
3/4
Nope, not for me
Not for me.
Really enjoyed it. At times thought I really really enjoyed it but this morning I can't seem to remember too much about it other than the overall feel. Cool sounds and great production. The lyrics were great but none stuck. A solid 3 and will probably revisit and regret not giving a 4
I’d not heard this before and having listened to it, I doubt I’ll listen to it again
A decade-defining album. Brilliant, diverse, witty, and clever from start to finish with great music and stellar features. A favorite.
Correcto
Not to be all "You kids get off my lawn," but what the actual fuck is up with this genre of music? It's not a modern vs classic thing. There are some great current artists (e.g., Willow Smith is innovative and delightful). This is boring. Overuse of autotune homogenizes voices to the point of unrecognizability.
Eclectic to say the least. Ocean's sound is definitely original, but I'm not so into it. Liked Songs Added: Sweet Life
Another album with some tracks just being short bursts of a minute or less sounds / songs? Alrighty. Songs with a bit more length were ok…
-I’ve listened to a bunch of songs from Blond before but hadn’t actually heard too many songs from this album. It’s really good even if I do prefer what I’ve heard of Blond. Feels kind of like a reincarnation of early soul -Pyramids is one of the best R&B-adjacent songs I think ever -Favorites are Pilot Jones, Pyramids, and Lost
Great one, not a massive rap listener, but this soft rap, with really good and deep lyrics is making you travelling ! I recommend 100% and will probably keep listening to that
I needed more time to write an expansive review for this album but trust me, it's worth a listen.
Trip down memory lane, love this one
A great RnB album that sounded like a classic even when it was released. "Thinkin Bout You" is so heartfelt, and he really shows his chops on "Sweet Life". "Pyramids" is a trip... The whole thing feels like a slow, downward spiral. I think finding a non-ham-fisted way to include a DBZ reference is worth an entire stat alone. Fav tracks: Thinkin Bout You, Sweet Life, Super Rich Kids, Pyramids, Pink Matter
alli schwärmed vo dem album immer ide hööööchste tön. macht mich fast skeptisch aber bin offe. haha de PS1 startup sound isch funny. thinking bout you hani scho ghört (au vo vines glaub?). isch etz nöf so de sound und stil vo R&B wo mir gfallt. sierra leone hani etz au ehner langwilig gfunde. sweet life het coole bass cooli drums. daaa isch cool. sehr nice. würkli cool. erste richtig guete song. super rich kids kenni glaub au. geil mit de klavier viertel. er liebt major-7 chords. er singt huuuere guet. finds chli schleppend mit de ziit aber sehr cool. crack rock hani chli meh gfunde. pyramids coole bass. nocher sochli EDM time? aber de synthbass nocher au seehr geil. chli dark disco time meh als EDM. de song macht jo huuuere viel. find nöd alles glich cool. gitarresound am schluss isch schön. lost isch cute i guess. aso coole refrain. monks isch haaaard. riiichtig groovy seehr cooli chords bass amdumm goh. nöd meeeega mega geil. bad religion huuuere schös bild im taxi. huere geili chords. falsetto suuper. chords werded mit de zit chli four chord songig aber de prechorus lupfts. und de chorus um so meh. uuuuff. pink matter het wiedermol gitarre findi guet. song schleppt chli aber bass wieder cool wenner inechunt. aber ischmer chli zu seicht neoeoulig. uuuh andre 3000! aah charlie hunter isch glaub am bass. gump forrest gump. cute song geili dumfi drum machine und super giti parts.
omg start isch glaub d beste lied wo ich ghört han 💯💯💯 jap hahahah frank ocean isch sehr verbunde mitem drey für mich thinking bout forever kenni und isch für en mentig morge soo schön smooth han amugs nöd per se öppis geg interludes aber die sind bis jz echt arsch, respektiv wahrsch verstahn ich gad de kontext nöd gad super rich kids het en geile rhythmusitem mitem klaviiaaaaar FAST 10 MIN PYRAMIDS BETTER BE GOOD so allgemein isch bis jz alles sehr smooth und gentle gsii aber s isch alles chli ah mier verbiizoge UHH DÖ DÖ DÖ DÖÖ FUNNY STUFF jjjoo find das bis jz s erste lied wo nöd wüki guet galteret isch hmm de zweit teil findi chli cooler aber ja s isch nüt unglaublichs, au wenn immer wieder die funny synthis sache mached LOST RIIIESE BANGER monks het sehr cooli drums hmm end isch wieder absolut forgettable d highs sind unglaublich high mussmer sege, doch das sind jz für mich halt würkli 2 lieder gsi wo ich sehrsehr gern gha han, aes andere isch eifach chli gsi? aber ja er cha singe und es isch sehr kohärent, schwanke drum sochli zwüscheme 3 und 4
a potato flew around my room before you came
FINALLY! A SURPRISE! At first I thought it'll be another generic modern hiphop/R&B but it just gets better and better over time. By the time it ended, my mind was blown and is fully believing that the happiest color, orange, can be overflowing with heartache. What a modern masterpiece.
Very cool album with some great grooves. Never paid much attention to him before but it’s cool
Not really my thing.
Gênant
Well that was very generic.
If John Legend was more artistic and a risk taker he would be Frank Ocean. This is engaging, unique, avant garde music. Lyricism that explores off script concepts and abides by no rules. Excellent song structure and fantastic singing. The album hits its groove in the second half and I fully anticipate this will get better with subsequent listens.
Turns out odd future lived up to the hype
Too many white lies and white lines
I don't know if it was a genre defining album or just another album in the genre. It was not memorable in any way. I tried listening to it a second time with my girlfriend that's into that kind of music and we turned it off three songs in.
Really goovy, motherfucker!
If I could give this album 6 stars I would. Frank Ocean changed the way I listened to music in my 20s. His music got me through some dark times and some bright times. Absolutely love this album. Frank can do no wrong. Musically, vocally, lyrically outstanding.
No interest.
Just. o.k. but nothing remarkable for me. Far too much howling!
I just realized upon listening that I have never sat down and listened to Frank Ocean before. Great lyricism and vocals, very introspective, Super Rich Kids is great. My only knock is that it has this stretched out, tired energy throughout. Maybe thats the intention behind it, felt like I was driving home in a downpour.
Love Channel Orange. The emptiness of a life of excess. Such a strong debut.
Superb Album. Big plus for the PS1 sound at the beginning
i'm gonna make some people mad: the biggest roadblock preventing me from fanboying over Frank Ocean's music (aside from his inability to get his worthless ass out of the piazza and back to the typewriter) is a problem he shares with another indie darling: Sufjan Stevens. despite their earnestness, despite their embrace of the "concept album", i still find myself drawn more to the singles outlining points in the plan rather than the project overall. obviously i enjoy "Pyramids", or "Thinkin' Bout You", or "Sweet Life" (i'm not some obstinate, no fun asshole), but i think that the scattershot concept of loves lost doesn't really hold up under inspection. in the uneasy balance of character acting and personal expression, i find myself disengaged from what narrative could be gleaned. is this album about a rich character who makes his girlfriend run coke deals, or is it about Frank Ocean, the man, dealing with issues of having his heart broken (again and again and again)? if it's a conflict between his desire and his reality, then sonically, i don't think it's a great display OF that conflict. the production is good, the lyrics are good, and the track-by-track flow is good; sitll, it's never quite great, never a true masterpiece, of which i don't think either Frank Ocean or Sufjan Stevens have had. i like Frank Ocean, but i can't bring myself to love him. what's so bad about that?
Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange has moments that shine when he really lets loose vocally. When he leans into singing with genuine emotion, the result can be captivating. Pyramids is a perfect example, blending intricate storytelling with an unforgettable melody, and Sweet Life has a warm groove that pulls you in. Andre 3000’s guest spot is a high point as well, bringing his signature energy and charisma to the album. However, a lot of Ocean’s vocal style on Channel Orange leans toward that reserved, almost monotone delivery that I associate with Drake. The detached, almost indifferent tone often pulls me out of the music rather than drawing me in. It’s as if he’s holding back, which makes it hard to connect fully with the album, even though I can see the craft in it. On a lighter note, I couldn’t help but mishear “set the cheetahs on the loose” as “said Vegeta’s on the loose,” which was a funny moment in an otherwise mellow listen. Overall, while there’s definitely artistry to appreciate, I just found it hard to engage emotionally. Standout Song: Pyramids Score: 2/5
This must be what Xanax feels like. I don’t hate it. It’s just more relaxed and pared down than I’m used to. There’s a lot of good stuff here. I like that it’s quiet and mellow. Feels like the kind of record that gets better with every listen.
No está mal, pero para nada es mi onda. No lo volvería a escuchar.
Heard this many times already. Good album, he basically comes out in this album and lyrically it’s centered around a love and relationship type vibe the whole time and it makes more sense when put together at the end
There are some things on here that I like and that might end up stuck in my head a little, including “Lost” and “Pyramids” (although I don’t know why that one runs nearly 10 minutes). Nothing amazing though.
My 300th album! Don’t let the existence of this album distract you from the fact that there are 49million kangaroos in Australia and 3.5 million people in Uruguay which means if the kangaroos were to invade Uruguay, each person would have to fight 14 kangaroos. 1/5 28/10/24
I like the chill sounds and synth pads on Thinkin Bout You for the vocals - especially the falsetto - aren't doing it for me. Cool jazzy beat on Sweet Life and there's a really fat synth on Pyramids that is probably the best part of the album. Lost actually has a hook too. I dunno. I thought I would like more of this, it's a lot of slow, atmospheric tracks. And I still don't like the vocals. 2 stars for Lost and that part on Pyramids.
just not my thing
Highlights are Super Rich Kids, Pyramids, and Monks. 3.5
I enjoyed super rich kids and lost. Definitely not my style of music but it definitely sounded pretty good.
A modern day RnB masterpiece, though shocked this is now 12 years old, maybe no longer modern day. With Blonde being 8 years old too now, we really need another album Frank!
I'm a bitch for frank
A richly satisfying exspansion of R&B half to finally hear this album.
To be honest, R&B and soul aren’t really my thing, especially when it comes to modern R&B and soul. I remember when this album came out, and I skimmed through it briefly but never really gave it a proper listen. I overlooked it and never came back to it—until now. Finally listening to Channel Orange from beginning to end, I have to admit, I really enjoyed it. Frank Ocean as a vocalist initially came off as a bit cliché and average to me, but as the album went on, I found myself appreciating his singing more. The production is really good, with a laid-back, chill, and atmospheric, dreamy feel that pulls you in.
Just not my thing, I appreciate he is talented but it's not something I'd listen to again, found the album too long as well, 12 tracks are enough, one or 2 moments I liked, Andre 3000s short cameo being the stand out
Not my favourite
It's a bit too slow and smooth to really hold my interest for 55min. Didn't hate it.
This sounded intriguing from the description - a debut album based on the artist’s synesthesia where he experienced first love as the colour orange. In actually, this is fairly anodyne R&B (albeit with some NSFW lyrics about running out of condoms) interspersed with random and surreal sound collages. The highlight (or very middling light) is where he pays a confused Muslim taxi driver to act as his personal therapist by keeping the meter running. Weird.
All this orange made me think of the first Boris Heavy Rocks. It has nothing in common. When he's willing to make an effort, the guy has a voice, but most of the time he sings in a pretty boring way. The music behind has some interesting bits, but I'm a bit lost with this kind of post-modern mashups where everything blends and nothing stands out.
Couldn't make it through the whole thing.
did not enjoy. Like Usher, but bad (imo)
Fantastic album, a real journey to listen to
2.5
Some okay beats and wild lyrics
Blind album, know the artist by name. I have no clue why anyone would like this. Some parts were cool but the moment vocals came out I immediately wanted to skip. This was a 2 until bout halfway through the song Super Rich kids. Now its a 1.
Interesting. Will have to revisit sometimes.
Can't do half stars but it's 4.5
Mid
This took a while to get in to. I still don't really like it, but the second half of the album wasn't as hard to like as the first.
Frank Ocean is someone I have heard a few tracks of. Found this album quite flat at the start, not much better in the middle overall very meh. Stand out tracks: - Sweet life - Crack rock - Pyramid - Pink matter
I very much dislike this whole genre is music. 1.5
The producer failed, in my opinion. The songwriting felt hushed, and the whole album had an unfinished touch. Ocean, as a singer, is quite good for this genre.
Pretty great few songs, doesn't always live up to those highs
Didnt knew who this guy was until my kid put on this album about a month ago and we listened to it. Its a true love and lost love story. You can feel this dudes pain in the songwriting and voice. One pf those wtf moments when you realized there was an album this good and you had never even heard the artists name before yet you become an instafan. Im going to give it 5 stars cause the smoothness of the tracks and the jazz and rap lyrics blend in ways I had not listened to in a while. This guy is real talent.
't Is al een paar uur geleden dus ik weet de details niet meer, maar wel dat ik het op sommige plekken best leuk en chill vond, en op andere plekken heel corny popperig ofzo. Gemiddelde 3 sterren voor deze.
My expectations were at ground level, but I still want my hour back. Floaty non-music with pretentious slice-of-life lyrics of a bored clown. I absolutely hate his vocal style. The man can't sing for shit, but he can do pretend vocal flourishes that might have worked for someone with talent.
Intetsägande.
Great album, already new a bunch of songs but never listened to it in full. Favorites - Super rich kids, thinkin about you, lost, pyramids Least favorites - Pilot Jones
Frank Ocean proving himself to himself. Packed with so many now-classic songs, it has and will stand the test of time as one of the best R&B albums of all time.
Had high hopes for this, but is actually quite hard to find much positive to say about it. Annoying vocal, obnoxious lyrics, maybe a couple of backing tracks have a little interest. Most disappointed I've been at an album so far.
This is one of those albums that has grown on me steadily over the years, and one I try to revisit at least once a year. R&B isn’t my favorite genre, but I think this album transcends typical R&B in many ways. While I probably slightly prefer Blonde, Channel Orange is a classic of this century and a masterpiece in its own right. Thinkin’ Bout You is his best song in my opinion. When he introduces his falsetto on that first “or do you not think so far ahead” it is a breathtaking moment. The album starts off with its best song, but it doesn’t really lose momentum. Sweet Life is super catchy, Super Rich Kids is great, and Pyramids is epic. A basically perfect album from one of our great current talents.
Not bad
I know this album (and blonde) are considered masterpieces by a lot of people, but I’ve given this album a couple chances and while there are interesting pieces ot all doesn’t come together for me. Super Rich kids is a standout and any song with an Andre feature always works. 3.3
2.5 I never really understood the critical acclaim when this first came out and still don't today.
Crazily overrated.. 1/5
Lame
Frustratingly, there's some good things on the album. Ocean has a decent falsetto, the music has some pleasant dreamy sonic textures and I quite like the sound effects. On the downside, it's a bit disjointed and the songs are repetitively simplistic, incomplete or don't really go anywhere. For example, 'Fertilizer', sounded quite interesting, but tuned out to be snippet of an incomplete song. The vocals are another problem. In the lower range, his voice is rather lame. And sometimes he uses a speaking "response" (like on 'Sierra Leone'), which is really jarringly cheesy. It's s a good example of an artist who has good intentions, but uses the studio to masquerade half baked, lazy songwriting (or possibly just lacks the ability).
Frank Orange arse
Hated it.
I know I listened to this last Friday, but I can't really remember much about it. I don't think it was bad or good. 3 stars OK?
Nope, I didn't need to listen to this before I die.
In the reviews, it states: Noted by writers as musically unconventional ... boy, I'll say! But it was SO unconventional that I couldn't stop listening to it! Not sure I'll be back to it, but it made for some easy background, work music.
♪A potato flew around my room♪...*sigh* I miss Vine :'(. Fertilizer gave me Sarah Bareilles vibes. I kind of liked Sierra Leone. Super Rich Kids is eh. I'm sorry what?!?!?!?! - Crack Rock. I liked Lost. Overall it was alright. Not really my vibe. It would be okay as an album that plays in the background as I clean or something - not paying attention to it.
Most impactful debut of this millennium? Crazy start with 'Thinkin Bout You' setting up the entire atmosphere for the album. The synths on 'Pyramids' and 'Lost' + the trifecta of 'Monks', 'Bad Religion' and 'Pink Matter'. Great stuff.
Channel Orange is a cornerstone of modern R&B. The monolithic centerpiece of “Pyramids” followed by “Lost” is easily enough to make this album deserve its runtime. Also, I had forgotten that it starts with a PlayStation booting up. Love it!
Loungey and delicious. I'm four tracks in a it is a simply wonderful album that is outside of my normal sphere of listening. Peeping Tom feels similar. With that album Mike Patton was trying to reveal an alternate world where he was interpreting what he compose for various radio stations. While Channel Orange (so far) isn't as genre-swappy it is extremely diverse and densely packed. Alright, finished now. I'd put this up there as a modern masterpiece. Even the parts I am not fond of work as hallways to the next vista. Palette cleansers.
I hated the production of this from the get go. The tone of the drum machine and the overused vocal effects both irked me. Which is a pity because there is some interesting things going on here, if you can get past the horrible sound.
Utter shite.
wow - i'd heard about frank ocean from other people, but never looked into him. i was aware that this was an acclaimed album, but i didn't expect to like it so much. beautiful and melodic, and really unique to my ears. i loved it! also, some of these reviews are breathtakingly racist. i'm talking to you, second-most-upvoted review. *this* is the downfall of society? really? this gentle, mournful r&b album? get your head out of your ass, jesus christ.
this was a cool album and i'm glad it's on this list. i was aware of frank ocean but never really listened to his music when it was popular. there are some really well-crafted tracks here and plenty of depth on repeated listenings. to dismiss it entirely (like some reviewers clearly have) feels very ignorant and close-minded. favorites: thinkin bout you, sierra leone, sweet life, super rich kids, pyramids, forrest gump
Album 555 of 1001 Frank Ocean - Channel Orange (2012) Rating : 2 / 5 This just did nothing for me. Isn't that it is a bad album...just doesn't appeal to me.
Wasn’t as good as I remember :(
Hip hop can be quite enjoyable when it’s got a melody mixed in there!
Een paar singletjes, twee albums, en Frank Ocean verdween al weer uit de actieve scene. Zo snel als zijn vlam tot onbranding kwam, zo snel werd hij ook weer gedoofd. Blijft altijd een bijzondere discografie in het moderne R&B wereldje. Twee keer was het ook wel een hit, en bij mij in zekere mate ook. Frank Ocean neemt je aan de hand van een radiokanaal mee in het leven van de zwarte jeugd in California. Maar niet de stadse jeugd, gevangen in de 'hood', zoals je die vaak tegenkomt in Amerikaanse urban genres. In ''Channel Orange'' bekijk je het leven door de bril van een zwarte jongen in de suburbs, die te maken heeft met dezelfde maar ook hele andere ''middle-class struggles''. Al schijnt het niet over z'n persoonlijke leven te gaan, is 'Super Rich Kids' een goed voorbeeld van deze bijzondere invalshoek. Zwarte cultuur wordt eigenlijk bijna klakkeloos gelinkt aan ghetto's en lage sociaal-economische klassen, maar er zijn ook een hoop zwarte gezinnen die zich in andere lagen van de bevolking bevinden. Thema's als existentialisme en identiteitscrises worden dan ook veelvoudig bezongen door Frank Ocean en andere Odd Future-leden, met als meest bekende het werk van Tyler The Creator. Een ander voorbeeld is BROCKHAMPTON. Wat een gevolg is, is dat deze muziek makkelijker rijmt met de smaak van de witte middenklas, doordat het herkenbare issues aanhalen. Frank Ocean is een belangrijke pion geweest in de evolutie die gaande is waarin zwarte urban stijlen steeds meer kunnen rekenen op witte fans, om het maar even heel simpel te beschrijven. 'Super Rich Kids' is fantastisch, en één van mijn favoriete nummers op de plaat. Verder moet ik bekennen dat het album mijn inziens niet echt lekker met de tijd is meegegaan, of in ieder geval niet al te goed met mijn smaak is meegegaan. Veel songs voelen over de top cheesy, vooral door de productie. In 'Pyramids' werkt deze aanpak nog wel, maar die zit al op het randje met z'n dancehall synths. Vanwege zijn creativiteit was dit altijd mijn favoriet van hem, maar ik denk dat de productie op ''Blonde'' veel verfijnder is en beter bestand is tegen de tand des tijds. Er zijn echt wel een hand vol songs op deze plaat die nog steeds positief opvallen, maar dat mag ook wel bij een album van een uur. Én je weet gewoon dat als er een feuturing van André 3000 is, dat het één van de highlights van het muziekstuk is. 7/10 Highlights: Super Rich Kids Pyramids Lost Pink Matter
Frank Ocean zit in mijn hoofd altijd in een vakje met één van de beste hedendaagse hip-hop artiesten. Terwijl ik eigenlijk niet veel van hem ken, buiten natuurlijk Thinkin Bout You. channel ORANGE en Frank Ocean is eigenlijk veel meer een Urban of R&B album dan echt hip-hop. Ik begrijp dan ook wel de positieve kritieken op dit album en ben zelf vaak zelf iets meer liefhebbers van wat tragere/zing-'hip-hop' dan het harde werk. Maar toch moet ik bekennen dat channel ORANGE daarin iets te ver doorslaat. In bijvoorbeeld het nummer Super Rich Kids met Earl Sweatshirt vind ik de coupletten heerlijk; traag en laag op een slome beat. Het refrein is te zoet, te guilty. En hoewel Thinkin Bout You één van de beste seks-tracks is, doet veel andere nummers me ook denken aan Justin Timberlake (vinger-clips in Pilot Jones?). Sweet Life doet me enorm denken aan de meer pop-Stevie Wonder. Hoe raar is trouwens dat stukje Eurodance in Pyramids? Dus ja, het album is doordrenkt met geile soul, maar is voor mij net too much. 6,5/10 Highlights Thinkin bout you
i liked it more than i thought i would. Added to the rotation
Eh, I don’t get the hype. Ok, but I don’t love it.
yes
Long and sparse. I was quite disappointed
I thought it was pretty novel. I know Frank Ocean, but I don't think I've heard many of these songs just the popular pop ones that made it big.
Fantastic song writing and production. I really want to listen to this on a hifi set-up.
Frank’s voice is good but the instrumentals feel very bare and lacking. Very overrated album imo
Very good, first time listening
not my style. stopped after 1st track
Good but a little too generic imho 5/10
If this is on the list I surely hope Blonde is there too as it’s far superior album
Sexy and swanky. I already knew/liked "Thinkin Bout You" and other favorite track was "Sweet Life." A lot of sexy talk which isn't typically my vibe, but it was fun to listen to at a low volume.
Not for me. Tried a couple songs but it fell flat so I didn't finish it
Meh. Was ready to like after few tracks but my goodwill evaporated in boredom. 55 minutes of not much going on.
Meh, Just not my thing.
I found this utterly boring but I also recognise it's well made. This might even grow on me but I'll never know. Too much other, better music to listen to. It is quite varied, with interesting quirks but then he usually falls back to the R&B I just don't like. Still a 3. Not sure if this is a Must Hear album.
Did not like it. Not my thing at all.
Peak music
Mislio sam da ću odmah nakeljiti jedinicu kad sam pročitao o cemu se radi... ali reko ajde, neću biti zatucan i dat cu priliku i onda vidim ima zanimljivih colaba pa idem... Cujem paljenje plejke reko to je to XD Jebote, album je toliko chill, funky, jebeni aranžmani, toliko bogato, toliko instrumenata, prekrasni synthevi, prejebeni retro bubnjevi, cak mi nije ni njegov glas bio problem, dapače!! Fakat ima jeeeebenih stvari. Ali najviše od svega nisam ocekivao skoro DESETOMINUTNU progressivr psychedelic soul pjesmu... Ovo zaslužuje stvarno ozbiljo slusanje, sigurno cu ga jos koji puta poslušati.. Ovo mi je otvorilo vidike. Hvala! 8/10 Kad sam čuo paljenje plejke n
Ma nema boga da ću ovo preslušati sve, uz najbolju namjeru. Prva definitivna 1/5 i 1/10.
Mrš.
8.5/10 Doslo vrijeme i za nesto novije, sto mi je bas drago. Iako je proslo vec 12 godina od ovog albuma, jos uvijek zvuci jako svjeze i jedan je od najcjenjenijih u "alternativnom" R&B-u i indie glazbi opcenito u zadnjoj dekadi. Nisam ga nikad slusao u cijelosti a kad je izasao sam ga skroz izignorirao i nakeljio label "Fabo glazba koja mi se nece svidjeti". Zadnjih godina sam, izmedju ostalih, R&B sve vise zavolio kao zanr, a Thinkin Bout You i Fertilizer sam si zadnjih mjeseci pustio vec previse puta for my own good. Cak mi je i intro super jer koristi zvuk paljenja Playstationa jedinice i Street Fightera sto me na samom pocetku malo podmitilo jer eto, nostalgija. Kako album ide, samo nalazim nove favorite - Pyramids, White i Lost mi odmah sjedaju i kuzim da se popis samo povecava. Takodjer, dosta ljudi je suradjivalo na ovom albumu koje dosta cijenim, poput Tylera, Andre 3000 iz Outkasta, John Mayera i Pharrella. U isto vrijeme, puno zanrova i stilova se ispreplece ovdje - od soul-popa, nesto psihodelije, jazza, funka, hip-hopa, gdje je sve pomijesano u meni jako tasty blend. Ovo mi je ne samo prolaz, vec uzivam u svakoj minuti i u toj honeymoon fazi prema ovom albumu se bas trudim da mu ne dam jos visu ocjenu.
It was fine, not really my taste but okay to do a few house jobs to.
# Playlist track - Super Rick Kids # Notes - This album is so weird. But it's also so interesting. - I love the "Street Fighter" sounds at the opening track. - I'm not really a hip hop guy, but there are so many things to hear on this album. It was hard to choose a favorite track. - Might be just me, but it doesn't seem that Ocean is a great singer. lol. That doesn't get in the way, tho. - Recommended for all. Five stars.
some good songs, but not my favourite
Incredible. Adding it to the roster. The Andre 3000 feature was so good.
Lost White Monks Bad religion Felt Andre3000 in pink matter Lost me at Forrest Gump Overall excellent album, great listen
I just cannot buy into music like this which lacks melody. Lyrically it is surprisingly wide in scope but track after track of the downbeat mood is just a bit too much for me.
9. absolute classic, one of my favourites. So so beautiful.
Some tracks were felt a bit too poppy, others were really enjoyable. 3.5 rounded to 4 just because of Pyramids being a great ttrack.
My creative goat, this has wonderful tunes and creativity on full display, but tons of taste too and restraint. Blonde is even better tho
Tycker det här var bra till riktigt bra. Trodde inte det men skivan levererade många bra låtar. Skönt stund, bra att jobba till Kommer förmodligen lyssna igen.
Fan, riktigt jävla bra skiva. Sämsta låten är nog den första, thinking about you, och då tänkte jag "fan, vill höra bra musik". Vilket definitivt sker på nästan resten av albumet. (Räknar bara de riktiga låtarna). Otroligt skön stämning. Första riktigt bra låten är sweet life och därefter, med undantag för pilot Jones är det riktigt hög nivå. Jag fastande omedelbart och har redan lyssnat mer (skivan har gått på repeat sen igår). Kommer garanterat lyssna mer, lägga till låtar på egna listor etc. Äntligen! Extra kul då jag aldrig lyssnat på FO. Har ju sett han i periferin. Kul att se Earl på en låt. Lyssnat lite på honom tidigare (han har en skön låt som heter "Chum"). Pyramids är nog bäst. Men det är jämnt skägg. Betyg då. Svårt. Det är definitivt en fyra. Jag lutar känslomässigt även högre. Jag kanske ska bjuda på en femma. Man lever bra en gång.
R&B har väl aldrig varit min genre riktigt, men det här är ju riktigt riktigt jäkla bra. Känns sjukt att inte haft bättre koll på honom.
There were moments when this album shone like the finest elements of Outkast, however they were but fleeting. Still, a decent listen nonetheless
Good album not my style
With Frank Ocean, it's always gonna be either early mixtape *Nostalgia, Ultra* or this official debut album . I recognize *Blonde*'s impact later in 2016, but I would lie if I said that other Frank Ocean LP does as much for me. Whereas in *Channel Orange*, you got everything that makes this stellar artist hit all the right spots. At least *my* right spots. I almost never had the chance to understand (and then love) this album because of a pretty weird cut on its first side, "Sierra Leone"--really the second song on this record (filled with moody interludes I won't touch upon so as to leave room to discuss the real songs in this review). Now "Sierra Leone" is part of this record's perfect track flow in my mind, but at the time it was a no-go, so strange and seemingly pointless that it made me stop listening. Fortunately, I quickly fell in love with the individual highlights from this LP, which lead me right back to it as a whole. Needless to say, hose highlights slap.There is the delicate and subtle "Thinkin About You" (displaying an unobtrusive mood that would also be used to great effect on later cut "Pilot Jones"), the gently grooving "Sweet Life", Elton John's "Benny-And-The-Jets"-inspired "Super Rich Kids", and, of course, the absolutely epic two-part "Pyramids", where stripper 'Cleopatra' roams through Bladerunner-like soundscapes / cityscapes, her sad tale cryptically narrated by a protagonist who could either be her pimp, her soulmate or her best friend. The second part of the song is melancholic as f*ck, and imbued all sorts of fascinating, fully cinematic layers. High class art R'n'B here. And then it goes on and on for side two as well. "Lost" is a perfect smooth pop song with a killer synth hook. "Monks", just like "Crack Rock" some time before, brings some much needed funk-rock dynamism to the tracklisting. And "Bad Religion" is a terrific ballad supported by impressive string arrangements, and a song as awe-inspiring in the economy of the words it uses to effectively tell its story as it is mesmerizing on a purely musical level. Malay is one hell of a producer, and whether some of the unexpected chords modulations -- along with their wonderful, catchy harmonies -- come from him or Ocean himself, I gotta say they did a legendary work together in this record. The album keeps you on your toes until its very last seconds. And to this day, it still exudes a certain mystery as to the manner it brilliantly manages to hold all its odd swipes and discrete forays and sudden left turns into a single cohesive whole. Closer "Forrest Gump" unexpectedly ends *Channel Orange* on a surprisingly light-hearted, almost tongue-in-cheek note. The song is used in a humorous manner to close the subject when it comes to the nameless man who broke Frank's heart by not reciprocating the latter's feeling about him -- a subject that was way more painful on "Bad Religion"! Ocean finally sees his obsession for what it is, the first step to heal and mend his broken heart. When you rewind back to the beginning of the album, you soon realize what a rich, emotional journey it has been. There's indeed something that's also a little dissolute and slightly cynical about some of the album's vibes, at least in its first half--in keeping with the world of the "Super Rich Kids", from the song that bears their name. But then, it soon dawns upon you the record is really about Frank coming to terms with who he really is, and you understand why the journey had to start that way, by giving impressionistic portrayals of the sorts of environments he lives in -- the whole context behind the main plot of the unrequited love yarn. To be fair, I can't think of any other record that that makes the topic of bisexuality feel so vital, so artistically sound and emotionally engaging. And that's the cream on an already quite perfect cake. Number of albums left to review: 60 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 406 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 233 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 302
I somehow missed the whole Frank Ocean thing. I remember everyone talking about him and all my friends listening to him, but I never did for whatever reason. I was pretty sure I'd never heard one of his songs, but I realized I knew "Thinkin Bout You" and just never knew who sang it. I really liked this album. It sounds fresh, and it's vibey. He's got a great voice — sort of like a cross between Usher and Stevie Wonder. The lyrics are clever and often funny. The mix of R&B, soul, electronic, and rock is a good combo and reminds me of Prince or Janelle Monae. The guest features from John Mayer (or his guitar, really) and Andre 3000 were cool. The only reason I'm not giving it a 5 is because I'm just never going to be an interlude fan (even though they're more tolerable here than most). It's also kind of long — I wouldn't necessarily say overly so, but because Pyramids is almost 10 minutes, I feel like a couple other songs could've been cut to tighten it up a bit. 4.5/5
I remember this being framed as a ground breaking soul album back when it was released. That it doesn't really sound like that with 2024 ears might be seen as evidence of its influence on pop music since then. It does actually sound quite retro. There's a lot of Stevie Wonder and Prince and Michael Jackson. What I like most is the sparseness of some of the arrangements. Like a lot of albums it is too long.
An absolutely phenomenal R&B album. I know that's not saying much, but this record stays fresh and interesting well beyond any single that it may have produced. Not quite Janelle Monet status but pretty good
when i first listened to this i felt like i was missing too much musical context to truly "get" this album like so many people do but it's still very clear to me how "good" this is regardless of what you know about this kind of music it's clear to me when songs of a more familiar musical vocabulary to me like Lost come in
GOAT
Solid 4/5, loved it as an album, not too familiar with Frank’s work other than Ivy & pink + white. So was nice to listen to a full album of his. His music makes me feel lonely in a soothing but simultaneously heartbreaking way :-)
Bangin
Lost. Stand out track.
A decent R&B album. The vocals were solid. The lyrics were traditional R&B, nothing truly unique. Overall, a four star effort from Frank Ocean.
Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background 2.5 rounding up to 3....Eh, was all right...didn't need to hear it before I die.
I wore this album out in 2012.
All time classic, one of my favourites
Okay I guess
I just liked the songs that I knew. The album as a whole was ok.
This album is a little juvenile, and the songs where Ocean is in full crooner mode can be boring, but the best of the best are fun, inventive tunes. I completely understand why it rocked the worlds of so many high schoolers when it came out (i.e. my peers) and continues to to this day. 3.5/5
Interesting vibe. Good first listen.
I was ready to rubbish this one. Not the worst. Deserved a listen. But I’ve been on a bad streak.
such a great debut, a modern classic
I made the mistake of going into this album expecting fun 80’s funk. Alas, I had mixed up Frank Ocean with Billy Ocean. I know that Frank is quite loved, but this genre of music has never really done much for me. The intro did leave me interested (admittedly because of the PS1 sounds) but after than it fell a little flat for my ears. I understand that people love this, I’ve just never really found the appeal myself. Each to their own, and all that stuff.
I think this did ‘advance the genre’ but most of the songs i didn’t actually like very much…? Perhaps if i was more into hip hop this would make me like it more in an appreciation kind of way… but i don’t think I’ll be listening to anything other than crack rock or pyramids again 3/5
Starts off cozy, literally the PS1 startup sound and the intro to Super Street Fighter II Turbo... but thereafter it just didn't fully resonate with me, not to say its not masterfully crafted, a lot of soul was clearly poured into this, this side of R&B just isn't my vibe. It consistently praised as the hottest thing to ever come down the pike but, sadly I suppose, I just down see it and it just feels overly long... 2012 just wasn't a good year overall.
A difficult and rewarding listen. This album is far out of what I would call my comfort zone and took me quite a few listens to really appreciate and has since become one of my favourite albums.
So clunky. Has a couple of my faves but a lotttttt of duds
like what im so confused this is straight up awful i was really excited to check out frank ocean, i heard a lot about him. and then i tune into this album and Im just confused? is there something i missed, some joke or is this a wrong album? it genuinly sounds like a first demo of an album, i mean, fuck, there is a song titled Crack Rock??? what the fuck is this shit?? this is awful even for 2012 jesus christ. flacid boring instrumentals like im listening to a dream pop album and out of tune whacked out vocals NNN
i cant help but float in space your fading face is passing by
Just don't really like the genre. Some songs were good though. Will I listen to again: 1%
Can easily see this as being a future favourite… surprised me
Fairly innovative and sounds are smooth, or rounded.. bmvery pleasant
It is not my thing but I sense great musicality here. My favs from this disc is Pyramids and Lost.
sorry Frank, this is toss
Seems to me largely aimless noodling, even if there is talent, a nice voice, and the odd snippet of excellence. Hard to gauge
Le doy un 10/10. Un hermoso un álbum siempre es grato escucharlo.
Really enjoyed this album. Would listen to again
Not really my kind of music.
He is a good singer and I like the melodies. The song with Earl Sweatshirt is the best. And Pyramids is a crazy ride, some of the weird retro scales remind me of capcom games.
This might go down as a classic R&B/Soul album - Frank is a great vocalist - I liked this quite a bit.
This sucks
The only good thing about this album is that by the time it ended I had already forgotten that I ever listened to it. 1 star or F-.
it's ok, but nothing outstanding - background music
A decent listen but not sure why it is on this list
It's hard to put into words what I like or don't like. I know there was a certain hype around this album so I'm glad I listened to it, but it just didn't resonate with me
When this came out, everyone went crazy for it. I tried listening to it then and was extremely bored. I did not get it at all. I was a big odd future guy and he was with them. The only song I really liked was super rich kids. Listening to it now, I feel the same way. I don't get why this was so revolutionary. There was a whole genre of r&b that sounded just like this and I also found boring. I still see people posting about listening to this album and crying. I don't get it.
Bit boring, I few on there that I liked
GOAT 5/5. Formative album during hs
FO a don
Boring
Yeah, no. This music does nothing for me. The only emotion I felt was annoyance that I had to sit through it.
Hair salon at the mall kinda music.
i understand why it was so popular but it's not for me
Very good but it is not on the level of Blond yet. The highlight was probably Piramids but I liked the ending of it the most. Ofc super rich kids is a classic too
Great songs
Probably a top 20 record for me personally. Loved Frank since I stumbled over Nostalgia, Ultra — and Channel Orange is somewhere near the peak of modern R&B. Soulful without being saccharine, melodic without being showy, contemplative without being dour. Frank makes us feel it.
Some good sngs here, but also quite a bit of filler. The best songs are Sweet Life and Lost.
Prince vibes. Such a versatile album and unique voice. Relevant lyrics
Love it.
love Frank O
I knew some songs, i like the album.
Thinkin Bout You is up there in my favorite songs list. His voice is so mesmerizing, and the way he emotes with his falsetto just serves the song so well. I'm surprised how many of the top ratings mention how he can't sing? Are we listening to the same artist? Anyway, I'm glad I had an excuse to put this one on and get lost in the Channel Orange soundscape for a little while.
Ich weiss ehrlich gesagt nicht, was ich mit diesem Album anfangen soll. Es nicht per se schlecht, aber es gefällt mir einfach überhaupt nicht.
not my cup of tea again
It's a grower. I wonder though whether the best thing about it is the way it crosses genres. Is there anything uniquely good about it? Best tracks: Sweet life, Crack Rock, and White.
Excellent vibes, lots of fun tracks!
I really liked the lyrics. Not my typical genre, but I would listen again.
Probably great, just missed my taste by a mile
Very boring album. Singing is terrible. But lost is a good song
Masterpiece, gay boi art at its finest. When will this fucking twink release another album? Pyramids is an incredible testament to his writing and creativity. Thinking Bout You makes me cry. So many bangers!
Didn't care for this at all. Sorry
There is far too much hate here for this album. Some claiming this album marked the DOWNFALL of a generation. How stupid are you to miss the plot of this album? It actively details the degeneration of society as a whole and a young man stuck in the middle of morality and freedom. Perplexed, as to why one must sacrifice parts of themselves to become a productive member of society. Frank has such an eclectic music taste that contributes the overall betterment of the album. Using structure from the Beatles on songs like Fertilizer and then utlilizing ambience as an instrument to convey uncomfortable silences. It becomes a heartfelt nostalgic seperation from childhood dreams to adult realities and problems that come with it.
To be honest, R&B and soul aren’t really my thing, especially when it comes to modern R&B and soul. I remember when this album came out, and I skimmed through it briefly but never really gave it a proper listen. I overlooked it and never came back to it—until now. Finally listening to Channel Orange from beginning to end, I have to admit, I really enjoyed it. Frank Ocean as a vocalist initially came off as a bit cliché and average to me, but as the album went on, I found myself appreciating his singing more. The production is really good, with a laid-back, chill, and atmospheric, dreamy feel that pulls you in.
Unreal how good this album is. Like The Love Below 10 years later, even with an appearance from Andre 3000 himself spitting an amazing verse. Super catchy and the production is nearly perfect. Lots of sick drumming too love the Hendrix sample
Chill
You haven't lived until you've hit a bongload of DMT to "Pyramids"
He trick me into giving him more stars by starting the album with PlayStation boot and Street Fighter character selection menu sounds...
I remember there was a lot of hype around this album when it came out. I also remember thinking that what I heard from it was not worth the hype. About like I remember it. Not great - for me anyway. Kinda funky in places though. "Sweet Life" was a highlight.
Pretty great. I am not keen on the backing tracks but the lyrics are great poetry, very personal. Needs a re-listen.
Super vibey R&B, Frank heeft een prachtige stem en een aantal absolute hoogtepunten met Lost, Thinkin Bout you en Pink Matter. Maar toch, de rest van het album haalt de highs hier niet. Ik merk dat ik toch wat verveeld begin te raken en me meerdere keren afvraag hoelang het album nog duurt. Ontzettend jammer! Want de highs zijn zo geweldig hier! En aan de stem van Frank kan het ook niet liggen, maar ik merk gewoon dat ontzettend veel nummers niet echt of helemaal niet landen... Dus ondanks dat ik sommige nummers echt compleet grijs heb gedraaid, kom ik toch niet hoger dan 3 sterren uit. Tot mijn eigen verbazing ook eerlijk gezegd! FAVO: Thinkin bout you, Super rich kids, Lost, Pink matter, Forrest Gump
Loses a point for not being as good as blonde or endless
Didn't hate this. A few songs were choice.
Beautifully crafted, raw, honest examination of the central themes of relationships within the context of addiction and economic difficulty.
Classic, Blonde clears it by a mile
Drake for pseudo-intellectuals? I quite liked this one, especially Super Rich Kids (and the PSX theme at the intro)
I liked more songs than I initially thought I would. Honestly I'd give a 3.5, almost a 4.
Pleasantly surprised, I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. Not entirely my taste, but still a solid album.
It's a great groove, I like how he creates worlds in his lyrics. I don't think it's quite a 5, but there's a lot of dumbasses in the reviews thinking that if there's no guitars is terrible so here's my little bit of help with that.
Wow! Frank Ocean seems to fill that beauty-fusion space in between didactic, rhyme driven rap and melody driven pop/rock that so few have been able to populate. Lest I say his name, he’s like a Kayne with something to say. Lyrics like “Nah, I’m lying…down” from “Thinkin’ About You” (with such impeccable timing) and the entirety of “Crack Rock” and “Sweet Life” are art, allowing an inside view and understanding of another subjective reality.
Wow. I initially laughed at and rejected this. I made fun of it with Milla. I mocked it when Eduardo, Osama, and I were chatting on the weekend. And now I've listened to it. In its entirety. More than once. And I'm fascinated. By the music, by the lyrics, by the interludes, by the rich nature of its tapestry and its amalgamation of influences. I hear more than a half century of musical referencing through this album. It also makes me wonder if I'm wasting my life. I want to live in some of these songs. Well--maybe just take a vacation in them. I've never been so wrong in my first impressions. This album sticks and surprises.....my only reservation is that because of its veneer, because of its first impressions, it might get tangled in genre limitations and fail to reach beyond its initial audience. I never would have given this album a chance if it had not been for this exercise and two very persuasive friends.
I’ve been listening to this for the last 6 years and admittedly it took me a while to get into it, but again once it clicked, I really enjoyed most of it. Love pyramids, crack rock, pilot jones, and thinking about you. Most of it is very feel good and reminds me of being young and at the start of a relationship. Can hear Stevie, prince, and Marvin all throughout this album. Would have loved to listen to this in my mid 20s!
This was great.
Varies between insipid and dull, with the occasional hint of interest (Lost, Bad Religion). Fades into the background without being truly annoying, so 2 stars instead of 1
R&B without the same old tired lyrics! Love it.
It's got some excellent songs and some fairly average songs that I just don't get. His voice is obscenely good and he should be making more music than what he's already achieved
I thought this album was decent, not like the best ever but not terrible Top tracks: Thinking Bout You, Lost
Amazing summer vibes. Just a perfect album to put on for a long sunny road trip. I much prefer Channel Orange to Blonde, probably due to the cool vibes on this one. Also lol at all the dad rock fans losing it in the comments
I heard it for the first time. I like it. Surprised me. I think I'll like it less the 2nd time without the element of surprise. Favorite song: lost
This album is clearly very influential on the next decade or so of pop music, and it has some great moments - Thinking Bout You and Pyramids stood out to me. I thought Blonde was a bit more coherent as a full album but this was still great.
The music is the vibe of tropical beach flavoured vacation house. But the interludes are very, I'm angry at my mother and the people I went to boarding school with. It did open up a few questions about his sexuality and why he writes the music he writes. Pretty good debut album.
First time listen. Overall strong album. Favorite track: Lost.
not for me
This was a good album but not a lot jumped out to make it particularly interesting or catchy.
Even if modern soul/R&B isn't my favourite genre by a long shot, you can't deny Frank Ocean's voice and his songwriting abilities. This and Blonde are both great albums. All I will say is that Pyramids sticks out like a sore thumb by being so damn good.
7/10
My first Frank Ocean experience. Very enjoyable, very chill.
Sweet Life was awesome with a fantastic bass line, Lost was pretty cool as well. Helps balance out some of the more mediocre elements of the album
Well this was some good shit. I don't know if it's transcendant as many make it to be, but it's a hell of a groove. I do think this is one of the few albums, regardless of genre, that gets what sadness is. There's plenty of agony and ecstacy, I mean, that's what the blues are built on, right? But they don't do nuance -- and this album is all nuance. All the troubles -- sex, money, home, family, legacy -- they're all just there as inescapable as in the ambient buzz around us all.
I can appreciate how fans of this genre would really enjoy this album, but that’s just not me.
With autotune, the robot take over of "music" is complete. It produces in me the same emotional response as linoleum.
Nothing remarkable about it. I don’t know why it is on this list.
I mean, the most 5s an album can get. Modern classic.
Clearly I'm in the minority but I've never _quite_ understood the hype. For the most part all I hear a decent but second-rate Stevie Wonder imitation, interspersed with mumbled rap and/or a grating falsetto. It's not all mild disappointment though. Pyramids provides a much needed up-tempo shot of adrenalin in its first half, and Crack Rock and Lost on either side of it are pretty solid or at least interesting too.