I, as well as probably every other Frank Ocean stan, have listened to nothing but "Channel Orange" since it's iTunes release a little over a week ago [btw, go buy the actual album in stores today. support good music]. I've been a huge Frank fan ever since finding "Nostalgia, Ultra" a year back and then downloading his "Lonny Breaux Collection" mixtape off of Datpiff. If you're looking for the same Frank as you had in Nostalgia, you may be disappointed. There are virtually no parallels between the two albums and it's hard to imagine that they even came from the same artists; Not intending to take away from the sincerity behind songs on Nostalgia, but it's extremely evident after a couple listens through how much more personally meaningful Frank's lyrics are on Channel Orange. Channel Orange tells the story of his teen years and first love. It's a great summer album with lyricism that embodies enough ambiguity to keep listener's attention even the 1,000th time through the project. I loved Nostalgia, Ultra (it's probably one of my top 5 albums of all time), but Channel Orange is a historic piece with more analogous stories and vivid lyricism than I've ever grasped from an album.
My rating: 9/10.
Here's my ratings of each song:
1) "Start" 9/10. Some introductions to mixtapes/albums are really not even introductions, just a jump in to a decent headlining track. Don't get this confused; "Start" is the posterchild for introductions. It's an audible picture of Frank's days as a kid. He is laughing with his friends, and then seems to just be alone by himself as he starts up his PS1. I think this intro did a great job of representing the setting (playstation 1 is fucking ancient), and the mood to the album.
2) "Thinking Bout You" 10/10. To be honest, when I saw this track that released over a year ago was gonna be on his album I was a little bummed. I expected all new songs for me to interpret, not one to which i already knew all the lyrics like the back of my hand. But, I was wrong. The re-mastered version of this track (and the significance of it after reading his note about his first love) added new dimensions to the track, and a greater appreciation for it. The monotonous delivery during his verses contrasted with his unmatched falsetto in the chorus made for a great song, one that even my mom bobs her head to in the car.
3) "Fertilizer" 8/10. This interlude was funny. But I wish it was a full track. It's got a cool like 1960's, The Chordettes-type sound. I also love the line "Fertilizer, i'll take bull shit if that's all you got". Another good metaphor by the kid Frank. However, it seemed oddly pointless and shouldn't have been the third track on the tape.
4) "Sierra Leone" 8/10. This track is extremely chill, and I love the wordplay at the beginning of the track when Frank is seeming to talk through his split-conscience with the "I just ran out of Trojans" followed by "Horses gallop to her throne". I think this song has some levels of creative genius behind it that I haven't yet found out but it still makes for a good track to listen to, with a lulling chorus.
5) "Sweet Life" 9/10. When this song for released as a single, I wasn't crazy about it. However, as i continued to listen to it I grew more and more entranced by the Pharrell-produced beat and the smooth Frank delivery. It tells the story of a [girl/guy/tranny/idk] who has everything she needs, but continues to search for more, and Frank's frustration with that person. My favorite line and the summary of the song is "Why see the world when you've got the beach?"
6) "Not Just Money" 6/10. pretty stupid interlude.. it seemed pointless and idk the movie it came from. but, it WAS just an interlude so no reason to get too down about it in my rating. it's something that's only 1 minute long so there's no real point in skipping
7) "Super Rich Kids" 9/10. I couldn't help but feel this track was dedicated to Odd Future in general haha. It's the story of wealthy children, and their ever-so-prevailing struggles with life. I think it's cool that Frank acknowledges the upper class woes because it's something you never really hear about. It's easy to talk about the issues that coincide with poverty, but hearing it from a new perspective was also refreshing. Earl's verse is pretty dope too
8) "Pilot Jones" 8/10. Seemingly the song of Frank's infatuation with a fucked up girl, this piece is cool on a couple of levels; one, it adds softness to something rigid and two, i didn't know what a "pilot jones" was lol. I love the symbolism of "you took me high, then you took me home" relating love,drugs, and air travel all into one pool together. I wasn't crazy about the beat.
9) "Crack Rock" 8/10. One of my favorite beats off of the tape. I really like the analogies of the glass home and the crack rock breaking that home. Me, having ZERO experience with hard drugs can't really relate to it all that much though, and i get the vibe that Frank doesn't really relate to it all that much either. It seemed like a bit of a filler song, but it's also one of my favorites to listen to. Weird paradox i know..
10) "Pyramids" 10/10. Both halves of this song are flawless (but I'm a little partial to the second half especially!). This track is super cool and totally negates any thoughts that FRank is flat out gay haha. It tells the story of a woman that Frank loves and used to be able to please very easily, but now he has to work extremely hard for and the love that they make seems fake ("You say its big but you take it.."). I love the beat, the mixing, the lyricism, the metaphor, everything. flawless
11) "Lost" 10/10. This is my favorite song on the album. I'm not saying it's the best, but it's my favorite. Tremendous beat, catchy chorus, and awesome story. There's not any mixed-in ambiguity really with this one, it's just a straight up catchy-ass song which is probably the most radio-ready on the album. It sounds like a 90's rock song, especially with the "luo-luo-looooost" at the end of the song. I could bump this on repeat for a whole day and never tire of it. great
12) "White" 7/10. chill break from the rest of the album, with a smooth guitar solo from John Mayer. Just the fact that he got John Mayer for the track is pretty cool to me, but i love the version of "White" that actually had Frank's singing off of the Odd Future tape. When the tracklist released i was hoping for an extended version of that song, but still the wordless interlude is refreshing.
13) "Monks" 8/10. I love the story in this song as well, relating crazy party moshers at concerts to those monks moshing for peace and freedom. It shows the consistencies throughout the human body and how we all are fighting for something. I am not personally crazy about the beat, but love the chorus. Juxtapose... but it's a really good listen if you listen for lyrics.
14) "Bad Religion" 10/10. This is that raw Frank emotion that is uncanny. I love the setting, with Frank in the back of a Taxi Cab venting to his driver. This song is pretty obviously about his hard times dealing with his first love being a man, not a woman, and how the public would take it. It also talks about how hard it is to love someone whom you know you shouldn't love, and whom can't love you back. What makes this song for me is how much emphasis Frank puts on his words in his delivery, and the allusion to Romeo and Juliet with the cyanide in my styrofoam cup. I loved the performance of this track on Fallon's late night and think it's one of my favorites off the album.
15) "Pink Matter" 10/10. Another classic. The beat starts out extremely mellow, as does Frank's approach to it. The visuals behind this song would be awesome to see and i really hope for a video, because it progresses in intensity throughout. I love the subject matter, and of course Andre 3k kills it with the future. Great track and it's been on repeat for a while now!
16) "Forrest Gump" 6/10. It's catchy, i'll give it that. But i don't think any male Frank fan will listen through this track entirely. He's talking about dude that's been on his mind and is buff and strong and shit like that that i just don't really care to hear about. I'm fine with Frank's sexuality, and the least bit homophobic, but it's just not something i'd choose to listen to.
17) "End" 10/10. great close
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