At long, long last.
― Le Bateau Ivre, Monday, 1 August 2016 21:09 (eight years ago)
maybe he's learned to sing better
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 1 August 2016 21:16 (eight years ago)
I always feel insane when I remember he came up with Odd Future.
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 2 August 2016 16:19 (eight years ago)
for some reason in the wake of stuff like D'Angelo's return and Kendrick and Chance and Maxwell I... kinda don't give a fuck about this guy anymore?
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 2 August 2016 16:28 (eight years ago)
not to mention that in 2012 Miguel, Usher, Keyshia Cole, and Jeremih had all released more consistent material.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 2 August 2016 16:33 (eight years ago)
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, August 2, 2016 12:28 PM (5 minutes ago) Bookmark
i only listen to three artists too fuck..........
― J0rdan S., Tuesday, 2 August 2016 16:35 (eight years ago)
I have limited resources of $$$ and attention so yes I narrow things down
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 2 August 2016 16:35 (eight years ago)
great thread guys
― billstevejim, Friday, 5 August 2016 16:47 (eight years ago)
great album
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Friday, 5 August 2016 16:51 (eight years ago)
jk
https://pics.onsizzle.com/Instagram-Frank-Oceans-new-album-track-list-1ee277.png
― thrill of transgressin (Eazy), Friday, 5 August 2016 17:08 (eight years ago)
lol
― marcos, Friday, 5 August 2016 17:19 (eight years ago)
so where is it
― flappy bird, Friday, 5 August 2016 17:20 (eight years ago)
so many goofy roll-outs this year
― dc, Friday, 5 August 2016 17:22 (eight years ago)
honestly dude should've never given any sort of release date. ppl would still wonder but no one would be mad bc no one would've had prior expectations of its existence, a la d'angelo.
― if young slothrop don't trust ya i'm gon' rhyme ya (slothroprhymes), Friday, 5 August 2016 17:29 (eight years ago)
at least the conversation topic is no longer "i don't care about this dude because usher exists"
― billstevejim, Friday, 5 August 2016 17:48 (eight years ago)
lol it more or less still is on certain parts of twitter, believe you me
― if young slothrop don't trust ya i'm gon' rhyme ya (slothroprhymes), Friday, 5 August 2016 17:54 (eight years ago)
http://pitchfork-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/content/Slack%20for%20iOS%20Upload-1.png.jpeg
― flappy bird, Friday, 5 August 2016 18:20 (eight years ago)
https://twitter.com/SociaIizing/status/761652809645322240
― Spottie, Friday, 5 August 2016 20:36 (eight years ago)
This album is never coming out
― you think Lou Bega gave up after Mambo Number One??? (voodoo chili), Friday, 5 August 2016 23:45 (eight years ago)
honestly dude should've never given any sort of release date
did he ever actually give a release date?
― fact checking cuz, Saturday, 6 August 2016 00:06 (eight years ago)
no, just the new york times iirc
― art baengels (monotony), Saturday, 6 August 2016 02:20 (eight years ago)
i mean people were more or less leaving him alone to do the album on his own schedule for almost 3 years after Channel Orange before he put up a tumblr post in april of last year implying that it was coming out in july, which a FO rep confirmed to billboard. so yeah he set off all this stuff himself, even if the reaction has been ridiculous.
― Best Beloved Trump-Pence (some dude), Saturday, 6 August 2016 02:23 (eight years ago)
in all likelihood it is imminent because apple music (one assumes? hopes?) would not have shelled out the exclusivity agreement money plus the funding for this bizarro livestream without some reasonable assurance that it would come out sometime after the whole art project. but it'll come out at some entirely arbitrary moment.
― if young slothrop don't trust ya i'm gon' rhyme ya (slothroprhymes), Saturday, 6 August 2016 14:59 (eight years ago)
yeah Frank Ocean would never take a large sum of money from a corporation and then just not deliver what he agreed to give them
http://pitchfork.com/news/54297-frank-ocean-to-chipotle-fuck-off/
― Best Beloved Trump-Pence (some dude), Saturday, 6 August 2016 15:31 (eight years ago)
from what i've heard apple expected to have the album by friday & is baffled/frustrated that he didn't deliver it
― J0rdan S., Saturday, 6 August 2016 15:43 (eight years ago)
if he does Apple like he did Chipotle he truly is the new God
― alpine static, Saturday, 6 August 2016 16:08 (eight years ago)
Jimmy Iovine frantically redialing Frank's number all morning.
― thrill of transgressin (Eazy), Saturday, 6 August 2016 16:32 (eight years ago)
yeah Frank Ocean would never take a large sum of money from a corporation and then just not deliver what he agreed to give them http://pitchfork.com/news/54297-frank-ocean-to-chipotle-fuck-off/ --Best Beloved Trump-Pence (some dude)
http://pitchfork.com/news/54297-frank-ocean-to-chipotle-fuck-off/ --Best Beloved Trump-Pence (some dude)
a jingle for an ad campaign is, ah, substantially different from an album that (you'd think) he was going to make anyway, but w/e
but if he returns the check and is like fuck y'all, then there you go
― if young slothrop don't trust ya i'm gon' rhyme ya (slothroprhymes), Saturday, 6 August 2016 20:48 (eight years ago)
i was joking, i don't think he's really gonna not deliver the album. just saying, Frank has a history of 'i play by my own rules' shenanigans.
― Best Beloved Trump-Pence (some dude), Sunday, 7 August 2016 17:00 (eight years ago)
― flappy bird, Monday, 8 August 2016 18:27 (eight years ago)
over there
― Οὖτις, Monday, 8 August 2016 18:35 (eight years ago)
go listen to Fantasia, people.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 8 August 2016 18:41 (eight years ago)
you mean franktasia
― 6 god none the richer (m bison), Monday, 8 August 2016 18:57 (eight years ago)
this is happening
― yolo mostly (sleepingbag), Friday, 19 August 2016 02:43 (eight years ago)
http://boysdontcry.co/
A play-by-play for this is kind of hard because it's all a shapeless blur...
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Friday, 19 August 2016 02:52 (eight years ago)
oh ffs frankie
― if young slothrop don't trust ya i'm gon' rhyme ya (slothroprhymes), Friday, 19 August 2016 02:53 (eight years ago)
actual music is playing
― if young slothrop don't trust ya i'm gon' rhyme ya (slothroprhymes), Friday, 19 August 2016 03:01 (eight years ago)
it sounds...pretty good?
I've been meaning to fuck with you on ILM
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 19 August 2016 03:08 (eight years ago)
I'm watching the terminator
feel like frank would want it this way
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Friday, 19 August 2016 03:17 (eight years ago)
there's some really good stuff in here but alas ilm is over the man another casualty of 2016 rip
― yolo mostly (sleepingbag), Friday, 19 August 2016 03:19 (eight years ago)
idk I think I can wait until he's not drilling over playback
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Friday, 19 August 2016 03:26 (eight years ago)
sometimes i'm not sure who ilm isn't over (except, inexplicably tbh, the 1975)
― if young slothrop don't trust ya i'm gon' rhyme ya (slothroprhymes), Friday, 19 August 2016 03:28 (eight years ago)
Be careful on that scaffolding, Frank!
― spastic heritage, Friday, 19 August 2016 03:39 (eight years ago)
"it" is on Apple Music now
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Friday, 19 August 2016 03:54 (eight years ago)
Rolling Stone has confirmed that Endless is a different project from Boys Don't Cry, the singer's highly-anticipated follow-up to 2012's Channel Orange. Apple will release that album this weekend.
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Friday, 19 August 2016 05:09 (eight years ago)
lol at the last track of this
― ufo, Friday, 19 August 2016 10:08 (eight years ago)
lol @ how do I crop your new bitch out my vine
― johnny crunch, Friday, 19 August 2016 11:33 (eight years ago)
"Ugh, this sounds like James Blake or something." * Reads an article, finds out it was recorded with James Blake :( *
― Evan R, Friday, 19 August 2016 15:19 (eight years ago)
i'm enjoying endless a great deal. it's bleak and wintry and lonely, and frank is the fire that keeps you warm
― j. winters (josh), Friday, 19 August 2016 15:24 (eight years ago)
does he build a bonfire out of that staircase
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Friday, 19 August 2016 15:26 (eight years ago)
i hope he installs a guiderail to go along with it
― j. winters (josh), Friday, 19 August 2016 15:27 (eight years ago)
It sounds OK. Got kind of a demo-y quality to it. Kind of like his spin on a JJ mixtape? There's a place for it but it's hard to get too excited knowing there's a (presumably) real album just around the corner.
― Evan R, Friday, 19 August 2016 15:30 (eight years ago)
that closing track though :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
― Evan R, Friday, 19 August 2016 15:55 (eight years ago)
The first of today's many annoyances: a certain publication named Frank Ocean a singer-songwriter and Jazmine Sullivan an "R&B performer."
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 19 August 2016 15:59 (eight years ago)
I'm already seeing "brilliantly confounding" and "gorgeous mystery." I'm homicidal already.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 19 August 2016 16:00 (eight years ago)
i think the album's good but that's certainly a reach lol
― j. winters (josh), Friday, 19 August 2016 16:03 (eight years ago)
i guess i'm halfway through this and dude doubled down on the aspects of him i found least interesting i.e. fragmentary songs tied together by a kind of "stream of consciousness" design. hope the "album" is meatier
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Friday, 19 August 2016 16:09 (eight years ago)
this feels entirely useless to me outside the isley cover
― J0rdan S., Friday, 19 August 2016 16:29 (eight years ago)
the fake kraftwerk song at the end that i think is shaming me for having a phone, that one's fun
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Friday, 19 August 2016 16:36 (eight years ago)
nm that's apparently a song by wolfgang tillmans
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Friday, 19 August 2016 16:55 (eight years ago)
i thought using that song was a bit of a self-own on frank's part, but who knows
― if young slothrop don't trust ya i'm gon' rhyme ya (slothroprhymes), Friday, 19 August 2016 17:18 (eight years ago)
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, August 19, 2016 12:00 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
imo that sort of overpraise was way too predictable to be mad at
― if young slothrop don't trust ya i'm gon' rhyme ya (slothroprhymes), Friday, 19 August 2016 17:20 (eight years ago)
the brilliantly confounding self-own
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Friday, 19 August 2016 17:25 (eight years ago)
self-own = cell phone. hm
you used to call me on my self-own
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 19 August 2016 17:26 (eight years ago)
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, August 19, 2016 11:59 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
tbf these are derived from the artists, JS has always been comfortable being called R&B, FO hasn't
― Best Beloved Trump-Pence (some dude), Friday, 19 August 2016 17:36 (eight years ago)
yes he transcends R&B
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 19 August 2016 17:37 (eight years ago)
Transcends it into sweet nothingness.
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Friday, 19 August 2016 18:14 (eight years ago)
I tried listening to this while hangry and almost threw away my phone.
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Friday, 19 August 2016 18:15 (eight years ago)
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 19 August 2016 17:26 (1 hour ago) Permalink
LOL
― flopson, Friday, 19 August 2016 19:36 (eight years ago)
I wrote about ithttp://time.com/4460139/frank-ocean-visual-album-endless/
― maura, Saturday, 20 August 2016 02:19 (eight years ago)
So... there's a video with naked women on horses and tits being sucked now.
http://www.thefader.com/2016/08/20/frank-ocean-nikes-video
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Saturday, 20 August 2016 12:13 (eight years ago)
http://pitchfork.com/news/67679-frank-ocean-drops-new-album-blonde-listen/?mbid=social_facebook
It's go
― Crazy Eddie & Jesus the Kid (Raymond Cummings), Saturday, 20 August 2016 23:14 (eight years ago)
it's no
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 20 August 2016 23:23 (eight years ago)
I love the guitar arrangement/layering on "Ivy."
― flappy bird, Sunday, 21 August 2016 00:37 (eight years ago)
That list of contributors though.
― Popture, Sunday, 21 August 2016 01:39 (eight years ago)
Could have done without that minute and a half rant against weed on track 4. Kills a vibe.
― Popture, Sunday, 21 August 2016 01:48 (eight years ago)
― Popture
well, I did hear "Here, There, and Everywhere" and Andre 3000.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 21 August 2016 01:49 (eight years ago)
weird, feel like weed is one of the only ways to access frank's songs
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Sunday, 21 August 2016 04:30 (eight years ago)
second track on this is the best frank ocean song I've ever heard
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Sunday, 21 August 2016 04:31 (eight years ago)
yup
― flappy bird, Sunday, 21 August 2016 04:35 (eight years ago)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/82/BlondeAlternate_-_Frank_Ocean.jpeg/900px-BlondeAlternate_-_Frank_Ocean.jpeg
franklife
― r|t|c, Sunday, 21 August 2016 10:33 (eight years ago)
well, it could still need some proper songs.
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Sunday, 21 August 2016 10:39 (eight years ago)
lol @ the proper album being just as nothingy as the demos or whatever they were
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2016 11:49 (eight years ago)
also HE CAN'T SING
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2016 11:50 (eight years ago)
oh god the technophobe facebook interlude
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2016 12:02 (eight years ago)
lonny can singhttps://youtu.be/bTjEGP-TnSA
― johnny crunch, Sunday, 21 August 2016 13:29 (eight years ago)
Did anyone see on the list of guest musicians Fish and Anthony Phillips??...about the most interesting thing about the album unfortunately...On first listen 'Siegfried' was the only thing that stuck and that was written years ago...will probably go back to it but not in a hurry...
― X-Prince Protégé (sonnyboy), Sunday, 21 August 2016 14:18 (eight years ago)
is it just me or is this album terribly mastered
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Sunday, 21 August 2016 14:26 (eight years ago)
i like this better than channel orange but it'd only have to display the slightest animation for me to do that. all of the songs basically have one structure, i.e. start off in a place really ugly and unsettling and slowly get pretty. way too many nothing interludes, and having andre in the center makes the two halves seem duller than they are
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Sunday, 21 August 2016 14:37 (eight years ago)
I really like "nights, "ivy" and "good guy" so far, about halfway through rn
thus far the only novel criticism of it I've seen is coming from brad's points in this thread, lol most everything else positive or negative - particularly negative - is predictable as hell
― if young slothrop don't trust ya i'm gon' rhyme ya (slothroprhymes), Sunday, 21 August 2016 14:47 (eight years ago)
maybe my speakers are breaking but the high synth tones in "siegfried" are making them vibrate in a really unpleasant, ear-splitting way and i guess the way to make me not want to listen to an album again is to master it so uncarefully that parts of it hurt to hear
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Sunday, 21 August 2016 14:50 (eight years ago)
Here's what I wrote on a certain critic's wall last night:
...too monochromatic, too reliant on strumming; he's importing hip-hop (e.g. Andre 3000) into introspective material beholden to a private argot of heartbreak. I listened and waited for a tempo change, any change (maybe I wasn't listening close enough). He's closer to John Legend than his bros Earl Sweatshirt and co. but w/no interest in arenas.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 21 August 2016 14:51 (eight years ago)
xp I haven't gotten to that song yet and am listening on fancy headphones, we'll see. as for the sound in general it's pretty but also kinda...thin I guess? is that part of what you mean? definitely not enough low end.
― if young slothrop don't trust ya i'm gon' rhyme ya (slothroprhymes), Sunday, 21 August 2016 14:59 (eight years ago)
oh yeah the record as a whole is super trebly and glassy
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Sunday, 21 August 2016 15:01 (eight years ago)
the first two songs are the best imo, possibly because the rest of the so-called tunes follow their template
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 21 August 2016 15:03 (eight years ago)
i like "nights" a lot
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Sunday, 21 August 2016 16:05 (eight years ago)
Did anyone see on the list of guest musicians Fish and Anthony Phillips??
Wait, hold on, as in the former Marillion singer and the long-departed Genesis cofounder? He should have asked Steven Wilson in for a UK-prog-through-the-generations trifecta.
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 21 August 2016 16:07 (eight years ago)
Think I would of been more excited by Kerry Minear of Gentle Giant or Richard Sinclair of Caravan but still strangest guest credits of the year if true...
― X-Prince Protégé (sonnyboy), Sunday, 21 August 2016 16:40 (eight years ago)
Contributors for Frank Ocean's Physical Blond AlbumAndre3000Anthony PhillipsArcaBeatlesBenjamin WrightBeyoncé Knowles CarterBob LudwigBrian EnoBuddy RossCaleb LevanChristophe ChassolDavid BowieElliot SmithFishGang of FourJames BlakeJamie XxJason LaderJazmine SullivanJeff EllisJoe ViscianoJonny GreenwoodKanye WestKendrick LamarKim BurrellKohhLootaMalayMatt MyskoMike DeanMichael UzowuruOm’mas KeithPharrell WilliamsRick RubinRostam batmanglijSam Petts-DaviesSean OakleySebastianSpace ManTom ElmhirstTyler, the Creator
― Number None, Sunday, 21 August 2016 16:48 (eight years ago)
Might be samples??...
― X-Prince Protégé (sonnyboy), Sunday, 21 August 2016 16:53 (eight years ago)
you forgot young lean
― ANU (sisilafami), Sunday, 21 August 2016 17:05 (eight years ago)
oh yeah, my C&P must have got cut off
apologies to Yung Lean and 88 Keys
― Number None, Sunday, 21 August 2016 17:11 (eight years ago)
sorry if keeping 'pink & white' and leaving the rest is basic but that's how being otm be sometimes
― r|t|c, Sunday, 21 August 2016 17:38 (eight years ago)
if any trace of songwriting or interesting sound is present on the last three tracks let me know, i gave up the slog
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2016 17:38 (eight years ago)
haha lol me too
actually no i walked away the first time within 5 seconds of andre 3k's appearance (fuck you andre) and then when i returned to it there followed the "did u hear kevin shields rly likes drum n bass" number and then the facebook frog and then i truly was done
― r|t|c, Sunday, 21 August 2016 17:46 (eight years ago)
It's hard to know what to care about; I don't know what he's singing about, he doesn't compel me to care what he's singing about, ugh.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 21 August 2016 17:47 (eight years ago)
It was...okay, I guess. Much like the last album. Heard that once and went "I suppose" and never went back to it, and I kinda figure that'll happen with me and this one.
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 21 August 2016 17:49 (eight years ago)
'pink & white' is the most channel orangey which prob runs counter to some criticism i would have made of that album at the time but in mitigation it does check its dubiously priced coat in vaguely near to scritti's with the "showed me love / glory from above"
― r|t|c, Sunday, 21 August 2016 17:54 (eight years ago)
which is not about his beloved peeing on him, I suppose
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 21 August 2016 17:58 (eight years ago)
probably the only thing tempting me to return is that i still have no idea what this album is about and what it's saying beyond being generally pinteresting (not saying this doesnt exist or is neglible just it didnt come across). channel o i got immediately otoh and beefed w/ it in dialogue
― r|t|c, Sunday, 21 August 2016 17:59 (eight years ago)
Channel Orange had some songs. This has... idk
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Sunday, 21 August 2016 18:20 (eight years ago)
suspect the crine rodman cover facepalm may live longer in the culture than the songs
― r|t|c, Sunday, 21 August 2016 18:41 (eight years ago)
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Sunday, August 21, 2016 6:20 PM (21 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
this has a list of cool collaborators
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2016 18:42 (eight years ago)
from the Rolling Stone review: "In fact, it is so meditative that there are few beats at all."
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 21 August 2016 18:56 (eight years ago)
A few songs in and I'm not feeling this. The melodies are pretty, but the tracks sound like demos. Dude should've waited another four years if that's what it would've taken to get the levels right.
Dude might've gotten a little too high on his own supply.
― you think Lou Bega gave up after Mambo Number One??? (voodoo chili), Sunday, 21 August 2016 19:12 (eight years ago)
idk, i could hear this as a product of procrastination just as equally as a couple of bits he had lying about that he spent indolent indulgent years artfully stonewashing and fraying the seams of just so
the trap is to care at all. maybe that's the point
― r|t|c, Sunday, 21 August 2016 19:25 (eight years ago)
so what you're saying is i should wait until I cop a new stonewashed jean jacket for the autumn or nah
― Crazy Eddie & Jesus the Kid (Raymond Cummings), Sunday, 21 August 2016 20:08 (eight years ago)
(to buy/listen to this album i mean)
I heard this eating lunch in some hipster place in Hudson today after a 2-day airport/hotel journey, fried and exhausted, and it sounded absolutely perfect in that context, even the weed rant
― ro✧✧✧@il✧✧✧.c✧✧ (sleeve), Sunday, 21 August 2016 20:14 (eight years ago)
in mitigation it does check its dubiously priced coat in vaguely near to scritti's with the "showed me love / glory from above"
hm gonna have to revisit this one
the trap is to care at all
isn't it always
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Sunday, 21 August 2016 20:45 (eight years ago)
alright treeship calm down. no i meant for an artist who trades specifically in ambivalence/apathy/fleeting fraught intensities
'pink & white' is just as much the usual n.e.r.d & theology as anything else, i realise, but pickings are slim
― r|t|c, Sunday, 21 August 2016 21:13 (eight years ago)
alright treeship calm down
i won't stand for this
i do hear the scritti tho, sort of a hook that could've appeared on anomie
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Sunday, 21 August 2016 21:17 (eight years ago)
the trap is to keep on breathiing
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 21 August 2016 21:35 (eight years ago)
it's a concept album about how his mom told him not to smoke weed but fuck u mom
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Sunday, 21 August 2016 21:39 (eight years ago)
tbh i think "ivy" sounds like an outtake from to record only water for ten days, and imo frank loves rhcp
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Sunday, 21 August 2016 21:41 (eight years ago)
guess you can't work in the L.A. scene w/out admitting to liking them. Maybe it was the same re Jackson Browne in 1985.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 21 August 2016 21:44 (eight years ago)
I'm listening again and a few of the songs are starting to stand out, like Ivy, Self Control, and Pink + White. But the bulk of it remains a hookless morass.
― you think Lou Bega gave up after Mambo Number One??? (voodoo chili), Sunday, 21 August 2016 23:36 (eight years ago)
At least John Mayer isn't on these albums.
― self-clowning oven (Murgatroid), Sunday, 21 August 2016 23:49 (eight years ago)
I'm happy with 3 good songs.
― billstevejim, Monday, 22 August 2016 00:42 (eight years ago)
At least John Mayer isn't on these albums
so much blooz guitar, coulda fooled me
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Monday, 22 August 2016 01:20 (eight years ago)
so much zzz guitar more like
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 22 August 2016 01:21 (eight years ago)
what it's saying beyond being generally pinteresting
All mood board
― thrill of transgressin (Eazy), Monday, 22 August 2016 02:31 (eight years ago)
The complaints I am reading here -- "no songs," something something "stonewashed jean vest," an overall impression that this is more of an exploration of a certain mood than something that "says anything" -- make it sound amazing. Probably too good for me to ever listen to.
― Treeship, Monday, 22 August 2016 02:47 (eight years ago)
it doesn't even really work as just a mood piece or anything, it doesn't evoke anything at all
i liked channel orange but i can barely remember anything about this after multiple listens
― ufo, Monday, 22 August 2016 04:59 (eight years ago)
I have taken the novel step of actually listening to this (new laptop, hadn't bothered to get itunes on it) and so far I like it?
― a self-reinforcing downward spiral of male-centric indie (katherine), Monday, 22 August 2016 05:43 (eight years ago)
(#wow would you look at that #scintillating take how could you produce such insights katherine #whoa)
Definitely less immediate than Channel Orange but it sounds heavenly.
I think the clumsy rollout prevented this from arriving with the boom it otherwise might have? Seems like he did himself no favors by releasing the leftovers first.
― Evan R, Monday, 22 August 2016 16:44 (eight years ago)
Endless definitely isn't leftover material
― nose, Monday, 22 August 2016 17:38 (eight years ago)
I dunno, it feels pretty secondary to the album
― Evan R, Monday, 22 August 2016 18:24 (eight years ago)
the staircase is the true standout
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Monday, 22 August 2016 18:26 (eight years ago)
how's elliot smith's guest verse? he keeping the beef w/drake going?
― Pull your head on out your hippy haze (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 22 August 2016 20:59 (eight years ago)
people "wrestling" with this album dunno if i have the guts to listen to it
https://twitter.com/annkpowers/status/767825137907433474
― Pull your head on out your hippy haze (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 22 August 2016 21:00 (eight years ago)
music writers are making this album sound like a lot more work than it really is
― Evan R, Monday, 22 August 2016 21:17 (eight years ago)
detangling
i wish people wouldn't keep making us listen to music, can't we just lie down and rest
― j., Monday, 22 August 2016 21:39 (eight years ago)
3 tracks in and.. shit this is great!
― piscesx, Monday, 22 August 2016 23:19 (eight years ago)
ok yeah .. goes a bit Secret Life Of Plants-y a few tracks further in.
― piscesx, Monday, 22 August 2016 23:35 (eight years ago)
If "Nikes" had come out a week or a month before the rest, it would get the credit it deserves.
― thrill of transgressin (Eazy), Monday, 22 August 2016 23:38 (eight years ago)
average price for the mag on Ebay; $500 o_0
― piscesx, Monday, 22 August 2016 23:57 (eight years ago)
So apparently Mike Dean did the mastering on this and a lot of people think it sounds great? I just can't get into this thin, trebly sound.
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Tuesday, 23 August 2016 18:10 (eight years ago)
This kind of has the same kind of hollow and rushed preset based production that Life of Pablo has.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Tuesday, 23 August 2016 19:52 (eight years ago)
According to wikipedia Mike Dean only worked on the Solo (reprise) track.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Tuesday, 23 August 2016 19:54 (eight years ago)
So much for art:
http://pitchfork.com/news/67748-frank-ocean-no-longer-on-def-jam-blonde-was-self-released/
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 23 August 2016 21:46 (eight years ago)
Did David Carson design the magazine?
― Spottie, Tuesday, 23 August 2016 21:55 (eight years ago)
or did someone just rip his (ray gun magazine) style completely
― Spottie, Tuesday, 23 August 2016 21:57 (eight years ago)
damn @ lex getting sonned in a twitter beef
― 龜, Wednesday, 24 August 2016 14:11 (eight years ago)
the framing of lex's piece isn't my favorite but the writing about this record is already 1) wild 2) mostly identically wild, in a way that it would never be about the other records he mentions
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Wednesday, 24 August 2016 14:35 (eight years ago)
― maura, Wednesday, 24 August 2016 14:50 (eight years ago)
like i am not thrilled at how many sentences i'm going to read about how the spelling of "blond/blonde" works in french
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Wednesday, 24 August 2016 14:53 (eight years ago)
i like this record a good amount but the whole "i'm so moved i can't even put it into words" wave really ridiculous
― J0rdan S., Wednesday, 24 August 2016 15:33 (eight years ago)
Frank Ocean Reinvents R&B By Making An Album Without Bass
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Wednesday, 24 August 2016 16:16 (eight years ago)
I'll give him one thing though. I remember back when Eminem started releasing albums so wack the fanboys were certain it was all a prank and that he had another, superior album up his sleeve. FO kinda actually did that with the release of Endless, an album so weak that everyone was relieved when there was another, slightly better one released right after it.
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Wednesday, 24 August 2016 16:28 (eight years ago)
"Other people really enjoy this thing that I don't like/am only so-so about and that's Bad because they should be liking this Other Thing instead" is a weird stance to take.
― Greer, Wednesday, 24 August 2016 17:33 (eight years ago)
I feel like it's awfully common here
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Wednesday, 24 August 2016 17:36 (eight years ago)
that's the core of ILM
― Spottie, Wednesday, 24 August 2016 17:39 (eight years ago)
lex is an acquired taste
― J0rdan S., Wednesday, 24 August 2016 18:28 (eight years ago)
if i'd shaded k michelle as a ratchet reality tv joke while praising frank ocean would anyone have said a thing? (that's the subtext of all the "transcended r&b" stuff.) (and k michelle gets shaded every day on twitter for being a reality tv mess and it's deemed acceptable.)
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 24 August 2016 18:36 (eight years ago)
― thrill of transgressin (Eazy), Monday, August 22, 2016 7:38 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
this is otm
― johnny crunch, Wednesday, 24 August 2016 20:39 (eight years ago)
Hmm...
http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7487032/frank-ocean-endless-album-straw-broke-universal-music-back-may-get-sued
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 24 August 2016 21:33 (eight years ago)
It's also worked for independent artists before Ocean -- Chance the Rapper's Coloring Book became the first-ever streaming-only release to reach the Billboard 200 albums chart, debuting at No. 8 as an Apple Music exclusive in May. With Ocean almost certainly set to hit No. 1 this week via his digital-only release (in addition to streaming on Apple Music, it's for sale in the iTunes Store), it raises the question of how important a record label is at all in 2016, as services offer marketing and advance money that a label would otherwise provide.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 24 August 2016 21:45 (eight years ago)
Such a sick move. "After an interminable wait (in music industry standards, at least), Ocean fulfilled his contractual obligations, sources tell Billboard, and increased his potential profit share from 14 percent to 70 percent of total revenues from Blond within a 24-hour period, seemingly pulling a fast one on the biggest music company in the world in the process."
― flappy bird, Wednesday, 24 August 2016 22:20 (eight years ago)
!!!!
I gotta be honest, I'm finding all this way more fasincating than the album.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 24 August 2016 22:47 (eight years ago)
it gives him better material
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 24 August 2016 22:49 (eight years ago)
that's a pretty incredible story -- IF it works out for Ocean (ie, if Universal/Def Jam can't come up with a reason to sue him, which I'm sure they will). For sticking it to a major label, I give him props, just hope he isn't permanently blacklisted in the industry.
― Dominique, Wednesday, 24 August 2016 22:58 (eight years ago)
I'm not sure I like it. If he gets away with it, surely every label contract will become even more nefarious, right? Plus it resulted in a shit album being sold to his audience under false pretenses. It's... Not good?
― Frederik B, Wednesday, 24 August 2016 23:04 (eight years ago)
this is a fun story but i feel like if getting out of a record contract was as easy as "deliver your label a fake album and then give the real thing to someone else" it would have been discovered before now
― J0rdan S., Wednesday, 24 August 2016 23:08 (eight years ago)
It has been.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_(Teenage_Fanclub_album)
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 24 August 2016 23:09 (eight years ago)
Contractual obligations
― just sayin, Thursday, 25 August 2016 01:24 (eight years ago)
@Frederik - it's only a bad precedent if Def Jam screwed him with a shit deal.
― flappy bird, Thursday, 25 August 2016 01:43 (eight years ago)
err, i mean - if his deal with Def Jam wasn't shitty, it's a bad precedent...
― flappy bird, Thursday, 25 August 2016 01:45 (eight years ago)
none of the examples in that thread happened in the last 25 years
in any event frank's issues with def jam go back pretty far, i wouldn't be surprised if they washed their hands of him a while back and were fine with letting him go if they recouped whatever money they put into the project
― J0rdan S., Thursday, 25 August 2016 03:33 (eight years ago)
anyway this album is not quite as good as i was expecting but i like it a lot. i think it kinda starts weird, i like "nikes" but it doesn't really make much sense in the context of the album. the next few songs feel pretty channel orange-y and maybe out of place with what follows also. "solo" through "nights" is pretty incredible i think, none of the complaints people have about some of those tracks -- no beats, non-linear structures -- bother me, i think there's a lot to chew on lyrically and good hooks. "good guy" is maybe my fav song on this, i wish it was full-length but in general i like all the short songs on this. not quite sure how i feel about the final third of it... "godspeed" is pretty great, the album is pretty organ heavy and it's cool to hear him go more overt gospel even tho him in that context still sort of throws me for a loop. i like "white ferrari" but i also like bon iver... "seigfried" has a memorable ending but is overall a little ponderous i think and for being 9 minutes "futura free" ends up feeling kinda minor compared to how the last record ends.
ultimately i wish the beginning and ending stretches held up to the middle but there's enough stuff i like on either to where i think i'll play this all the way through a lot this year.
― J0rdan S., Thursday, 25 August 2016 03:43 (eight years ago)
i'll admit that there are a bunch of points on this album where i don't know wtf he's talking about but the lyrics that are direct and not space-y i really connect w/ to the point that i don't even really care about the other stuff
― J0rdan S., Thursday, 25 August 2016 03:51 (eight years ago)
Carl Wilson's take.
― rhymes with "blondie blast" (cryptosicko), Thursday, 25 August 2016 05:29 (eight years ago)
I hate big labels as much as the next guy but that move is super shady. Def Jam could prove that those 2M where used to pay all those producers and guest artists.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Thursday, 25 August 2016 07:10 (eight years ago)
A drake dream heard underwater, no less.
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Thursday, 25 August 2016 09:53 (eight years ago)
Yeah, I hate this.
― Popture, Thursday, 25 August 2016 11:13 (eight years ago)
xxp he paid that $2M back, though.
― esempiu (crüt), Thursday, 25 August 2016 11:38 (eight years ago)
Ok, this is growing on me a little bit. The Pink + White to Self Control stretch of songs is fantastic (remove the skit, please and thank you). Somebody could probably make a pretty good Playing God out of the best songs from Blonde and Endless
It helps to skip Nikes. I don't understand the breathless praise for that song or for "Seigfried" which is just not good at all.
― you think Lou Bega gave up after Mambo Number One??? (voodoo chili), Thursday, 25 August 2016 16:30 (eight years ago)
Frank's 100 fave films
― rhymes with "blondie blast" (cryptosicko), Friday, 26 August 2016 02:11 (eight years ago)
my goodness that's a dull list
― call all destroyer, Friday, 26 August 2016 02:14 (eight years ago)
must be a secret ILXer
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 26 August 2016 02:33 (eight years ago)
Time to re-do "Puce Moment" with a Frank Ocean song
― geoffreyess, Friday, 26 August 2016 03:46 (eight years ago)
the mom weed interlude reminds me so much of the last track on Music Has the Right to Children by Boards of Canada. the bed of synths and the timbre of his mom's voice are exactly like the PSA sampled in that track.
― flappy bird, Saturday, 27 August 2016 20:48 (eight years ago)
That sound/filter/effect at 1:50 in Nikes.
― Pyschocandles, Saturday, 27 August 2016 21:11 (eight years ago)
got apple music to listen to this, which i am doing now. nikes is stunning.
― Treeship, Sunday, 28 August 2016 05:20 (eight years ago)
the meandering surfer guitar on this second track is rad
― Treeship, Sunday, 28 August 2016 05:24 (eight years ago)
got apple music to listen to this
iirc you can also buy it
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Sunday, 28 August 2016 05:45 (eight years ago)
i went into the record shop the other day and they didn't seem to have it
― Treeship, Sunday, 28 August 2016 05:53 (eight years ago)
digitally
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Sunday, 28 August 2016 06:03 (eight years ago)
I guess mp3s really are over
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Sunday, 28 August 2016 06:09 (eight years ago)
after a few more listens there's some pretty moments on this but it's very inconsistent and the sequencing really does it no favours. when the actual songs are so fragmented and formless already, all the interludes just fracture it even further.
― ufo, Sunday, 28 August 2016 11:03 (eight years ago)
id be fine if someone edited the bird whistle out of solo btw
― johnny crunch, Sunday, 28 August 2016 17:55 (eight years ago)
this album provokes no dissatisfaction in me. i think it is good the way it is.
― Treeship, Monday, 29 August 2016 01:28 (eight years ago)
If Nikes, Ivy, Pink and White, Nights and Siegfried had been an intermediary e.p that surfaced 3 years ago I'd of been hailing him as the second coming. This is just a little insubstantial for all the hype. Truth is I keep hoping that he's gonna surprise us with the real album of 'Boys Don't Cry'...
― X-Prince Protégé (sonnyboy), Monday, 29 August 2016 01:59 (eight years ago)
This album is such an awkward bluff.
― simmel, Thursday, 1 September 2016 12:29 (eight years ago)
Skyline To is the true keeper from this
― you think Lou Bega gave up after Mambo Number One??? (voodoo chili), Thursday, 1 September 2016 12:32 (eight years ago)
whew! It took long enough:
When you listen to “Blonde,” characterizations like “R. & B. deconstructionist” suddenly feel insufficient. If Ocean was ever interested in toying with genre conventions, he has since widened his gaze. These days, his work feels not only post-genre but post-album, and even post-song.
[snip]
At a time when a pop lyric is only as strong as its potential to become a T-shirt logo or an Instagram caption, Ocean is a genuine misfit. His free-form lyrics are a no-hashtag zone.
I was worried that no one would imply the album was post-genre.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 1 September 2016 12:52 (eight years ago)
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/09/05/frank-oceans-blonde-endless-and-boys-dont-cry-reviewed
at last we are out of the woods of genre
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Thursday, 1 September 2016 12:59 (eight years ago)
So many reviews boil down to «I don't actually like this but it feels important so...»
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Thursday, 1 September 2016 13:02 (eight years ago)
So are Blond, Endless and Boys Don't Cry three separate albums? And why is one spelled Blond and one spelled Blonde? I'm too old to understand what's happening :(
― paolo, Thursday, 1 September 2016 17:30 (eight years ago)
Something about contractual obligations, a super-rare magazine that's already claiming ridiculous amounts of money on eBay, and a frankly underwhelming album.
― rhymes with "blondie blast" (cryptosicko), Thursday, 1 September 2016 17:36 (eight years ago)
Trying, and failing, to hear the Gang of Four sample in 'Futura Free'.
― stevo-rd, Thursday, 1 September 2016 20:22 (eight years ago)
And why is one spelled Blond and one spelled Blonde?
bc it's 2016 words have no rules or meaning dog
― yolo mostly (sleepingbag), Thursday, 1 September 2016 20:24 (eight years ago)
'Self Control' is making me tearful. The album is growing on me, a lot.
― stevo-rd, Saturday, 3 September 2016 17:38 (eight years ago)
Oh come on ILM, 'Blond/Blonde' deserves more love than this. It's a brave slow burner that breaks the rules. Well, my rules at least given I've little patience with confessional singer songwriters. Blond/Blonde is a work with many layers, nuances and emotions. It needs time and focused listening, but it's worth the effort.
I fear it is heading for the dreaded 'more talked about than listened to' status. It's better than that, much better.
― stevo-rd, Monday, 5 September 2016 08:34 (eight years ago)
what rules is it breaking?
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 5 September 2016 11:40 (eight years ago)
I added 'my rules' , which include an aversion to: R&B artists showcasing their Gospel influences, introspective men wth guitars unburdening their souls, and sprawling stabs at 'serious artist' status.
― stevo-rd, Monday, 5 September 2016 11:48 (eight years ago)
This album is way too much a guy with little tune sense unburdening his damaged soul over guitar strums.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 5 September 2016 12:38 (eight years ago)
"little tune sense"....... Frank's got tunes to burn, they're just not 'immediate', but they are there, in abundance. They are swirling around my head when I'm not playing it. And this is s.o. who gave 'Channel Orange' only a cursory listen.
― stevo-rd, Monday, 5 September 2016 13:17 (eight years ago)
Interesting. I loved nostalgiaultra and sort of hated Channel Orange. I think I noticed most of the tunes you mention but they just don't seem strong enough. The lyrics are unremarkable as well. It just sounds like a regular singer/songwriters's demo or something. It's coming from an interesting and likable dude so it gets a pass imo. But I'm sort of ready to be convinced otherwise. Could you maybe choose your top 5 favorite moments on the record?
― simmel, Monday, 5 September 2016 13:33 (eight years ago)
I like the challenge simmel. As I'm currently traveling it will take a few days, but if I can persuade at least one person Blond(e) is the work of genius I think it is I will be happy, I will choose my five moments and get back to you.
― stevo-rd, Monday, 5 September 2016 16:22 (eight years ago)
Thanks! Looking forward to it.
― simmel, Monday, 5 September 2016 19:51 (eight years ago)
Hey do you think Frank Ocean is trolling hipster wannabes?
I'm just thinking about an album sampling the Beatles and Gang of Four, with James Blake, scoring by Jonny Greenwood, Todd Rundgren, released on Apple Music, video album with him in a conceptual performance piece, doing symbolic woodcraft in his home shop, wearing a Jesus and Mary Chain t shirt, citing 100 absolutely canon films ... I'm feeling catered-to.
Still love the album, and I don't think the songs are anything other than heartfelt, but there is a part of me that wonders if it was production designed by someone with a list from stuffwhitepeoplelike.com
― MatthewK, Tuesday, 6 September 2016 06:32 (eight years ago)
he didn't even put Todd in his list of "contributors" smh
― Number None, Tuesday, 6 September 2016 06:36 (eight years ago)
Source unknown but the Wikipedia article for the album says '"Solo" contains a sample of "Flamingo" as written and performed by Todd Rundgren from the album A Wizard, a True Star.'I think it's a fair question, don't you? The artistic choices and presentation of the music seem to have taken a very deliberate tack. "Trolling" is probably the wrong word, but ... fuck it, if it causes offence I am happy to withdraw the comment.
― MatthewK, Tuesday, 6 September 2016 06:43 (eight years ago)
Oh, the Rundgren sample is just the bird chirp. Never mind.
― MatthewK, Tuesday, 6 September 2016 06:45 (eight years ago)
Nah, good comment, good question, especially with OFWGKTA's whole deal.
― thrill of transgressin (Eazy), Tuesday, 6 September 2016 15:51 (eight years ago)
i really like futura free, once you excise off the bonus track portion
― johnny crunch, Tuesday, 6 September 2016 23:34 (eight years ago)
http://funkyimg.com/i/2g5Bq.jpg
― human and working on getting beer (longneck), Wednesday, 7 September 2016 18:15 (eight years ago)
"Nikes" is cool imo, hypnotic. The N.E.R.D-sounding one and the couple acoustic tracks were the others that have elements I like at least
overall kind of a depressing listen though, in the literal sense
― nova, Wednesday, 7 September 2016 20:02 (eight years ago)
'Nights' turned out to be the keeper IMO.
― piscesx, Tuesday, 7 March 2017 21:09 (eight years ago)
where do you keep it – the basement?
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 7 March 2017 21:12 (eight years ago)
in the pyramid iirc
― Lebro v. Wade (Spottie), Tuesday, 7 March 2017 21:14 (eight years ago)
Turns out he's done nothing but build staircases all these months.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 7 March 2017 22:12 (eight years ago)
whole album is a keeper. He really played the long game with this one
― Evan R, Tuesday, 7 March 2017 22:24 (eight years ago)
S:
Self ControlSoloSkyline ToNightsPink + White
D:
Everything else
― neva missa lost, wednesday nights on abc (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 7 March 2017 22:25 (eight years ago)
― Evan R, Tuesday, March 7, 2017 3:24 PM (twenty minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
yeah it's a very long album
― the raindrops and drop tops of lived, earned experience (BradNelson), Tuesday, 7 March 2017 22:45 (eight years ago)
great album― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Friday, August 5, 2016 12:51 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalinkjk― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Friday, August 5, 2016 12:51 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Friday, August 5, 2016 12:51 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
lol Brad, this was great
― Rachel Luther Queen (DJP), Tuesday, 7 March 2017 22:45 (eight years ago)
voodoo's assessment feels right
would love to see a simple yes/no poll on this album
― Evan R, Tuesday, 7 March 2017 22:48 (eight years ago)
What game did he play
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 7 March 2017 22:49 (eight years ago)
he made an LP that seemed like a massive, audaciously indulgent disappointment at first but revealed itself to be a huge grower imo
I get why most of this board hates it, and I don't have the energy to be its sole defender, but once it starts to click/move you it just keeps paying off with big emotional revelations. He also plays some unique tricks with absence (long periods w/o drums or unmanipulated vocals or certain expected trappings). My first couple of listens I couldn't stop focusing on what wasn't there, so it took me a while to realize what was. It's an ridiculously generous album disguised as a stingy one
― Evan R, Tuesday, 7 March 2017 22:55 (eight years ago)
anyway, so I get why people hate it, but I don't get the people who dismiss it as if it's w/o merit
― Evan R, Tuesday, 7 March 2017 22:56 (eight years ago)
i always loved this great album which i still listen to all the time
― J0rdan S., Wednesday, 8 March 2017 01:30 (eight years ago)
^^ long game listening
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 8 March 2017 01:40 (eight years ago)
i'll happily defend this album, it's great
― joshywinty (josh), Wednesday, 8 March 2017 04:47 (eight years ago)
He also plays some unique tricks with absence (long periods w/o drums or unmanipulated vocals or certain expected trappings)
long periods without songwriting or variety or anything compelling happening, yeah
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 8 March 2017 08:15 (eight years ago)
Two weeks out and I still can't stop playing "Chanel." Really hope this is a lead off to new material and not just a one-off, though the latter is more likely. "Slide" didn't have as much staying power for me, but "Chanel" just keeps getting better. Might be a top 5 song for him. "My guy pretty like a girl" is one of the best opening lines I've heard in a while.
Blonde is great, but "Chanel" kills most everything on it.
― Handsome Bookor, Thursday, 23 March 2017 15:10 (eight years ago)
BABY I'M BIKING!
― greg pianoforte (voodoo chili), Saturday, 27 May 2017 14:14 (eight years ago)
saw him in concert last night, he absolutely bombed, embarrassingly unengaged
I left after 4 numbers and while there are rumors the show gained some momentum later on I could not be bothered to wait for that (have seen some footage of it and looks just as dreadful as what I witnessed)
I believe most of the vocals I heard were backing tracks
a pity
― niels, Saturday, 10 June 2017 08:45 (eight years ago)
That surprises me none
― nice cage (m bison), Saturday, 10 June 2017 13:10 (eight years ago)
yeah what is his deal? He's been pulling an Axl lately cancelling these huge festival appearances like two weeks out. does he hate playing live?
― flappy bird, Saturday, 10 June 2017 16:21 (eight years ago)
the video i saw it seemed like he was singing?
― J0rdan S., Saturday, 10 June 2017 17:05 (eight years ago)
it is weird that he cancelled dude to "production delays" seeing as the stage set up seemed like him, a guitarist and some shit piled up in the background?
― J0rdan S., Saturday, 10 June 2017 17:06 (eight years ago)
Y
― Eazy, Saturday, 10 June 2017 19:43 (eight years ago)
"production delays" surely bullshit since there was hardly any scenography
his mic was on, just think he also had a lot of backing track
― niels, Saturday, 10 June 2017 21:48 (eight years ago)
he's doing unique tricks with absence you fucking idiot
― r|t|c, Sunday, 11 June 2017 08:34 (eight years ago)
wtf is up with the frank apologism
Though festivalgoers are often irritated (a woman behind me angrily yelled about the £125 she spent on festival tickets solely to see Ocean), it’s also indulged as a quirk of character, part and parcel of his talent. Ocean is considered a genius who strings along his audience with fake release dates, unreliable performance schedules and an internet presence consisting of vague tumblr posts and media blackouts.
― niels, Monday, 24 July 2017 09:52 (seven years ago)
seriously what is the deal with this dude? not fulfilling vinyl orders, his verified facebook was hacked but "it's not actually official"? and then the disastrous live shows...
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 20 March 2018 18:48 (seven years ago)
part of his numinous appeal iirc
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 20 March 2018 19:16 (seven years ago)
feel like he would be the worst date
― niels, Tuesday, 20 March 2018 19:26 (seven years ago)
it's a quirk of character, part and parcel of his talent.
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 20 March 2018 19:30 (seven years ago)
i saw his live show and it was very far from disastrous
― J0rdan S., Tuesday, 20 March 2018 20:25 (seven years ago)
his talent affords him license to be an enigma, not really that crazy of a story
― J0rdan S., Tuesday, 20 March 2018 20:27 (seven years ago)
yeah, I shouldn't have said disastrous, I guess inconsistent. which is fine I suppose. but taking peoples' money and not delivering product is fucked up, no excuses for that
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 20 March 2018 21:23 (seven years ago)
I saw his first live show in three years and found it disastrous, walked out after 30 minutes
I know people who were in the front and who found it great though
― niels, Wednesday, 21 March 2018 07:05 (seven years ago)
When an artist has the level of attention and talent that he has, something strange and miraculous happens, whereby the entire world starts to bend to the artist's will. Certain musicians will, at this moment, industrialize their process out of necessity, which has the long-term effect of weakening their product. Other musicians will just get fat and lazy on the power they have, and feel genuine amazement when their latest turd doesn't float anyone's boat.
In Frank's case, like Kanye before him, and Prince, probably, he takes this immense agency and uses it to form an abusive relationship with his staff and audience-- he pushes his administrative team and his production team to work all night and make great sacrifice, he makes unreasonable demands on everyone and everything, and the result is moments of incandescence: a travelling silk-screen station for his merch-- never mind that the line is four hours long. A second album to go with the long anticipated other album-- never mind that it's only available in lousy audio on video-- oh, now it's on vinyl! never mind that it's 6 minutes of music per side.
Artist-audience relationships are inherently abusive-- nobody deserves this kind of attention, really, do they?
― nevertheless, he stopped (flamboyant goon tie included), Wednesday, 21 March 2018 14:58 (seven years ago)
Anyway my point is that yeah the feeling of having to "work for it"-- stand in line, get up front, wait because the artist is late-- it only creates more devotion in the audience
Me I think he's a genius I'm 100% enthralled and buying into the myth
― nevertheless, he stopped (flamboyant goon tie included), Wednesday, 21 March 2018 14:59 (seven years ago)
Ha. I was going to respond, "His nightmarish treatment of staff won't matter in forty years if he's a genius. Which he isn't."
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 21 March 2018 15:14 (seven years ago)
the A/V aspects of his show were wonky in the first dates and i guess he cancelled all those shows before that but by the time i saw him it was by far the coolest and most visually interesting festival set i've ever seen. the music itself isn't made for festivals and i was close to the stage so that mattered too but if festivals wanted to pay him to put on that kinda show that's fine by me.
if we're gonna cite anything as evidence of him being a schmuck i'd prob go w/ him recently suing om'mas keith over the publishing on blonde. but that he's not easy to work with ain't really my problem.
― J0rdan S., Wednesday, 21 March 2018 15:30 (seven years ago)
Alfo your anti-Frank propaganda is peak Alfo gaslighting, repeating “he’s no genius” over and over again will not and does not do anything but destabilize your credibility
― nevertheless, he stopped (flamboyant goon tie included), Wednesday, 21 March 2018 15:55 (seven years ago)
i do not get his music, but he's clearly a genius of some kind if he's managed to achieve the blanket adulation of every young music enthusiast on the internet
― imago, Wednesday, 21 March 2018 16:05 (seven years ago)
i mean he's either a genius or a meme. or both
― imago, Wednesday, 21 March 2018 16:06 (seven years ago)
― nevertheless, he stopped (flamboyant goon tie included),
Do I get to look like Charles Boyer if my credibility keeps destabilizing?
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 21 March 2018 16:07 (seven years ago)
Oh come now you’re more handsome than that jerk
― nevertheless, he stopped (flamboyant goon tie included), Wednesday, 21 March 2018 16:10 (seven years ago)
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/14/89/38/148938f74280e777ef12889fd69ba334.jpg
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 21 March 2018 16:12 (seven years ago)
great post, fgti
― sean gramophone, Wednesday, 21 March 2018 16:39 (seven years ago)
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, March 21, 2018 10:14 AM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
i agree w/ alf.
― NBA YoungBoy named Rocky Raccoon (m bison), Thursday, 22 March 2018 11:12 (seven years ago)
I wonder how brilliant one musician has to be before they get the big G word applied to them round here, then
I can’t think of a more talented creator-of-work (where the work includes music, myth-building, public person, and effect)— and certainly he’s my favourite creator of effortlessly queer music
Like for real, haters, step back a second. Who else is occupying the public eye and creating such strong work that is necessarily queer? I can think of nobody. For the first time in my life am I inspired by a queer musician, one who isn’t inverting straightness, or existing within the rubric of camp, or is sex-focused— he just is and that is amazing to me
― nevertheless, he stopped (flamboyant goon tie included), Thursday, 22 March 2018 15:23 (seven years ago)
Who else is occupying the public eye and creating such strong work that is necessarily queer?
"public eye" aspect of this question narrows the field considerably
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Thursday, 22 March 2018 15:43 (seven years ago)
but lmao being referred to as a hater in this conversation is making me not really want to engage anyway
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Thursday, 22 March 2018 15:44 (seven years ago)
For the first time in my life am I inspired by a queer musician, one who isn’t inverting straightness, or existing within the rubric of camp, or is sex-focused
i can however think of several musicians that fit into this particular rubric, they're just not popular
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Thursday, 22 March 2018 15:46 (seven years ago)
i really hope he manages to record an album that lives up to his genius reputation now. channel orange was great and there were certainly moments of genius on blonde but a lot of it felt like reaching for genius and not quite getting there to me
― ufo, Thursday, 22 March 2018 15:54 (seven years ago)
also literally the last thing i read about this dude was about the molecular spread of his influence and his general gnomic genius, i'm sure he can survive being called "not a genius" by one critic on a message board (i don't particularly care if he's a genius or not, or that saying someone's a genius necessarily means anything to me, his music is often too shapeless to be compelling to me and i'm aware that shapelessness is part of the attraction for the people who recognize him as such, there's an absence, a kind of inner resistance, that's obviously fun to think about and try to figure out)
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Thursday, 22 March 2018 15:56 (seven years ago)
isn't the whole romantic "genius" concept played? anyway, if the idea of musical genius has anything to do with complexity I always found Frank Ocean's shtick pretty simple, his success more reliant on excellent marketing than anything else
maybe it's more of a media star type genius, but I just don't care for his press at all
he has some good tunes, no doubt, but so does Drake and nobody's calling him a genius
― niels, Thursday, 22 March 2018 17:00 (seven years ago)
oh yeah and I don't hate Frank Ocean at all (although I find his apparent disregard of his audience unappealing) I just find the critical acclaim surprising, always sounded like nice little songs to me, nothing special
― niels, Thursday, 22 March 2018 17:02 (seven years ago)
Dissenting opinions make ILM interesting. It's really boring when everyone agrees. Also good to see Brad around
― tinnitus the night (Ross), Thursday, 22 March 2018 17:09 (seven years ago)
there's a smashing pumpkins poll on, no way that alone wouldn't lure me back, but also thank u ross <3
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Thursday, 22 March 2018 17:15 (seven years ago)
It's the "public eye" part of it tho that makes it so interesting and daring, I guess, that his queer black boy joy-and-pain would resonate so strongly across the board. I can't think of any other queer artist who maintains such a broad fanbase of people who can empathize with the sentiments expressed in his songs on a 1:1 level, (something that I've always felt frustrated with, in seeing the dynamic between the work of, say, John Grant or Anohni and their straight audiences)
I used "hater" in jest btw
My raised-eyebrow here isn't really about Frank Ocean's birthright to the term "genius" but rather about the the "too many notes" kind of dismissiveness that describing him as "not a genius" affects. It's dismissive. "Not a genius"? fine. At least he's very very very good, then? Or "shows promise"? idk. I had the same issue last month when "Moonlight" was being described as "on the nose". What is it about black queer excellence that elicits this dismissiveness
https://memegenerator.net/img/instances/62044377/there-are-how-shall-one-say-too-many-notes.jpg
― nevertheless, he stopped (flamboyant goon tie included), Thursday, 22 March 2018 17:31 (seven years ago)
spicy thread bump. i want to reiterate that i like his music a lot, not a huge active fan, but i bumped this thread because the whole taking peoples' money and not delivering product is just inexcusable imo, and seeing fans make excuses for him sorta pissed me off - fgti is so otm itt, especially w/r/t relationship with fanbase & staff bordering on abusive. and describing pop up shops as "incandescent" is perfect
― flappy bird, Thursday, 22 March 2018 17:35 (seven years ago)
lol i figured but i still bristled, sorry about that
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Thursday, 22 March 2018 17:38 (seven years ago)
What is it about black queer excellence that elicits this dismissiveness
oh i see the plan of attack here
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Thursday, 22 March 2018 17:43 (seven years ago)
after being kinda dismissive itt, it turns out i kinda like "blonde" now though i still found myself disengage for stretches of it.
― 21st savagery fox (m bison), Saturday, 25 August 2018 16:08 (six years ago)
i wish there were more Songs
I got in a sidewalk discussion a couple weeks ago about Channel Orange vs. Blond, they were saying something similar, that they wish there were more songs, but I argued that Blonde was itself attempting something loftier, a kind of intangibility, songs that existed in half-forms and transitions so as to create a dream-like state, it was obscurantism as a thesis, masterfully pulled off with the Endless maguffin and the Boys Don't Cry false title (and resultant book) and even in the Blond(e) ambiguity (even his admin and collaborators receive a smirk when they ask him if it's a masculine or feminine spelling), the experience is wonderfully post-modern while retaining that accessibility. I don't want an album that is "Ivy" and "Pink & White" and a dozen other songs like it, I wanted this
― flamboyant goon tie included, Saturday, 25 August 2018 16:21 (six years ago)
i can appreciate that. and there are other artists for which that works for me (flying lotus comes to mind rn.)
― 21st savagery fox (m bison), Saturday, 25 August 2018 17:34 (six years ago)
i was somewhat dismissive of blonde when it came out, but it does seem to be specifically created for the type of late summer ennui that i'm experiencing right now
― guardians of the gums: i am tooth (voodoo chili), Saturday, 25 August 2018 18:17 (six years ago)
still think Nikes is not a good song tho
― guardians of the gums: i am tooth (voodoo chili), Saturday, 25 August 2018 18:50 (six years ago)
Yah I gotta agree, Nikes is weak
― flamboyant goon tie included, Saturday, 25 August 2018 22:09 (six years ago)
aw i like that one!!
― 21st savagery fox (m bison), Saturday, 25 August 2018 22:17 (six years ago)
― flamboyant goon tie included, Saturday, August 25, 2018 12:21 PM (yesterday) Bookmark
i'm not sure i quite buy blonde as dreamlike and half formed exactly (tho i would apply that to the new blood orange, and they are def cut from the same cloth in some regards), but one thing i do love about blonde that is prob picking up on the same thread is how isolated it feels. there's not much to many of the songs, as if he created them on his own off somewhere in the ether. this is prob true in some sense literally but to me the songs also don't have the feel of being demos or unfinished, so i guess that's where we would break. but there's some quality in the album that dovetails w/ his post-fame public persona as this quicksilver presence that i find really authentic & alluring
― J0rdan S., Sunday, 26 August 2018 04:55 (six years ago)
― guardians of the gums: i am tooth (voodoo chili), Saturday, August 25, 2018 11:17 AM (one year ago) bookmarkflaglink
rt
― american bradass (BradNelson), Tuesday, 1 October 2019 22:27 (five years ago)
and tbh i came all the way around to really loving it
― american bradass (BradNelson), Tuesday, 1 October 2019 22:30 (five years ago)
welcome
― J0rdan S., Wednesday, 2 October 2019 01:51 (five years ago)
i still rate this below channel orange but "solo" "self control" and "nights" alone make it a classic
― J0rdan S., Wednesday, 2 October 2019 01:52 (five years ago)
it's still a really frustrating listen, there's a lot of brilliant tracks (i especially love "self control" and "white ferrari") but also plenty that feel clunky and half-formed ("ivy", "nights" has some cool parts but doesn't hold together that well, "pretty sweet", "seigfried", "futura free") and i hate the sequencing and the interludes so it doesn't work as an album at all for me.
― ufo, Wednesday, 2 October 2019 02:05 (five years ago)
Fans like him for his maladroit songwriting and well-intentioned gestures. I've made my peace with it.
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 2 October 2019 02:09 (five years ago)
the interludes are pretty bad but i do rly like that one instrumental that is woven thru the album... i think it lends the album a dreaminess that flatters it. i really like to listen to blonde when i'm flying... it just feels right for when you're above the clouds. but mostly nowadays i just run thru those 3 tracks... i do love "godspeed" too
― J0rdan S., Wednesday, 2 October 2019 02:10 (five years ago)
the andre 3000 interlude on here is one of the most annoying things i've ever heard
blonde feels like a wave of inspiration to me, I haven't wanted to separate out the individual tracks
― Dan S, Wednesday, 2 October 2019 02:11 (five years ago)
yeah "godspeed" is great and would be the closer if i'd sequenced it. that one instrumental on its own is fine but then the way it's woven through the album is jarring and takes me out of it, especially when the bits of speech its used behind in both "facebook story" and "be yourself" are pretty inane. i do like "good guy" and "close to you" quite a lot at least.
― ufo, Wednesday, 2 October 2019 02:20 (five years ago)
― J0rdan S.
It's the rap equivalent of a two-note guitar solo.
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 2 October 2019 02:24 (five years ago)
yeah i don't count the ones that are actually songs... the mom's voicemail is kinda funny and sometimes i will listen to it for fun but it gets old. "facebook story" is wretched... i stan the woman who dumped that fucker
― J0rdan S., Wednesday, 2 October 2019 02:25 (five years ago)
"good guy" is easily one of the best things he's ever written lyrically... i love that song. i'm glad that it got an extended placement in the blonde shows.
― J0rdan S., Wednesday, 2 October 2019 02:27 (five years ago)
"that fucker" is SebastiAn isn't it which makes the whole thing even weirder
didn't know he'd done an extended version of "good guy" live, checking it out now and it's wonderful
― ufo, Wednesday, 2 October 2019 02:32 (five years ago)
i think "pretty sweet" rules, that tumult of strings at the beginning resolves into one of my favorite melodies on the record (but given that i've always really loved "ivy" and "nights" i think i'm drawn to this record's use of guitars)
― american bradass (BradNelson), Wednesday, 2 October 2019 02:33 (five years ago)
"nights" is all about that zoned-out coda for me, I could listen for an hour
― an incoherent crustacean (MatthewK), Wednesday, 2 October 2019 03:36 (five years ago)
I should just stop paying attention to this guy since he hasn't put out anything I've cared for since Channel Orange but anyway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccU0JCRNj3A
― self-clowning oven (Murgatroid), Saturday, 19 October 2019 23:25 (five years ago)
who?
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 20 October 2019 00:14 (five years ago)
not sure Pitchfork will be adding an unnumbered addition to their best tracks of the decade here
― maffew12, Sunday, 20 October 2019 14:48 (five years ago)
his subreddit lol
https://i.redd.it/244rc8wp1mt31.jpg
― maffew12, Sunday, 20 October 2019 14:53 (five years ago)
― neva missa lost, wednesday nights on abc (voodoo chili), Tuesday, March 7, 2017 5:25 PM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink
ok, so, i have a playlist that i regularly return to that looks like this
pink + whiteivysoloskyline togodspeednightswhite ferrariself controlgood guy
^^ i think that four-five of these are better than anything else frank has written. it's a shame that i still can't really stand the other songs on the album.
― caek or daeth (voodoo chili), Thursday, 11 March 2021 19:24 (four years ago)
Chanel tho
― J. Sam, Thursday, 11 March 2021 19:32 (four years ago)
sure chanel and bike are also good
― caek or daeth (voodoo chili), Thursday, 11 March 2021 19:48 (four years ago)
*solo version of bike
*BIKING sheesh
ilm frank scepticism is depressing. not enough kids on here
― nothing (Left), Thursday, 11 March 2021 20:33 (four years ago)
if there's one guy who doesn't get enough praise, it's pitchfork best album of the decade champion frank ocean
― caek or daeth (voodoo chili), Thursday, 11 March 2021 20:33 (four years ago)
true, on this forum
― nothing (Left), Thursday, 11 March 2021 20:34 (four years ago)
not everyone has to love him but there's a weird suspicion of the motives of ppl who do that runs through the various threads here
― nothing (Left), Thursday, 11 March 2021 20:39 (four years ago)
No love for ‘Siegfried’?
― X-Prince Protégé (sonnyboy), Thursday, 11 March 2021 20:45 (four years ago)
it's good
skits aside it's all good
― nothing (Left), Thursday, 11 March 2021 20:51 (four years ago)
and as far as skits go... I don't even skip em
― maf you one two (maffew12), Thursday, 11 March 2021 21:34 (four years ago)
the andre 3000 song on here is so jarring and awful, i skip that every time. worse than any of the skits
― J0rdan S., Thursday, 11 March 2021 21:35 (four years ago)
m frank scepticism is depressing. not enough kids on here
― nothing (Left),
this place is a most welcome oasis from the suffocating Ocean praise I see elsewhere!
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 11 March 2021 21:37 (four years ago)
https://i.redd.it/eh80gjhu34j11.jpg
― nothing (Left), Thursday, 11 March 2021 21:51 (four years ago)
if mild criticism of frank ocean bothers you so much, may i suggest you go to literally anyplace else on the internet?
― caek or daeth (voodoo chili), Thursday, 11 March 2021 22:14 (four years ago)
as I said it's the suspicion of motives that is strange and sometimes ugly. other threads show this attitude has been consistent even when charges have changed (earlier mentions filtered through the ludicrous hipster R&B wars of the early 10s which was exclusively a hipster civil war)
I find the constant suspicion both suspicious and sad next to the enthusiasm and generosity extended towards absolute bullshit like vampire weekend and the 1975 during the same period. it's clearly generational to a large extent
― nothing (Left), Thursday, 11 March 2021 22:40 (four years ago)
vampire weekend suck
― maf you one two (maffew12), Thursday, 11 March 2021 22:43 (four years ago)
that sure is a lot of words to say "i don't know how to process opinions that differ from mine"
― caek or daeth (voodoo chili), Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:02 (four years ago)
40something for Blond on the 2016 album poll is pretty wild
― maf you one two (maffew12), Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:05 (four years ago)
then again, i've seen your posts on ile so idk what i was expecting
xp
― caek or daeth (voodoo chili), Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:05 (four years ago)
3 points, related
the subtext is that frank ocean and/or his popularity is essentially fradulent in some way
there are some pretty obvious things motivating this attitude, which comparisons with contemporary artists more beloved by ILM make clear
i also think it would be nice if there were younger people here but other people clearly don't agree
― nothing (Left), Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:21 (four years ago)
why do you care
I don't understand your obsession here with ILM discourse. Some like Ocean, some don't, he's worth discussing.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:24 (four years ago)
― nothing (Left), Thursday, March 11, 2021 6:21 PM (three minutes ago)
are you gonna do some outreach?
― J0rdan S., Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:25 (four years ago)
three more points
the opinions actually expressed in this thread are quite varied, from j0rdan's unreserved praise, to brad's skepticism evolving into genuine love, to alfred's stating his preference of jeremih, miguel, etc. all of these are opinions very much in character, nothing nefarious here
"the kids" aren't always right about music, and "popularity with the youth" isn't an inherent argument for music's worthiness. furthermore, the under-40s on this thread have varying opinions (i loved loved loved channel orange when i was 22 and it came out, when blonde came out i was 26 and skeptical)
i'm not gonna even acknowledge your third point, because it's becoming clear that you're just a troll who refuses to actually read the posts in this and other threads and engage critically
― caek or daeth (voodoo chili), Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:27 (four years ago)
think of frank ocean as mainly a millennial phenomenon. orange came out in 2012
might be wrong
― himpathy with the devil (jim in vancouver), Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:28 (four years ago)
j0rdan's praise wasn't entirely unreserved, ignore that adjective
― caek or daeth (voodoo chili), Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:28 (four years ago)
xp. might be wrong about the former, not the latter, lol
no it's ok i have very little reservation about praising frank ocean
― J0rdan S., Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:29 (four years ago)
probably young enough to count as a 'kid' here (i am 25, pretty sure i'm one of the youngest active posters?) and while channel orange was quite good, blonde was one of the most frustrating albums released last decade. it has plenty of fantastic moments, but it's also incredibly inconsistent and fragmented, a lot of what it's trying to do just doesn't work at all for me. and endless is just not very good. it's felt like the mythology around him has long outgrown the actual music
are you going to complain about ilm not liking say, the life of pablo or kids see ghosts enough too idk
― ufo, Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:30 (four years ago)
no they're shit
endless is very good though
― nothing (Left), Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:32 (four years ago)
I did this podcast where we were talking about him and I listened for a couple weeks to both albums a lot and definitely "got" it in a new way that i hadn't beforethough I guess I came away with the non-majority opinion that Channel Orange > Blonde but I liked both
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:35 (four years ago)
it has a very "California" vibe that I'm a sucker for
My partner on the episode was a younger millennial and she talked about hearing Orange and getting really into him and then waiting on line at a special in store event for Blonde and feeling like that record was a really special thing in her life
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:37 (four years ago)
which talking to her about it made me like it more in a way
blonde was a very important record for a lot of people my age, and i did eventually appreciate it, but as evidenced by my posts in this thread, it took a little time.
― caek or daeth (voodoo chili), Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:39 (four years ago)
voodoo I hope you like frank ocean the correct amount
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:40 (four years ago)
xps well you can make exactly the same case that it's just generational that ilm doesn't like tlop and ksg so if you want the frank sceptics to engage you should probably at least try to sell people on his merits rather than complaining about a generational divide
― ufo, Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:41 (four years ago)
channel orange is >>> to me but it's also a top 5 record of the 2010s for me easy
i haven't put blonde on for a while... it's kind of a morose record, largely about isolation and disaffection... it's kind of a whole thing to put it on for me. i guess channel orange is about those things too but it has that sun dappled california feel and character driven songs so it's easier to just put on
― J0rdan S., Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:45 (four years ago)
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, March 11, 2021 6:40 PM (four minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
blonde, more like goldilocks
― caek or daeth (voodoo chili), Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:45 (four years ago)
xpost jord that was it for me, like blonde seemed like a deeper record but I don't really want to be in that headspace compared to orange
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:48 (four years ago)
xpost kanye is 43 I feel like ppl forget his age
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:50 (four years ago)
43 year old 3 year old
― maf you one two (maffew12), Thursday, 11 March 2021 23:56 (four years ago)
loved ocean's prior work but blonde, even after multiple listens, is just a nonstarter for me.
― G.A.G.S. (Gophers Against Getting Stuffed) (forksclovetofu), Friday, 12 March 2021 11:20 (four years ago)
Looks like no one really said anything about "DHL" when it was posted upthread, but the second half of that track is incredibly addictive, my favorite thing he's done in rap mode. Really seemed like a new album was coming soon coming soon, don't know what happened
― J. Sam, Friday, 12 March 2021 13:04 (four years ago)
I’m 50 and I still adore Blond, it was a very important record to me at the time, flaws and all. So impatient for the next one, which I thought was about to drop at the start of 2020.
― assert (MatthewK), Friday, 12 March 2021 13:32 (four years ago)
frank ocean is the most overrated and overvalued pop singer in a long time.
and he's still able to manage at least two or three songs every album that are complete smashes. so idk.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Friday, 12 March 2021 16:37 (four years ago)
i'm an old white man, btw.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Friday, 12 March 2021 16:38 (four years ago)
you'd be mad to pull frank to bits. what is to criticize? coolest contemporary voice in music. his vocal alone is enough to warrant status. blonde, i can't think of a better full length from the last decade that's so of its time...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qKP32GYiks
― maelin, Friday, 12 March 2021 19:30 (four years ago)
― guardians of the gums: i am tooth (voodoo chili), Saturday, August 25, 2018 1:50 PM (two years ago) bookmarkflaglink
― caek or daeth (voodoo chili), Friday, 12 March 2021 19:36 (four years ago)
RIP Pepsi
― J. Sam, Friday, 12 March 2021 19:39 (four years ago)
you'd be mad to pull frank to bits. what is to criticize? coolest contemporary voice in music. his vocal alone is enough to warrant status. blonde, i can't think of a better full length from the last decade that's so of its time.
RIP criticism
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 12 March 2021 19:43 (four years ago)
i mean cool, opinions, good, i wanna hear you tell me what's bad about it. it's deliberately fragmented, confused, emotional, delicate. aloof... it's a fine self-portrait. feels like an elliott smith record to me or something - i'd say that without the sample in there, too
― maelin, Friday, 12 March 2021 20:00 (four years ago)
The bloodline to singer-songwriter stuff is exactly what puts me off, actually, so otm.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 12 March 2021 20:07 (four years ago)
or, as i like to say: one man's trash is another man's less smelly trash.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Friday, 12 March 2021 21:02 (four years ago)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61fhqJRhbhL._SY355_.jpg
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 12 March 2021 21:13 (four years ago)
i rest my case.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Friday, 12 March 2021 21:45 (four years ago)