A Breakdown on What Frank Ocean Has Done For Us Last Weekend
We’ve all doubted Frank. But he knew that we’ve been waiting for his new music for years, and so recently he released two albums (and a half) for everyone to enjoy! And damn are they good.
In July 2012, American rapper/R&B recording artist Frank Ocean debuted his critically acclaimed album Channel Orange. An instant classic; a game changer when it was released akin to The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds in 1966. The album shook the music world and made all listeners cry, all poets envious, and every producer jealous of its textured, complex, and mature production.
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So it’s not a surprise that virtually every music lover was anticipating for his follow-up. But Frank’s new music took longer than expected and fans began to feel agitated each time a year passes by and nothing shows up. Fans’ impatience erupted on social media each time they thought Frank announced a release date. It seems like Frank has achieved a huge following considering he had only released one album and a mixtape prior that.
But just this weekend, Frank finally dropped on us not one, but two great albums! A visual album called Endless, the official follow-up Blond, and a magazine called Boys Don’t Cry that contains a different version of Blond. Fans have been wondering what Frank Ocean has been up to in the four years since Channel Orange, and the answer seems to be: creating a fully-immersive, multimedia experience.
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Frank Ocean delivered on what we expected, and gave it a twist and made it better. First there was the live stream, which initially seemed like a tease (and later a troll), but turned out to be a cryptic lesson on respecting creative space. Then the visual album followed, Endless, an extension of the live stream (visually speaking). After that, we got the long-teased magazine, Boys Don’t Cry, which he released for free at pop-up shops, and which includes interviews with his mom and rapper Lil B, a rap from Kanye West about McDonald’s, photos, and an emotional poem Frank wrote called Boyfriend.
Now, there’s Blond, the full-bodied, finely-tuned follow-up we’ve been waiting for. The full package explores Ocean’s creative range. A 17-track offering, Blond builds on Ocean’s reputation as a songwriter and auteur of the highest order, enlisting assistance from creatives across the musical spectrum that include Pharrell Williams, Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, Brian Eno, Jonny Greenwood, James Blake, Rostam Batmanglij, Jazmine Sullivan, David Bowie, The Beatles, and more!
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Blond sounds very lush and rich, especially heard next to the comparatively lo-fi Endless, but both worthy follow-ups to the 70’s inspired breeziness of Channel Orange. With Blond, Frank proved himself the master of his game. He cemented his status as modern-day legend, and earned everyone’s respect. But ultimately the greatest thing Frank has taught us is the lesson that patience rewards those who wait.
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