after releasing Endless on Thursday night,
Frank is back with the proper follow up
to Channel Orange with Blond on Saturday.

Lead "single" w/ video is Nikes.


some of the people he credits on Blond

Beyonce
Beatles
Kendrick
3K - who comes through and crushes the buildings. His best verse in years.
Bowie
Tyler
Pharrell - maybe did beat to Pink and White?
Mike Dean engineering.


Not as upbeat as Nostalgia, Ultra.
Still think some of his best songs
on Nostalgia, Ultra - a pop masterpiece.

Less beat driven than Ultra and Channel Orange
which wasn't as beat driven as Ultra.

Not a lot of drums on this.

Still listening.

-----
Cameo
Soundshape Records

Not feeling the lack of percussion. A few of the songs stick. Album is cool.

******************************************
Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

tracks from channel orange and made an album full of them

disappointing to say the least

no drums?!

I listened again while reading lyrics on genuis
because I respect the hell out of him as a writer.

But - some of these songs man - kinda lifeless.

-----
Cameo
Soundshape Records

not even an EP's worth of good stuff.

Probably be best for him if he released another
version once it's not an apple exclusive.

Sounds like he just recorded and mastered all
his random musical ideas.

"Pink + White", "Self Control", the tail end of
"Nights" and 3k's interlude is pretty much all
I fuck with.

~
~
~
~
~
Days like this I miss Sha Mecca

I on't give no fuck what anybody got to say.

--

"You can't beat white people. You can only knock them out."

but i cant even be mad at anybody expressing such opinion...

homey definitely one of the best to ever do it

i'm in alignment with boogie above...

pink+white and dre interlude is about it for me on this shit

http://howardlloyd.bandcamp.com

________________________________
There are dozens of us! Dozens!

I don't think Frank is necessarily a great lyricist/songwriter, but I enjoy the songs enough. He's not the type of artist that I analyze hypercritically, but it's a pretty enjoyable listen from front to back, with "Nights" being an early favorite track.

Some people are calling it "minimal" in a negative way, but I like the overall production and find it a more consistent listen than Channel Orange.

"I wasn't sure if I was lost or running away again. . ."

http://austinato.bandcamp.com

http://www.discogs.com/lists/Favorites-of-2016/269401

put my pen to paper and write something deeply personal

i've been working with a therapist for the past year, trying to confront my demons. one of the ways i wanted to do this was through writing. but every appointment when he'd ask me if i had done any writing, i'd say no, i didn't have time to this month. excuses.

i was able to break through that block today and actually write down my thoughts.

so i don't care about the merits of the music or the hype or what have you - this project helped me in a profound way. thanks Frank.

---

Frisson Radio | Saturdays 6-8 PM EST | 89.5 FM (Toronto) | www.ciut.fm
https://www.instagram.com/frissonradio

Easy to forget what music and art can do in that sense, often when we least expect it or aren't out there looking for it. Thanks for sharing.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

---

Frisson Radio | Saturdays 6-8 PM EST | 89.5 FM (Toronto) | www.ciut.fm
https://www.instagram.com/frissonradio

>so i don't care about the merits of the music or the hype or
>what have you - this project helped me in a profound way.
>thanks Frank.

That's what it's all about! Best wishes on your journey.

Happy 50th D’Angelo: https://chrisp.bandcamp.com/track/d-50

---

Frisson Radio | Saturdays 6-8 PM EST | 89.5 FM (Toronto) | www.ciut.fm
https://www.instagram.com/frissonradio

(Dope BTW!)

_____________________________________

The Brand Pod
https://www.youtube.com/@themonarchbrand
https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2023071.rss

The Life Pod
https://www.youtube.com/@thewaterpodcast
https://redcircle.com/shows/the-water-podcast

Pink + White
Skyline To
Self Control
Nights
Close To You
White Ferrari
Seigfried <-- this especially

thanks for the support too, much appreciated

---

Frisson Radio | Saturdays 6-8 PM EST | 89.5 FM (Toronto) | www.ciut.fm
https://www.instagram.com/frissonradio

Will definitely be revisiting it before I form any criticism, though my initial response is really positive.

Almost feels like a sound collage --- and Channel Orange had that feel, but it feels like the overriding aesthetic here. I'm not complaining. And the very sound of the album is as important for Ocean as the traditional components of the music (melody, harmony, so on).

I don't know why but I kind of want to hear Rufus Wainwright do "White Ferrari" --- strangely enough, feels very much like a certain type of Wainwright tune. The sung portions of Seigfried do, too. I think Ocean's voice reminds me of him, as does his penchant for very personal swaths of lyricism that appear a bit inscrutable from the outside, something Wainwright has often been critiqued for.

But really I just came in here to say that I hope a longer version of "Close to You" comes out as some point.


-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Specifically thinking about Carrie and Lowell and For Emma.

But put a CA pop twist to it.

Not mad at all.

Writing is outta this world. Seigfried is...WOW. Is he talking about his former self? A closeted friend? So many layers and emotions.

It's a headphone album, no doubt.

And Endless fits perfectly between James Blake and Radiohead's LPs from this year.

Frank knocked this shit out the park.

10/10 for the whole weekend drop.

Happy 50th D’Angelo: https://chrisp.bandcamp.com/track/d-50

My wife texted yesterday - she had listened to some of it on her way into work - she's not as much an r&b/soul head as me, but wanted to check it out since she'd been hearing about it. She said it reminded her of Sufjan a lot, which I agreed with in general.

But then when we actually talked about it, I realized that part of what she was getting at is Sufjan's penchant for recording and releasing stuff that might have been fun to make but is less interesting to listen to (think that multi-disc holiday album that came out a few years ago, which was awful). She said she like a lot of the Ocean album, but thought he got a bit too introverted with it (my words, not hers, but I think that's what she was getting at).

So it's Sufjan-esque in more ways than one, lol.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

>But then when we actually talked about it, I realized that
>part of what she was getting at is Sufjan's penchant for
>recording and releasing stuff that might have been fun to make
>but is less interesting to listen to

Hilarious!

For the record, I love Sufjan's music. And I've wondered sometimes if he released some of his material just to mess with us (like the Christmas stuff). I tend to be attracted to self-indulgent stuff overall, tho.

>She said she like a lot of the Ocean album, but thought he got
>a bit too introverted with it (my words, not hers, but I think
>that's what she was getting at).

Wow "introverted" is a great way to describe it. And me being a big time introvert, i guess I identify with it.

Happy 50th D’Angelo: https://chrisp.bandcamp.com/track/d-50

This is a much more "artsy" album than Channel Orange, and I think it's a brave one. But I'm also reminded of what an artist told me when TPAB came out. After Channel Orange (gkmc), he almost had to go left for this one. I like this a lot though so far. I'm guessing it will get some negative reviews, but p4k and the like are gonna eat this up. They probably would've eatten up anything he put out at this point, but...

--

"You can't beat white people. You can only knock them out."

I didn't make it through the whole album on first listen

and I don't have any intentions to try again.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned his weakness as a singer being singing

and the assumption that he could pull off a project like this

He can't sing.

---------------------------------------------------------------

If you can't understand it without an explanation

you can't understand it with an explanation

But for his abilities, he came through here under pressure and much of it is dope to my ears.

the facebook and moms joints got deleted. cool the first couple times through but annoying after that...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ggaunty

but those skits seem pointless and ruin the flow of the album completely

"Skyline To" and "Siegfried" are gorgeous

----------
https://93millionmilesabove.blogspot.com/
https://rateyourmusic.com/~Kosa12

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https://93millionmilesabove.blogspot.com/
https://rateyourmusic.com/~Kosa12

it's good, but leaves so much to be desired; and I am not in the ChannelOrange is masterpiece clan, even though it def has left it's cultural mark.

i find the vocal effects to be one of the most interesting aspects of Blond. Because Frank's voice has always been weak, (yet endearingly vulnerable) the effects really add a dimension of futurity to his lovelorn, aloof, poet of songs, characterization.

his lyrics still convey great imagery and emotion, but they sit idle on so much of the songs because of the lack of low end and aimlessness

it feels his relationship with James Blake (and the unending influence of 3stacks: which has its good and bad) has gave Ocean the aura that going the "alt" route is somehow more arty and honest

yet it's the songs that are rooted in muddy mixes, sedated pop, Blackness, and his queerness that are the best:
"Nike"
"Self Control"
"Night" all of it, just greatness
"Close to You" my favorite, why the fuck is it so short!
"Futura Free"

and obvi "Solo", which theeraser rightly said above, for as dope as it is, doesn't really fit, BUT conceptually it does. it's just the rapping is the hypest thing on the whole record, and it kinda stand out like a sore thumb, lol

much of these "balllads"/song poems need the love of Kaytranda, FlyLo, Metro, Mono/Poly on the low end. the ingredients are there, they just need to be dropped in that fish fry

the critics who will applaud and celebrate it like the best shit since sliced bread gunna be OD annoying, but yeah, whatevs, word

...in a whole other way.

And it's not an album for people that want big singles like Channel Orange had. Maybe it'll grow on me, but it's too mellow for me. It's odd that he released it in summer, when it is clearly a winter record.



_______________________________________
Current Playlist:
Kaytranada - 99.9%
YG - Still Brazy
Maxwell - Black Summers Night





"This is your world. Shape it or someone else will." - Gary Lew

--

"You can't beat white people. You can only knock them out."

I dunno, think I'm feeling the overall vibe of this album more than Channel Orange. The production is fucking immaculate.

-------------------------------
If life is stupendous one cannot also demand that it should be easy. - Robert Musil

>I dunno, think I'm feeling the overall vibe of this album
>more than Channel Orange. The production is fucking
>immaculate.

I was listening to Channel Orange this morning and found myself kind of bored. He really did something different/better on this album and I effs with it.

--------------------------------------
I ain't NEVER seen a hungry, happy muthaf*cka!

Heavy Ro'
Jay Rock - Redemption
Roc Marci - RR2
Travis Scott - Astroworld
Taz Arnold - rAd americA

from the best tracks of endless & blond
i dont think either one of them holds up particularly well as stand-alone albums
but the best of both worlds will make a pretty terrific record i suspect

if you appreciate that quality

the rest just doesn't stick for me.


~~~~~~~~~
"This is the streets, and I am the trap." � Jay Bilas
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/archive/contributor/517
Hip Hop Handbook: http://tinyurl.com/ll4kzz

couldn't get over lack of drums. then things started to make more sense to me.
helped to listen along with the lyrics.

great album imo.

-----
Cameo
Soundshape Records

but I understand his hype.

Shit me and my roommate were some of the ONLY people who were not impressed with his performance at FYF this year.

there are some great moments on Blond though

-----
Cameo
Soundshape Records

I've never stopped going back to this album. It's gotten better and better for me over the past year. He's definitely not a perfect vocalist, but I don't really care. His songwriting and the characters he creates are almost Dylan-caliber. I'm not sure anyone is even close in pop music right now in that regard.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

---

Frisson Radio | Saturdays 6-8 PM EST | 89.5 FM (Toronto) | www.ciut.fm
https://www.instagram.com/frissonradio

i was traveling that day so I couldn't get to it. And now, the price resellers want for it is fucking ridiculous.
Anyone got an extra copy they could part with?

--

"You can't beat white people. You can only knock them out."

I've been lowkey praying that there's another sale this year since there's no way I'm opening the vinyl ever.