frank ocean | blond

 
Frank Ocean is laying the bricks of his legacy. Each song is a brick. The bricks are gold. Without much argument nor doubt, these bricks exist as intricately laid cobblestones leading Mr. Ocean to the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame of our hearts.

Blond. This album will win awards. If not a Grammy or two, then most certainly a place upon the mantelpiece of cherished memories. His music, the heartfelt lyrics and the luscious melodies of your favorite Frank Ocean songs linger. Frank’s songs touch upon not just familiar themes, but familiar emotions. They are exploratory in their honesty and density of truth. Blond has more in common with bodies of work reminiscent of What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye),  Songs in the Key of Life (Stevie Wonder) and Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (The Cure) or OK Computer (Radiohead) than with contemporary artists making music today. And above all the craftsmanship of Frank’s work is both substantive and relatable, and incredibly mundane in the most humanistic and provocative way.

Frank Ocean’s songs become our songs. The songs are where and when we need to hear them. Fuck a powdered line of this or a glassful of that, these songs are the remedy and the cure. Sweet potent words, and an ongoing body of work worth your while over and over again…Blond.

This album will win awards.

I am not going to get into the long four-year wait because ultimately it doesn’t matter. What does matter is the quality of the finished product and his latest release, Blond has plenty to get excited over and suss out. Songs of intricate beauty and sophisticated nuance. Songs draped in vulnerability, proclamations of  struggle, accomplishment, fear and the much sought after compulsion to escape and dissect from a distance.

“Every night fucks every day up , every day patches the day up…”

It’s been two weeks and a day since Frank dropped his sophomore release on iTunes and as a fan, I am still coming down off of major euphoria. This is a great album with a wonderful collection of songs. And getting to know and discover each track is an exercise is both self-awareness and Mr. Ocean’s unique observation of the world he occupies. The material on this release is vastly different from what The Ocean has previously given. But to be fair so much of what Frank has released to date is divergent from and not easily paired with other material within his catalog. Yet, here I am trying to compare Nostalgia Ultra with the crazy, sexy and mature songs found on the Blond offering. Hey, it’s what I do.
 

 
The opening track Nikes is a lot of things all at once. It is a stereotypical depiction of certain members of the fairer sex as golddiggers delivered in the autotune trappings of a decade ago. It shamelessly references drug culture, yet it is also tender and mysterious. By the songs end though things morph into an illuminating metaphysical drug-induced existential tirade.

“Let you guys prophesize. Let you guys prophesize, we gonna see the future first. Living sorta last night, feels like a past life. Speaking on it, don’t know what got into people. Devils be possessing homies,  demons tryna body jump, why you think I’m this bitch wearing a fucking yamaka? Acid on me like the rain, weed crumbles in the glitter. Rain. Glitter. We lay it out on a square floor. But we ain’t turf no astro. Mesmerize how the strobe glow…”

But in the end, “It’s only awkward if you’re fucking him too…”

After I work through the songs, listening to some songs on repeat endlessly. I decide not to give a song by song breakdown. Because to me, this body of work will mean something else to you than it does to me. However, saying as much, my favorite tracks are, in no particular order: Nikes, Ivy, Pink + White, Solo, Nights, White Ferrari, Siegfreid, Godspeed and Futura Free.

“Mind over matter is magic, I do magic..”
 

 

About the song Nights, though. I love this song for all kinds of reasons. I enjoy how it is sorta like getting two songs in one. It shape-shifts into something else and ends up as an entirely different animal when all is said and done. Coolest beans. Peace.

Artist: Frank Ocean
Album: Blond
Featured Track: Nikes
iTunes

Blond Track Listing:

01 Nikes
02 Ivy
03 Pink + White
04 Be Yourself
05 Solo
06 Skyline To
07 Self Control
08 Good Guy
09 Nights
10 Solo (Reprise)
11 Pretty Sweet
12 Facebook Story
13 Close to You
14 White Ferrari
15 Siegfried
16 Godspeed
17 Futura Free

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[verse 1]

double d big full breasts on my baby

 (yo we going to florida)

triple weight couldn’t weigh the love i’ve got for the girl

 and i just wanna know

why you ain’t been going to work

boss ain’t working you like this

he can’t take care of you like this

[hook]

now you’re lost

lost in the heat of it all

girl you know you’re lost

lost in the thrill of it all miami, amsterdam tokyo, spain, lost los angeles, india

lost on a train, lost

[verse 2]

got on my buttercream silk shirt and it’s versace

hand me my triple weight

so i can weigh the work i got on your girl

too weird to live, too rare to die

no i don’t really wish i don’t wish the titties would show

no, have i ever have i ever let you get caught [hook]

[verse 3]

she’s at a stove

can’t believe i got her out here cooking dope

i promise she’ll be whipping meals up for a family of her own some day

nothing wrong

nothing wrong, ain’t nothing wrong)

no nothing wrong with a lie

nothing wrong with another short plane ride

(nothing wrong, ain’t nothing wrong)

through the sky up in the sky you and i just you and i

[hook]

[outro]

love lost?

love love

love lost?

love love

love lost

love love

love lost

life is the substance

then the other channel on the…

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Not only is the song “Pink Matter,” the center piece of Frank Ocean‘s ‘Channel Orange‘ (my opinion) it is also my favorite of the 17-song debut release. However, now the track reaches greater heights of dope-ability with the added vocal presence of Big Boi (OutKast). This is a must have remix and it can be yours just by clicking here and downloading your free copy. Peace.

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Although I have written extensively regarding the young and super-talented Mr. Frank Ocean, I find myself penning yet another ream of inadequate words in an attempt to describe the magic of yet another gorgeous song titled, ‘Wiseman‘. The official word, is originally the song was supposed to be included in Quentin Tarantino’s deep dirty southern film ‘Django Unchained‘soundtrack. But alas, it didn’t come to pass.  It’s ok though, ’cause we still have this beautiful song released out into the world for us all to enjoy. Peace.

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What is it folks say about imitation being a compliment or something or other? I’m kidding! I know the adage is to express the greatest platitudes of flattery and Cincinnati’s Afghan Whigs have expressed it abundantly with their guitar-ridden cover of Frank Ocean’s “Lovecrimes”. I’d buy this, but as fortune would have it the Lovecrimes cover is available as a FREE DOWNLOAD. Also, the A-to-the-F are recently, and currently reunited and soon to be out on tour. Here’s a little badass reminder of why you (should) love them. Peace.
 

 
Afghan Whigs tour dates:
 
07/25 – The Hi-Fi, Melbourne
07/26 – The Factory, Sydney
07/27 – Splendour in the Grass, Byron Bay
08/03 – Lollapalooza, Chicago
08/04 – The Metro, Chicago
08/07 – Circus, Helsinki
08/09 – Oya Festival, Oslo
08/10 – Way Out West Festival, Göteborg
08/11 – Haldern Pop Festival, Rees-Haldern
08/14 – Palladium, Warsaw
08/15 – Lucerna Music Bar, Prague
08/17 – Pukkelpop, Hasselt
08/19 – KOKO, London
09/22 – I’ll Be Your Mirror, Asbury Park
09/28 – 9:30 Club, Washington DC
10/03 – Phoenix Theatre, Toronto
10/05 – Terminal 5, New York City
10/14 – Austin City Limits Fest, Austin
10/24 – St. Andrew’s Hall, Detroit
10/25 – Bogart’s, Cincinnati

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Did you catch Frank Ocean on Jimmy Fallon performing “Bad Religion”? If you didn’t don’t worry you’re pretty little head off. Click on the Jimmy Fallon link above and you can watch it to your heart’s desire. Just a few more days until the official Channel Orange release (July 17th). By the way, I’m sure you heard Target has refused to carry Frank Ocean’s debut album Channel Orange in its stores? How wack is that? I think it’ll be a great idea to write those folks over at Target a letter. You can check out the official news on BET. Psst! You can also cop it on iTunes before it hits stores. Listen to the track, “Golden Girl” (Ft. Tyler the Creator) after the jump. Peace.

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It’s less than a week until Frank Ocean drops his official debut album Channel Orange and his label (Def Jam) keeps our collective appetites thoroughly whetted. Check out the latest single, “Sweet LIFE” this one is so chill you can ride it into the sunset blowing misty vapor into a blue frostbitten sky. July 17th is the date Channel Orange drops, so mark your calendar or you can just Pre-Order it on cd or vinyl. Or you can just head over to iTunes because it’s available now. Peace.

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Frank Ocean is the latest celebrity to proclaim a not so run of the mill sexual orientation. (Read Mr. Ocean’s coming out letter) Less than 24-hours ago Mr. Ocean substantiates claims of his bi-sexuality shortly after a U.K. reporter outed him.  Frank Ocean played his upcoming album Channel Orange for a mix bag of press at a promotional event. The follow trio of songs, ‘Bad Religion,’ ‘Pink Matter (Ft. André 3000) and ‘Forrest Gump’ exude not so subtle references of Frank Ocean loving a ‘he’ and not a ‘she’. What will this mean for the up and coming singer/songwriter? And further, how will fans, and specifically the R&B community react? I guess we’ll find out soon enough. Frank Ocean’s forthcoming album Channel Orange drops in just under 2-weeks (July 17th) via Def Jam. Peace.

Pre-Order: Channel Orange CD – $11.99

Pre-Order: Channel Orange Vinyl – $17.44

Track List:

01 Start
02 Thinkin’ Bout You
03 Fertilizer
04 Sierra Leone
05 Sweet Life
06 Not Just Money
07 Super Rich Kids (Ft. Earl Sweatshirt)
08 Pilot Jones
09 Crack Rock
10 Pyramids
11 Lost
12 White (Ft. John Mayer)
13 Monks
14 Bad Religion
15 Pink Matter (Ft. André 3000)
16 Forrest Gump
17 End

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Frank Ocean is without a doubt talented. Super talented. But, he is also a couple of other things. An anomaly and a game changer. In the history of R&B and soul music he is in good company. Think, in no particular order, the likes of Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, James Brown, and Curtis Mayfield, etc. This young singer/songwriter is particularly fond of Otis Redding, Issac Hayes, and Marvin Gaye, and stylistically it shows. But what Mr. Ocean does, and continues to do is closer to what Prince represents in terms of an expansive musicality. Quite honestly though, he’ll be the first one to tell you he doesn’t possess the guitar chops of Van Halen nor does he know any “secret chords like Saint David.” But man can this kid draw lines from a wide variety of influences. Pop, rock, and alternative just to name of few music genres he sources and funnels through his imagination.

Of course, all musicians draw influence from what has come before, but Mr. Ocean casts his net into the whole tapestry of music, or so it seems. Make no mistake his is an ear cocked in unlikely directions. So, if you haven’t listened to Frank Ocean’s nostalgia, ULTRA mixtape (FREE DOWNLOAD) I implore you give it a listen. If you’re a fan, and an avid listener of music, then you probably already know about the Radiohead references and MGMT samples. But then, there is the beautifully hijacked Eagles “Hotel California” and Coldplay “Strawberry Swing” takeovers. On these quasi-renditions Mr. Ocean leaves the music intact but inlays his own reworked lyrics effortlessly, and seamlessly atop.

And still, there is so much more. Because, it’s not only the music, (although he is the veritable musical contortionist) but it is too the unconventional lyrics, the quirky arrangements, and the Auto-Tune and his very capable singing as well. Listen to fan favorite “There Will Be Tears” with its varying tempo and heart-on-a-sleeve subject matter. It is songs like this, but also “Swim Good” and “We All Try” which put this young visionary into a singular category. Because thematically speaking this young gun breathes rarefied air into the aforementioned songs with touching tenderness and vulnerability that is as refreshing as it is endearing.

Yes, Mr. Ocean is different. But different in a good and wholly unique way. His music deviates, in subtle ways from the canon of the neo-soul movement. His latest offering, “Pyramids,” which according to unofficial industry murmurs, will appear on his debut Def Jam release Channel Orange . This song, “Pyramids,”in my opinion is more in the vein of “Novacane” and “Lovecrimes,” but that isn’t a necessarily a bad thing at all. Plus, this track clocks in at just under 10:00 minutes. Making it the longest (and deeply steeped R&B) track to date. And all this leads up to the expectations of Frank Ocean’s debut album release Channel Orange set to drop July 17th via Def Jam. I am excited, expectant and hopeful. Frank Ocean is definitely an artist to watch. Peace. 

Tour Dates

07/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
07/19 – Austin, TX @ La Zona Rosa
07/20 – Dallas, TX @ Southside Music Hall
07/22 – Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage
07/23 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
07/25 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
07/26 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
07/28 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
07/29 – Montreal, QC @ Club Soda
07/31 – Toronto, ON @ The Guvernment
08/01 – Detroit, MI @ TBA
08/04 – Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
08/07-11 – Oslo, NO @ Oya Fest
08/08-11 – Helsinki, FI @ Flow Festival
08/09-11 – Gothenburg, SE @ Way Out West Festival
08/16-18 – Kiewit, BE @ Pukkelpop
08/18-19 – Essex, UK @ V Festival
08/18-19 – Staffordshire, UK @ V Festival
08/24-26 – Paris, FR @ Rock en Seine
08/28 – Copenhagen, DK @ Parken Stadium !%
08/30 – Stockholm, SE @ Olympic Stadium !%
09/02 – Paris, FR @ Stade de France !%
09/04 – Cologne, DE @ Rheinenergie Stadium !%
09/06 – The Hague, NL @ Malieveld !%
09/07-08 – Isle of Wight, UK @ Bestival
09/12 – Munich, DE @ Red Bull Stadium !%
09/16 – Prage, CZ @ Slavia Eden Stadium !%
09/19 – Warsaw, PL @ National Stadium !%
09/22 – Hannover, DE @ AWD Arena !%

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Resident OFWGKTA crooner Frank Ocean is already a bad mofo all by himself, but when the likes of SBTRKT get’s his hands on “Whip Appeal” things get over the top good real fast. Over the top good as in magnificent. Magnificent as in totally badass. You’ll love this one. Peace.

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