Blond
by Frank Ocean

I really don't get this album - even though he has a great voice a lot of the vocals are annoying. It's like a collection of samples that don't actually become proper tracks. The only track I enjoyed was Seigfried but even that isn't really a proper song it just has some nice instrumentation. This is apparently the 93rd best album of all time, shows I don't quite understand music as much as I thought I did.

Totally captivating songwriting and performances. Beautifully imagined and executed.

A fantastic modern record where Frank Ocean is not frightened to experiment at all which leads to some of his most complex music so far. To start with the negatives, I do think there is some stuff on here which could be cut out such as a few of the shorter songs. Frank Ocean does have a tendency to get a little lost in places as well where I think he is trying to do too much at one time which can lead to a few moments which sound like a bit of a mess. Despite this, when he gets the experimentation right on this record it is stunning. We are treated to some compositions which are perfect for introspection and getting completely lost in the music. The best example of this for me is White Ferrari which always leads to me just staring off into the distance and becoming completely transfixed on the music. His words are great as well with him challenging modern issues in an intelligent way making it very enjoyable to look into his lyrics. The best thing about this album for me however is the atmosphere that Frank Ocean creates. It is moody and distorted but calm and carefully crafted which allows the music to just glide past as you are lost to this brilliant environment. It stuns me every time I revisit this album with how good Frank Ocean was at taking you away from reality. Overall, there is so much to love on here from the lyrics to the atmosphere to the experimentation, making it a work of modern brilliance that is the peak of Frank Ocean's career so far.

Blonde proves to be a fascinating insight into depression and loneliness in the 21st century in a way that elevates the genre that the music is based within. There is something about the record that drags you back into Ocean's despair to unpick something new each time.

Depressing yet beautiful

Moody, hazy poeticism; to be listened to while lying on your bed, staring at the ceiling in wonderful despair.

This and Channel Orange are both such great albums. Frank is really a talented guy. CO just edges this one for me, but Nights is his best song. It's such a great album. 9/10

From Jboy56 04/13/2022 10:18 | #284154

Evaluating this music is not easy. This is a sort of meditative album and to me separating the songs in just one sitting is tedious.

A tedious album, to my ears. This is the musical equivalent of throwing a handful of spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks. When an actually catchy hook is stumbled upon, Ocean moves away from it quickly to chase the latest squirrel.

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