#4. Blond[e]
By: Frank Ocean
It’s hard to follow up on one of the most loved albums of the decade with anything more than slight disappointment. Like many albums these days, I think Blond[e] would have benefitted from a slightly smaller rollout. Elaborate rollouts often steal the spotlight from the actual music. Such was the case for Ocean’s long belated album, once titled Boys Don’t Cry. Once listeners finally stopped comparing it to Channel Orange and actually listened to the music, they finally heard the masterful beauty that is Blond[e] - I use brackets because the title could be interchangeable, based on your preferred gender. This is Ocean on max chill: drums barely make an appearance and gently plucked guitars dominate. Most notable is the effects draped over Ocean’s voice, providing a wall for him to hide behind as he shares pieces of himself too intimate to bear.
Key song:
“Nikes” - The first single the world heard of Ocean’s new music was also the best example of what the artist could do in 2016. It gave us the first taste of Ocean’s doctored alien vocals, the first taste of his newfound sincerity that he expressed in hushed tones. It perfectly blends the intimately personal with social commentary ("RIP Trayvon / that n***a look just like me") and manages to make them sound one in the same. "Nikes" is absolutely one of the best songs of the year.
By: Frank Ocean
It’s hard to follow up on one of the most loved albums of the decade with anything more than slight disappointment. Like many albums these days, I think Blond[e] would have benefitted from a slightly smaller rollout. Elaborate rollouts often steal the spotlight from the actual music. Such was the case for Ocean’s long belated album, once titled Boys Don’t Cry. Once listeners finally stopped comparing it to Channel Orange and actually listened to the music, they finally heard the masterful beauty that is Blond[e] - I use brackets because the title could be interchangeable, based on your preferred gender. This is Ocean on max chill: drums barely make an appearance and gently plucked guitars dominate. Most notable is the effects draped over Ocean’s voice, providing a wall for him to hide behind as he shares pieces of himself too intimate to bear.
Key song:
“Nikes” - The first single the world heard of Ocean’s new music was also the best example of what the artist could do in 2016. It gave us the first taste of Ocean’s doctored alien vocals, the first taste of his newfound sincerity that he expressed in hushed tones. It perfectly blends the intimately personal with social commentary ("RIP Trayvon / that n***a look just like me") and manages to make them sound one in the same. "Nikes" is absolutely one of the best songs of the year.