channel ORANGE

Frank Ocean | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 10, 2012)
• Original Release Date: 2012
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Def Jam
• ASIN: B008CJ0KI8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (276 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #536 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #32 in Music > R&B

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

103 of 112 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 2012 R&B from Frank Ocean July 12, 2012

By M. Kleine

Format:Audio CD

First, the statement/announcement made on Frank Ocean's tumblr earlier this month...

It's significant and quite frankly, `Radical.' Right now, it's almost impossible to write a review without talking about, or at least mentioning, the letter. Read it if you haven't already. It's important. And at the time this review was written, tons of celebrities have already offered their reactions, read: Russell Simmons, Chuck D, Solange Knowles, Stephen Hill, and then, of course Tyler the Creator and Earl Sweatshirt. And many others, to follow, I'm sure.

But enough about the letter. There's music to talk about and questions to answer. Like, is this album any good? Does André 3000 deliver on the track `Pink Matter?' And, what does the John Mayer collaboration track actually sound like? Let's start by answering all of that right now: yes, the album is very good. Yes André 3000 delivers (and more) on arguably, and probably, one of the better (if not best) tracks of this record. And John Mayer doesn't say anything because `White' is an instrumental track and it sounds like what you would expect: Frank Ocean and John Mayer, in the studio, jamming together. But the track is chill, virtuosic and pretty damn good. And for a track that doesn't seem to say much, it says a lot, even without any lyrics. But onto the album itself, as a whole.

First and foremost, for those not in-the-know, Frank Ocean is 24, he's an R&B singer, and yes, he is a member of the infamous Los Angeles-based hip-hop collective/crew/group/club (what-have-you) Odd Future Wolfgang Kill Them All (OFWGKTA). And when I listen to the record, I think R. Kelly and Kid Cudi and Kanye West, largely because Channel Orange sounds like all of the good things from all of those artists, (the singing from R. Kelly, the synth-laden soundscapes and beats from Kid Cudi and the charisma, coolness and confidence of Kanye West, albeit a little more low-key) all packaged into one neat little box, or I guess, CD case (or MP3 download or Vinyl).

People are probably going to be talking about Channel Orange for a little while. Probably, because of the letter, and also, because of how damn good it is. The most talked-about/hyped album right now, for sure. So again, you may want to know, is Channel Orange any good? In short, yes, it's damn good.

This is a solid and cohesive album, 17 tracks in all, complete with intros, instrumental interludes and outros (yeah, we definitely called those skits back in the 90s and early 00s) but everything on Channel Orange sounds focused and with purpose. And I say `focused' and `with purpose' because Channel Orange is not littered with guests. Just Earl Sweatshirt, John Mayer (who doesn't even sing or anything, remember that!) and André 3000. The track titles themselves are pretty remarkable (I think) and full of gumption (`Super Rich Kids,' `Pyramids,' `Pink Matter,' `Forrest Gump,' etc.) and rest assured, it never drags (55 minutes and then some).

Album highlights include:

Thinkin Bout You
Sweet Life
Super Rich Kids (feat. Earl Sweatshirt)
Pilot Jones
Pyramids
White (feat. John Mayer)
Bad Religion
Pink Matter (feat. André 3000)

As a whole, Channel Orange is, quite honestly, probably the definitive R&B album this side of 2012. And this is what 2012 R&B sounds like. So, Channel Orange is probably what I mean when I write things like "timeless music," and "summer music," and "really good," and "this means something," but... in the end "i don't know anything & neither do you."

31 of 37 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Proof That Simplicity Still Works. July 14, 2012

By Slayer Fanboy

Format:Audio CD

I won't even go too in-depth with this review. The title is the whole point. In the days where electro-dance-house-pop is storming the airways and the iPods, Frank Ocean comes out swinging with a debut album with an odd freshness to classic R&B styles. He is refreshing, game-changing, and purely and simply certainly one of the greats. Mr. Ocean has LOTS of success in his future. He is candid, charming, sensual, silly, and heartfelt in his lyrics and delivery -- not to mention those super-polished imperfect pipes.

This album will be a classic, if it can't be considered one already. Do yourself a favor, and let Frank Ocean take you back.

23 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What R&B should be July 17, 2012

By Isarizal

Format:Audio CD

Frank Ocean's album "Channel Orange" is what R&B should be. Its production is creative, the lyrics tell a good story, and Ocean has a good falsetto and soulful voice. Too much R&B nowadays is generic and/or features uninteresting lyrics. The beats here are original sounding and ambitious, and the story telling here is atypical in urban music. The story telling is more typical of what you'd hear on an indie rock record.

From the start, I admired Ocean's talents as a singer and producer. Ocean is the only member of Odd Future whom I'm a fan of. I have mixed feelings about Tyler and the rest of the group. There's a lot of creative production in their work, but the sadistic lyrics spoil it (that's a whole other story).

The style of "Channel Orange" is comparable to some of Prince's earlier work, in that its R&B music with beats and production that are unconventional. A modern comparable work would be Drake's "Take Care" album. Like most of "Take Care", "Channel Orange" is always reflective and melancholy. There are no fun, upbeat, poppy songs here. Sometimes the songs deal with love, sometimes with socioeconomic issues. Vocally, Ocean follows the style of slow jam singers.

I don't think there was a single song that I dislike on this album. My favorite ones: "Thinkin Bout You", "Bad Religion", and "Forrest Gump" are ballads that reflect on relationships. "Super Rich Kids" tells the story of hedonistic, aimless rich kids. "Crack Rock" tells the story of drug-addled lady friend. "Pyramids" is probably the best song on the album. It is a 9 minute, guitar flavored track that probably mixes seven or eight different genres.

My only complaint is that the album is slow and mellow throughout and could have had a few more upbeat songs. Prince is an idiosyncratic R&B artist, and his 80s albums included lots of upbeat songs. Drake's album included several club tracks.

To those who say that R&B is dead, this album proves you wrong.