(I would like to thank Frank for choosing a colour that fit in with the rest of my blog)
This new work from Frank Ocean is surprisingly sunny and relaxed for a member of Odd Future. This Californian singer really goes to lengths to portray the good and bad about the culture of his peers and friends in the Orange Country.
Channel Orange is slow paced and careful. The songs take their time, but Frank Ocean uses the space well, filling it with sleepy synthesizers and his stellar voice. Some of the songs really feel like the beats were ripped from 1970's infommercials, but I feel like the sterile ambiance of songs like "Fertilizer" and "Super Rich Kids" really adds to the overall feel of a world stuffed with shrink wrapped couches and pools only for sunning oneself beside.
Both of the rap features on this album fit into the rest of the songs with ease. Earl Sweatshirt kills it as usual, and Andre 3000's soothing swagger seems right at home in the mournful "Pink Matter." Also, the fact that only two are used goes to show that Frank Ocean can hold his own comfortably on his début solo release without using the features as a crutch. This album is R&B all over and comfortable that way. John Mayer also makes a fantastic appearance on the lounge interlude "White."
One grievance that I have with Channel Orange, is that the message tends to be somewhat heavy handed at points. Songs about the hollowness of Californian, suburban lifestyle only pack emotional weight when they are not played back to back. I generally enjoy heavily themed albums, but when they do not have a wide enough variety of material it can grow stale. I also find it hard to feel sorry for millionaires sometimes, although most of Frank's lyrics concern the children of these people and it is very easy to sympathize with children whose "maids come around too much, and parents aren't around enough."
In general, I quite enjoyed Channel Orange. After listening to it all the way through a couple times, it did seem to drag a little bit in the middle, but considering the album's generally slow pace, it did stay quite engaging. "Pyramids" and "Lost" helps to drive the album forward when the pace slows down, but at the end of the album, I found the song "Forrest Gump" perplexing and nonsensical. This album would be perfect for a lazy day in your beach side villa after a night of heavy drinking and regrets.
