“Pyramids” delivers 10 minutes of innovative alt-R&B, while the interlude “White” dusts the album's latter half with satiny-smooth guitar from John Mayer. Album opener “Thinkin Bout You” is a gorgeous, plaintive ballad and “Super Rich Kids” edges on hip-hop’s territory with an arrestingly simple beat and a nod to Mary J. Thoughtfulness marks every moment in channel ORANGE, where Ocean showcases the raw chops and pitch-perfect sense that allow him to build drama in each song. And since then he’s matured his sound, adding nuance to his blunt lyrical style as he reflects on lost love and the pleasure-seeking of his generation.
It’s been over a year since Ocean released Nostalgia, Ultra, the mixtape that branded his eclectic take on R&B and marked him an easy crossover hit for the indie/alternative crowd. Is all the hype merited, or has the excitement gone overboard?Īs a careful listen of channel ORANGE will tell you, the answer to that question is a definite hell no. He's also the most acclaimed member of the hip hop collective Odd Future, so expectations were already high - and the recent buzz surrounding his personal life cast him as a pop music demigod. 'Bad Religion' uses strings and mournful organs as musical grammar for romantic anguish. 'Pilot Jones' is a suitably woozy tune about literal stoned love. 'Sierra Leone' sounds like the lazy sex that sinks its protagonist. He’s revealed his romantic feelings for a man, streamed his debut LP a week before its official release, and made waves on just about every worthwhile music blog in America. What makes Channel Orange a great debut is Oceans ability to match narrative with soundtrack. Frank Ocean has had an insane couple of weeks.
0 kommentar(er)
