Frank Ocean, 'Boys Don't Cry'

If Nikes, Ivy, Pink and White, Nights and Siegfried had been an intermediary e.p that surfaced 3 years ago I'd of been hailing him as the second coming. This is just a little insubstantial for all the hype. Truth is I keep hoping that he's gonna surprise us with the real album of 'Boys Don't Cry'...

This album is such an awkward bluff.

Skyline To is the true keeper from this

whew! It took long enough:

When you listen to “Blonde,” characterizations like “R. & B. deconstructionist” suddenly feel insufficient. If Ocean was ever interested in toying with genre conventions, he has since widened his gaze. These days, his work feels not only post-genre but post-album, and even post-song.

[snip]

At a time when a pop lyric is only as strong as its potential to become a T-shirt logo or an Instagram caption, Ocean is a genuine misfit. His free-form lyrics are a no-hashtag zone.

I was worried that no one would imply the album was post-genre.

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/09/05/frank-oceans-blonde-endless-and-boys-dont-cry-reviewed

at last we are out of the woods of genre

So many reviews boil down to «I don't actually like this but it feels important so...»

So are Blond, Endless and Boys Don't Cry three separate albums? And why is one spelled Blond and one spelled Blonde? I'm too old to understand what's happening :(

Something about contractual obligations, a super-rare magazine that's already claiming ridiculous amounts of money on eBay, and a frankly underwhelming album.

Trying, and failing, to hear the Gang of Four sample in 'Futura Free'.

And why is one spelled Blond and one spelled Blonde?

bc it's 2016 words have no rules or meaning dog

'Self Control' is making me tearful. The album is growing on me, a lot.

Oh come on ILM, 'Blond/Blonde' deserves more love than this. It's a brave slow burner that breaks the rules. Well, my rules at least given I've little patience with confessional singer songwriters. Blond/Blonde is a work with many layers, nuances and emotions. It needs time and focused listening, but it's worth the effort.

I fear it is heading for the dreaded 'more talked about than listened to' status. It's better than that, much better.

what rules is it breaking?

I added 'my rules' , which include an aversion to: R&B artists showcasing their Gospel influences, introspective men wth guitars unburdening their souls, and sprawling stabs at 'serious artist' status.

This album is way too much a guy with little tune sense unburdening his damaged soul over guitar strums.

"little tune sense"....... Frank's got tunes to burn, they're just not 'immediate', but they are there, in abundance. They are swirling around my head when I'm not playing it. And this is s.o. who gave 'Channel Orange' only a cursory listen.

Interesting. I loved nostalgiaultra and sort of hated Channel Orange. I think I noticed most of the tunes you mention but they just don't seem strong enough. The lyrics are unremarkable as well. It just sounds like a regular singer/songwriters's demo or something. It's coming from an interesting and likable dude so it gets a pass imo. But I'm sort of ready to be convinced otherwise. Could you maybe choose your top 5 favorite moments on the record?

I like the challenge simmel. As I'm currently traveling it will take a few days, but if I can persuade at least one person Blond(e) is the work of genius I think it is I will be happy, I will choose my five moments and get back to you.

Thanks! Looking forward to it.

Hey do you think Frank Ocean is trolling hipster wannabes?

I'm just thinking about an album sampling the Beatles and Gang of Four, with James Blake, scoring by Jonny Greenwood, Todd Rundgren, released on Apple Music, video album with him in a conceptual performance piece, doing symbolic woodcraft in his home shop, wearing a Jesus and Mary Chain t shirt, citing 100 absolutely canon films ... I'm feeling catered-to.

Still love the album, and I don't think the songs are anything other than heartfelt, but there is a part of me that wonders if it was production designed by someone with a list from stuffwhitepeoplelike.com

he didn't even put Todd in his list of "contributors" smh

Source unknown but the Wikipedia article for the album says '"Solo" contains a sample of "Flamingo" as written and performed by Todd Rundgren from the album A Wizard, a True Star.'
I think it's a fair question, don't you? The artistic choices and presentation of the music seem to have taken a very deliberate tack. "Trolling" is probably the wrong word, but ... fuck it, if it causes offence I am happy to withdraw the comment.

Oh, the Rundgren sample is just the bird chirp. Never mind.

Nah, good comment, good question, especially with OFWGKTA's whole deal.

i really like futura free, once you excise off the bonus track portion

http://funkyimg.com/i/2g5Bq.jpg

"Nikes" is cool imo, hypnotic. The N.E.R.D-sounding one and the couple acoustic tracks were the others that have elements I like at least

overall kind of a depressing listen though, in the literal sense

'Nights' turned out to be the keeper IMO.

where do you keep it – the basement?

in the pyramid iirc

Turns out he's done nothing but build staircases all these months.

whole album is a keeper. He really played the long game with this one

S:

Self Control
Solo
Skyline To
Nights
Pink + White

D:

Everything else

whole album is a keeper. He really played the long game with this one

― Evan R, Tuesday, March 7, 2017 3:24 PM (twenty minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yeah it's a very long album

great album

― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Friday, August 5, 2016 12:51 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

jk

― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Friday, August 5, 2016 12:51 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

lol Brad, this was great

voodoo's assessment feels right

would love to see a simple yes/no poll on this album

What game did he play

he made an LP that seemed like a massive, audaciously indulgent disappointment at first but revealed itself to be a huge grower imo

I get why most of this board hates it, and I don't have the energy to be its sole defender, but once it starts to click/move you it just keeps paying off with big emotional revelations. He also plays some unique tricks with absence (long periods w/o drums or unmanipulated vocals or certain expected trappings). My first couple of listens I couldn't stop focusing on what wasn't there, so it took me a while to realize what was. It's an ridiculously generous album disguised as a stingy one

anyway, so I get why people hate it, but I don't get the people who dismiss it as if it's w/o merit

i always loved this great album which i still listen to all the time

^^ long game listening

i'll happily defend this album, it's great

He also plays some unique tricks with absence (long periods w/o drums or unmanipulated vocals or certain expected trappings)

long periods without songwriting or variety or anything compelling happening, yeah

Two weeks out and I still can't stop playing "Chanel." Really hope this is a lead off to new material and not just a one-off, though the latter is more likely. "Slide" didn't have as much staying power for me, but "Chanel" just keeps getting better. Might be a top 5 song for him. "My guy pretty like a girl" is one of the best opening lines I've heard in a while.

Blonde is great, but "Chanel" kills most everything on it.

BABY I'M BIKING!

saw him in concert last night, he absolutely bombed, embarrassingly unengaged

I left after 4 numbers and while there are rumors the show gained some momentum later on I could not be bothered to wait for that (have seen some footage of it and looks just as dreadful as what I witnessed)

I believe most of the vocals I heard were backing tracks

a pity

That surprises me none

yeah what is his deal? He's been pulling an Axl lately cancelling these huge festival appearances like two weeks out. does he hate playing live?