Boys Run The World: Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange Review
July 11, 2012 by Zamani Khethelo
As I am writing this, Frankie boy’s album is not even twenty four hours old. I have tried to listen to it as thoroughly as possibly. But since its still very fresh, my opinions about the album may not be the same in a few weeks or so.
The album opens up with an intro titled; “Start” I don’t really get the purpose of this intro, there are no vocals, just weird sounds and the albums goes into track two; “Think About You”. A soft mid-tempo where Frank rap/sings about a certain lover he can’t seem to stop thinking about, the song is nice. The production is very similar to the track he produced on Beyonce’s “4” album; “I Miss You”, Actually the two songs sound so similar they could be Siamese twins.
Track three is a 30 second interlude of him singing about; “Fertilizer, That’s all.
“Sierra Leone” is an interlude, disguised as song. He’s going on about Sierra Leone and then the song ends, and it’s too short.
The firth track on the album is a 60s inspired mid-tempo about someone who’s had a privileged life.
The firth song on the album, well its actually 58 seconds of some woman talking about money, and then it leads to the seventh track which is called ‘Super Rich Kids” about how rich kids live with maids and riding daddy’s jaguars, it has a very 70s influence sound also.
“Pilot Jones” is a ballad about a girl Frank dated who’s always smoking in his mother’s house, a drunkard hood rat who Frank sleeps with, but doesn’t know why. The song features some of Mr. Ocean’s best vocals.
Track nine; “Crack Rock” is another song that sounds like the previous songs on the album.
“Pyramids” is the longest song on the album, over nine minutes long, It’s the song that comes closest to a dance number with some futuristic synths and beats.
“Lost is” is another 60s/ 70s R&B influenced mid-tempo, it has a nice melody.
The twelfth track on the album really pisses me off!
When I saw the credits I was excited to see that it features John Mayer but believe me when I say this is just one minute of instruments with no vocals what- so- ever. I mean what the hell???
“Monks” is a 60s/70s mid-tempo lead by drums and percussions; about some girl who sleeps with bands.
“Bad Religion” is one of the album stand outs, its the song Frank made his American TV debut with. Frank’s vocals on this song are very emotive, but in typical Frank Ocean trademark style, the song is too short and ends just as you start getting into it.
“Pink Matter” featuring Andre3000 is my favorite song on the album.
Frank sings about how life is not black and white or even Grey, but has Pink matters also. The song starts like a typical Frank song, but when Mr. Andre3000 enters towards the end, he comes and runs away with the song.
“Forrest gump” is Frank’s declaration to his male lover.
He clearly states that he is in love with a boy, whom he can’t get over. He sings about a boy who is buff and strong that he just wants. This one is going to get a lot of tongues wagging, it’s also simply one of the best songs on the album.
The last song on the album is an interlude with soft music and some dialogue.
I have already seen people hail this album as the greatest work since the Mona Lisa was painted. I beg to differ.
This album is messy and tends to sound monotonous. I honestly believe that it’s only generating so much hype riding on the fact that Frank recently came out of the closet.
I commend Frank for his bravery, but I’m not going to call a subpar album great, just because Frank was brave enough to say he was gay and don’t get me wrong, I am a huge Frank Ocean fan.
To a lot of people the name Frank Ocean only became recognizable in mainstream when he had a Twitter beef with Chris Brown earlier last year but even prior to that, I was aware of Frank’s work behind the scenes and have been anticipating his album since way back then.
But come on Frank! You have produced more magical stuff in the past and for other artists.
I honestly feel he could have done better, I also think it’s a case of when a producer over-sees the production of an entire album may it be for themselves or other artists, everything just ends up sounding the same.
I was hoping Frank would have experimented a little bit more and put some edge in his music.
Another fear of mine for this album is that it doesn’t really have mainstream/radio friendly songs. So I wonder how the singles are going to do on the charts?
I am not saying he should have some DOOF! DOOF! DOOF! Song where we’ll *cue Kelly Rowland to gyrate* but he could have at least had one or two mainstream-ish songs.
Score: Gay/10 = Undecided
By Zamani Khethelo
PowerPuff Gal on Wed, 11th Jul 2012 10:30 pm
I love Frank Ocean and looking forward to listening to his latest offering.
BongaPercy on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 12:32 am
I love most of the songs on the album, and I think it deserves a Grammy nod or two. That being said, I’d still like to give it more airplay before calling it “the best album ever”. I’m totally okay with it not being mainstream, because in my opinion, we have too much of the same everything everywhere. I think that for his debut (commercial) album, he wanted to do something different with a completely different sound. And I think that’s what makes the album unique. Comparing it to his first one (the mixtape), he’s taken another direction. If I had to choose, I prefer the mixtape.
Oh, and one more thing: Frank didn’t “come out” nor did he say he was gay. He just said the first person he fell in love with was a guy. #JustSaying
LadyMillion on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 4:44 am
Shame mna i dont know this face…just the name *hides* NOT!!
Had to google him the other day and i was laark oh owkay
Not starting another “how generators fucked it up for the gays’ debate…
Bt this guy sings abt some girl he was sleeping with,the next song he is
in love with some boy.so i get what the othr bloggers were saying re: not putting people in boxes
@bongapercy naye uyatsho ‘nigga never said he is gay hehe
namzie on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 8:10 am
Love the review….not bothered about the album after that review.my heart still beats
bumbum on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 8:14 am
Andimazi nje lomntu¤hhis¤
Sizzles on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 8:17 am
Hhhay judging from this review I wouldn’t listen to this album hey, it doesn’t sound enticing at all, infact from all the reviews I’d listen to Usher’s Album only. I thought I was a fan of Francine(Hehehe) in the beginning but nah, I just tolerate him. Zamani must get back to us in 3 weeks and tell us if the album does get better with time or not.
MyThoughts on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 8:25 am
Oh this is THE Frank Ocean?!
*Moonwalks to Avalon*
Deathby this review as a whole
Olebak on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 8:33 am
Ke mang Frank? Ke ngwana Billy?
Biskiti on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 8:36 am
Haayi le nna Francina Ocean is news to me! I had never heard of his pink self until the recent news of his closetedness. Anyway, judging by Zamani’s review, i think i’ll wait for the album to find it’s way to me, i won’t go out of my way.
@Bonga, “Oh, and one more thing: Frank didn’t “come out” nor did he say he was gay. He just said the first person he fell in love with was a guy. #JustSaying”….what is the difference? Now, i’m confuckulated! Kanti, Isn’t being gay loving/sleeping with people of the same sex? Looks like we need another “Intersexions” to iron out the pink from the colour purple.
Mathaz on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 9:21 am
I have been wondering who this Frank Ocean is.
@JohneighGALAXY™ on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 9:32 am
@Biskiti: Labels can be confusing boy. Remember what I’ve been telling You all. Human beings are inherently Bisexual, though at varying degrees(Our very own beloved @SexyLin proved this theory of mine right a few weeks back.). Frank Ocean is Bisexual. Many people occasionally get intimate w/ members of the same-sex.
bonitaapplebum on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 9:41 am
Interesting review, second one i’m reading about the album. The other site referred to it as a ‘brilliant, beautiful new album’ and ‘impressive’ so ke tla ikutlwela phele…
I liked most of the songs on his mixtape, Nostalgia, Ultra. Just won’t be rushing and get the album, yet. Hope it does well, he’s a talented guy
Mapakisha on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 10:28 am
I’m still so crushed (“,)
@JohneighGALAXY™ on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 10:43 am
I’ve always loved Frank Ocean’s writing style. He delivery is quite emotive. I’m still listening to His previous worx. He sure is gifted. I was sent some songs a few weeks back via a Friend of mine employed by Frank’s distribution
label and I found them to be impressive.
sweetbabe on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 11:21 am
Guys help me out who the hell is Frank Ocean okwangempela ke manje… yazi ngisabathe ngiyamucabanga ayi angimazi, ucula liphi iculo????
bumbum on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 11:42 am
Manisize uSweetbabe nizobe nisize mina, ngisehlane manyani
sxylin on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 1:21 pm
@Biskiti: Labels can be confusing boy. Remember what I’ve been telling You all. Human beings are inherently Bisexual, though at varying degrees(Our very own beloved @SexyLin proved this theory of mine right a few weeks back.) ahh hahahaaha wena JG ungazongisukela hahahaha; what theory did i prove hahahaaha
lolo on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 3:43 pm
In other homosexual news: I have a date this weekend, a second date, which is traditionally the sex date in the Lesbian community…Caster insisted on cooking for me on Sunday…too too sexy, Now I have a few concerns, caster is 11 years younger than I, she is ten times fetter than me, no strech mark, no cellulite, since I made it clear that by 5 pm I need to be home , I know that the sex will be in broad day light….Eish mna I have cellulite on my cellulite, mncinci marn lamntana andifuni ukumothusa, plus girl sex exposes errthang…My question is this…do I ply her with alcohol so that angaboni ubana ungqengqa u-anti ondim?? Where the hell is load shedding when you need it?????
lolo on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 3:49 pm
Meant fitter, yhhu she has an actual six pack…Not unlike Ciara…she has this androgynous hotness I find hot….I have never been with a completely dyed in the wool lesbian before, so I really look forward to being exposed to that….
LadyMillion on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 4:06 pm
dyed-in-the-wool (ddn–wl)
1. Thoroughgoing; out-and-out
2. [of someone] permanent or extreme
dyed-in-the-wool
if you describe someone as dyed-in-the-wool, you mean they have very strong opinions and will not change (always before noun) He’s a dyed-in-the-wool traditionalist where cooking is concerned – he won’t have any modern gadgets in the kitchen.
lolo on Thu, 12th Jul 2012 4:30 pm
Kwaaaaa @LadyMillion, uthe uyi googlishe le term love?
UCaster loo wam came out when she was eight to her mom, she says she new then that she was les! She says she insisted on cutting her hair, and because her mom was shocked she insisted on flerhing little Caster’s hair until she figured out that the best thing would be to put chewed gum on her hair, make it look like an accisent, ingathi ulale ehlafuna so her mom would cut her hair….