Ocean also notably makes use of pitch shifted vocals.
Its physical release was accompanied by a magazine entitled Boys Don't Cry.īlonde features an abstract and experimental sound in comparison to Ocean's previous releases, encompassing styles such as R&B, pop, soul, indie rock, electronica, psychedelia, and hip hop. Beginning in 2013 and ending in 2016, recording for the album took place at New York's Electric Lady Studios and, after a period of writer's block, in London at Abbey Road Studios and in Los Angeles' Henson Recording Studios. Initially known as Boys Don't Cry and teased for a July 2015 release, the album suffered several delays and was the subject of widespread media anticipation leading up to its release. In 2013, Ocean confirmed that his follow up to Channel Orange would be another concept album.
Production was handled by Ocean himself, alongside a variety of high-profile record producers, including Malay and Om'Mas Keith, who collaborated with Ocean on Channel Orange, as well as James Blake, Jon Brion, Buddy Ross, Pharrell Williams, and Rostam Batmanglij, among others.
The album features guest vocals from André 3000, Beyoncé, and Kim Burrell, among others. It was released on August 20, 2016, as a timed exclusive on the iTunes Store and Apple Music, and followed the August 19 release of Ocean's video album Endless.
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Past and present blend, and the album's closer Futura Free freewheels though reflections provided by Ocean, and then his brother in a dated interview with skateboarder Sage Elsesser.Blonde (alternatively titled blond) is the second studio album by American singer Frank Ocean. Seigfried brings in Elliott Smith's A Fond Farewell for a solemn consideration of mortality. White Ferrari borrows from The Beatles, with haunting spots from Blake and Bon Iver. Close To You covers Stevie Wonder (covering Burt Bacharach), with Vegyn's production chopping and crushing Ocean's vocals. "I'm on this side, I'm on this side," chants Pretty Sweet, marking the turn, after frenzy gives way to a surprisingly fresh drum and bass drop. "Hand me a towel I'm dirty dancing by myself," opens the assertive, grubby Solo. Bey and K Dot are relegated to backing vocals in the biggest powerplay we'll see this year Andre brings one of his best verses on Solo (Reprise).Īfter nine tracks picking up where Channel ORANGE left off, we hit the record's suggestions for the future. Soulful, classic lines find Ocean celebrating his skill his voice is gorgeous and able and he revels in it. Soulful, impeccable production shines on every heartbreak and highlight, and we roll through a recognisable landscape of extroversion, self-reflection, coke, sex, swimming pools and expensive cars. Over seventeen tracks and a holy guestlist including (but by no means limited to) Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, Andre 3000, Yung Lean, Tyler The Creator, James Blake, Jamie xx and Pharrell, Ocean sets out his vision for the future. 24 hours later, heralded by a magazine titled Boys Don't Cry – long suspected to be the title of his actual album – Ocean came through with Blonde, and a much healthier cut of the takings.Įven more astonishingly, Blonde has survived the media frenzy: it's a dignified, down-tempo celebration of taking all the damn time you need to get something done that's worth doing right. The following weekend, on Frank Ocean's own terms, he brought out a visual album ( Endless) which reportedly fulfilled his commitments to his label Def Jam. Even the New York Times confimed the drop. After years of silence, signs and no-shows, the hype surrounding a new Ocean release reached fever pitch on 5 August.
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