Sold Date: February 22, 2019
Start Date: February 11, 2019
Final Price: $45.00 (USD)
Seller Feedback: 4812
Buyer Feedback: 173

Frank Ocean has built up ever-growing career from pretty much ground zero, from residing in New Orleans until Hurricane Katrina back in 2005 losing every prized possession he owned and forming a brand new life in California, Frank Ocean has experienced some struggles throughout his life. As the main R&B Crooner from Odd Future, as well as establishing his own name by collaborating with some of today's biggest artists from Kanye West to Beyonce, John Mayer to Justin Bieber; Frank Ocean has quite the resume for a fresh new artist. Frank Ocean's main genre is R&B, however he incorporates sounds from Electro, jazz, gospel, etc. to form a very unique brand of music that is undeniably his own. What makes Frank Ocean so distinct from the saturated market of R&B artists, is his artistic approach to his music. Yes, as an R&B artists he talks about sex and talks about love, the typical norm, however, Frank Ocean as an artist takes R&B to a whole nother level. Frank Ocean is one of very few R&B artists that touches on socioeconomic issues such as religion, philosophy, drugs among other things. As an artist (especially in R&B) Ocean is way ahead of the pack, his innovation in music is way ahead of everybody as of now. In my opinion he may never be as popular in R&B as Trey Songz, Usher or Chris Brown, but artistically Frank Ocean has proven himself to be a true original.
If you're a fan of Frank Ocean, you will already have noticed that sonically, Channel Orange is very similar to his debut mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra containing various skits and interludes that often have cultural references mixed in between. Channel Orange is one of those rare albums in the mainstream that lets listeners delved into the artist's psyche, and thankfully Frank Ocean is an interesting person to listen to. Frank Ocean does not succumb to the pressure of making typical "lets make love" songs or "get up and dance", his lyrics are much more poetic and meaningful. The first track "Thinking Bout You" demonstrates some of Frank's storytelling ability; Ocean's lyrics are contain much more substance, filled with double entendres that are neither corny nor cliché. Songs such as "Bad Religion" & "Forrest Gump" contain some of the more personal lyrics from Frank, basically questioning his own existence and the reason to why he is the way he is. Don't get me wrong Frank has his "crooning moment" that are sex driven and about love "Pink Matter feat. Andre 3000", "Sierra Leone" are perfect examples.
"Super Rich Kids feat. Earl Sweatshirt" and "Sweet Life" addresses social classes and the power of money manipulation (no illuminati reference) "Crack Rocks" and "Pilot Jones" also addresses drug addiction. Now while I may love this album, there are instances where I tend to become bored. The sound at times can become tiresome, the tempo of nearly every song is damn near similar with the exception of tracks "Pyramids" & "Monks". I don't mind as much because there are no songs on the album that sound the same, however there are moments where I wish Frank Ocean could be a little more optimistic on the album. With that being said Frank does not sound emo or anywhere like a b**** when he sings unlike some artists (*cough* Drake) Frank Ocean is a grown man being honest in his music and that is what I appreciate about him the most. The obvious scandal surrounding Frank Ocean as well is his "coming out" party; yes Frank Ocean is bi-sexual, he likes men and women, and it is clearly heard throughout the album which creates an interesting dynamic (to me anyways). Does it bother me? Not one bit; if anything it makes Frank Ocean more respectable as a person, being able to express himself honestly and openly to his fans takes some balls.
CONDITION: NEW. Not sealed. Dark Purple & Dark Gray marbled Vinyl.  Promotional printed on front cover and center label.
TRACK LISTING: A1Start A2Thinkin Bout You A3Fertilizer A4Sierra Leone A5Sweet Life A6Not Just Money B1Super Rich Kids feat. Earl Sweatshirt B2Pilot Jones B3Crack Rock C1Pyramids C2Lost C3White feat. John Mayer D1Monks D2Bad Religion D3Pink Matter feat. Andre 3000 D4Forrest Gump D5End
JPHBX27-FRANKOCEANCHANNELORANGEVINYL