In the four years since Frank Ocean’s game-changing debut, “Channel Orange,” was released, the album’s kaleidoscopic R&B has bled into work by Miguel, the Weeknd and Justin Bieber. Even ex-One Direction member Zayn Malik loved it so much, he hired Ocean’s producer Malay for his first solo effort, “Mind of Mine.”
With so many acts trying to sound like him, it’s hardly surprising that Ocean took his sweet time in returning to the music world. But after countless delays, false dawns, out-of-control rumors, a last-minute renaming, and a visual teaser album called “endless,” the follow-up “Blonde” (released on Saturday night exclusively via Apple Music) has managed to put him ahead of the chasing pack.
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The hour-long collection is a sumptuous experience, filled with otherworldly productions. The woozy ambiance of opener “Nikes” is where sci-fi score meets the Sunday morning club-comedown, while the waltz-time piano soul of “Pink + White” piles on layer after layer of aural beauty (including gorgeous background vocals from Beyoncé) to create one of the album’s instant standouts.
Although part of the reason for Ocean’s long absence has to be his necessary perfectionism, the Los Angeleno also sounds like he’s been busy living life, and immersing himself in all the emotions it throws up.
“Channel Orange” spent much time covering the pain of unrequited love, but several moments on “Blonde” cover the pain of love gone awry. “Self Control” sees him stripped down, embodying a modern Sam Cooke, beautifully capturing a love triangle; “keep a place for me … I’ll sleep between y’all, it’s nothing,” he pleads. Melancholy synths dominate “White Ferrari,” in which he protests “you dream of walls that hold us in prison,” and on the serene “Godspeed,” Ocean sings the gospel as he bids farewell to someone (or something) he’s leaving behind for good.
Hits don’t seem like a concern for the 28-year-old. This is not an album of classic hooks and big choruses, but instead, an album of introspection, reflection and short, wistful anecdotes, designed to mimic the confusion of adulthood.
The themes might not be original, but the way Ocean creates, sings and phrases them feels completely unique, and as such, “Blonde” finds him restyling pop once again.