Orange is the new gold…
A revitalization of a classic feel that would normally be affiliated with the likes of Marvin Gaye and Al Green coming from a member of Odd Future, who would have thought?
“channel Orange” has proven to be a complete project from top to bottom. Each song provides an absolute strangle hold on the themes and concepts being portrayed. Ocean provides an exceptionally artistic view on life from a man who sees a little further into the future than most.
From his first single “Thinkin Bout You,” to his latest therapy seeking “Bad Religion,” Ocean has captivated his listeners with an authentic and original approach. “channel Orange” captures a brand new sound with all the conventional methods. From smooth falsettos over crawling grooves to elastic piano chords buried under melodramatic raps, this album maintains a fluidity that hits the ear just right.
The intermissions relay a true feeling of flipping through the channels on a television while occasionally stopping in on a catchy jingle from a commercial (Fertilizer) or an independent film snippet providing a sense of Ocean’s upbringing (Not Just Money).
Though it has seemed to be somewhat of a challenge to keep Ocean’s music limited to one particular genre, the most popular classification seems to fall under the category of R&B and this is arguably the best album under said category since Usher’s 2004 “Confessions.”
Ocean’s recent letter detailing a same-sex love affair from his teenage years has caused quite the controversy, but the success of “channel Orange” is likely to keep Ocean from becoming a social pariah. Regardless of sexual orientation and personal preference, Frank Ocean has delivered a beautiful and intelligent album that falls nothing short of a modern day masterpiece.
Rating: A
Patrick Guilfoyle
