Nostalgia, Ultra.
by Frank Ocean
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. AllMusic
    Jan 24, 2012
    80
    Compared to most releases of its kind, Nostalgia, Ultra is plotted with care, not slapped together with haste.
  2. cokemachineglow
    Apr 15, 2011
    78
    Introspection of this kind can be a difficult thing to pull off convincingly, but Nostalgia never veers too far into sentimentality to let its edges be sanded down.
  3. Expert Witness (MSN Music)
    Jan 24, 2012
    100
    His romantic laments are models of texture, respect, and profound loss, their beats subtle, seductive, weird, and seized like time.
  5. No Ripcord
    Apr 15, 2011
    70
    The record stands as the most shocking thing the Odd Future collective has put out to date: a R&B record with crossover potential without sacrificing soul that creates a complete picture of its author, warts and all.
  6. Pitchfork
    Apr 15, 2011
    78
    No matter the mood, this songwriter is always quick to add fine particulars that make his songs his songs.
  7. The A.V. Club
    Apr 15, 2011
    75
    Like the rest of Nostalgia, "American Wedding" is dark, playful, a little tasteless, and absolutely riveting.
  8. The Boston Phoenix
    Jul 26, 2011
    75
    It's supposedly winnowed down to seven excellent tracks you can pay for, versus an album-of-the-year candidate you can cop free legally (for now).
  9. The New York Times
    Apr 15, 2011
    80
    Given how slick and intuitive this album is--full of astral soul that owes debts to Terence Trent D'Arby, Pharrell Williams, even Drake--it's more likely that someone will lose his job than that Frank Ocean will lose his record deal over this kerfuffle.
  10. Village Voice
    Jan 24, 2012
    80
    He's an intuitive r&b stylist, with a firm sense of song structure (he's written for Justin Bieber and Beyoncé) and a conversational talk-singing voice that is as indebted to Justin Timberlake and Pharrell as it is to R. Kelly.

Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Best Album of 2011
48
#48 Most Discussed Album of 2011
27
#27 Most Shared Album of 2011

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 232 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 217 out of 232
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 232
  3. Negative: 7 out of 232
  1. GabroMuzik
    May 10, 2011
    10
    amazing job for a newcomer! the new voice of R&B...! He did great covers like Strawberry Swing and Electric Feel in this album! There Will Beamazing job for a newcomer! the new voice of R&B...! He did great covers like Strawberry Swing and Electric Feel in this album! There Will Be Tears and Songs for Women are incredible songs! one of the finest R&B albums of the year!… Full Review »
  2. NevetsAlletram
    Jul 18, 2012
    10
    The feeling once you listen to this mixtape, you know it's nothing like you have ever listened to before. This will be my first review,The feeling once you listen to this mixtape, you know it's nothing like you have ever listened to before. This will be my first review, mainly in due fact because of this piece of work itself. The name of this work, is simply what you feel when you transition from one song to the next. The nostalgic feeling, just close your eyes and listen to the picture he's trying to portray. From Strawberry Swing that can bring you back into your adolescence. To Novacane that reminds you of a former love you may have been to a significant other or substance. But the picture is never painted as good as Swim Good paints, with the broken hearts in his town car and driving off a cliff. This, to this day, is still something I have yet to hear anything close to. Wonderful, replay value is so high. Terrific. It is out of it's element.… Full Review »
  3. somaontv
    Jul 20, 2023
    8
    Great listen i loved the covers he did such a good job some of my favorite tracks offf of the album were Novacane and Love Crimes
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