Blonde
by Frank Ocean
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 1322 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,213 out of 1322
  2. Mixed: 30 out of 1322
  3. Negative: 79 out of 1322

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  1. TerribleCoin9
    Jan 10, 2022
    2
    How could you possibly say this is the greatest album of all time and it doesn't feature a single drum beat of any kind? Overrated
  2. FinestDeity
    Sep 10, 2016
    0
    I'm trying to understand what he was aiming for with this album. When I listen to it I feel as though I'm on a bad emotional acid trip. There's not a single song on the album that makes sense to me. Every song is slow, his voice is distorted for most of the tracks, and it gives a feeling of being intoxicated. It's unfortunate that we've waited so long for this. I guess that goes to showI'm trying to understand what he was aiming for with this album. When I listen to it I feel as though I'm on a bad emotional acid trip. There's not a single song on the album that makes sense to me. Every song is slow, his voice is distorted for most of the tracks, and it gives a feeling of being intoxicated. It's unfortunate that we've waited so long for this. I guess that goes to show you can't rush art.… Expand
  3. longjetty7
    Dec 5, 2016
    1
    I'm legitimately baffled at how this is getting such good reviews. To me, this is just another album in an annoying trend of pretentious minimalist R&B/soul albums with 17+ tracks and a handful of minute long spoken word excursions that add nothing of value. There really aren't any songs on here, just a bunch of meandering and rambling. I was really hoping I would enjoy this album afterI'm legitimately baffled at how this is getting such good reviews. To me, this is just another album in an annoying trend of pretentious minimalist R&B/soul albums with 17+ tracks and a handful of minute long spoken word excursions that add nothing of value. There really aren't any songs on here, just a bunch of meandering and rambling. I was really hoping I would enjoy this album after seeing the awesome reviews, but I am utterly confused how anyone can enjoy this mess.… Expand
  4. IBlackout
    Aug 28, 2016
    0
    Compared to other great albums released this year, I seriously don't find this one impressive. I tried listening it in full many times, but I simply can't.
  5. Rakala
    Oct 21, 2016
    0
    There is something I am not getting here. This is music? Where are songs like Novocain or Swim Good??This feels like a long boring monologue. SOLO yo! 4 points for what I am not getting.
  6. SsidddD
    Jan 8, 2023
    0
    A very wavy produced simple piece of love, loss, heartbreak. It is like feeling summer and cold at the same time. Those simple tunes give the most complex emotions to somebody who is either with/not with or moving on from you. Its different and relatable for everyone. Man named an album "Boys don't cry" and then not just boys everybody cried. No way to hate this bruh Love ain't funny.....
  7. BustaDimes
    Mar 16, 2022
    1
    If i have to be quite Frank... this album doesn't deserve the cult Ocean's narcissisitc / obssessed fans have for it. "Channel Orange"'s production was way more compelling and well-structured. His songwriting is more pretentious than emotional. The annoying vocal editing on the tracks mostly take away the only thing that could make this record less dreadful, Frank's voice. Don't try toIf i have to be quite Frank... this album doesn't deserve the cult Ocean's narcissisitc / obssessed fans have for it. "Channel Orange"'s production was way more compelling and well-structured. His songwriting is more pretentious than emotional. The annoying vocal editing on the tracks mostly take away the only thing that could make this record less dreadful, Frank's voice. Don't try to justify "Ivy" and "Nikes" vocal editing saying that it's "artisitic", it just sounds f*cking terrible, as simply as that is. "Pink + White" might as well be prescribed as an alternative choice to sleeping pills. Where the production was supposed to come out as psychedelic, it came out as noisey, and where it was supposed to be soothing, it's sleepy.

    Frank Ocean this time succeeded in one thing though: staying away from easy listening music. The problem is that these songs are not an easy-listen because of how much they're unpleasant to listen to.

    6 years have passed and the dude has not made a follow up yet. And this album makes me not sad about it at all. Frank Ocean stans, I'm sorry. Sorry, for the realness    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best Album of 2016
10
#10 Most Discussed Album of 2016
14
#14 Most Shared Album of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Universal acclaim - based on 38 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 38
  3. Negative: 0 out of 38
  1. The Wire
    Nov 8, 2016
    80
    The sum is Ocean’s most thorough reading of his world to date. [Oct 2016, p.65]
  2. Magnet
    Oct 18, 2016
    90
    This is an album of mostly beatless soul whose heart nevertheless pumps vividly and loudly throughout its 17 tracks. [No. 136, p.61]
  3. American Songwriter
    Oct 5, 2016
    80
    This is music that fascinates on first listen but requires multiple spins for its complexities and idiosyncrasies to take hold.
    Read full review
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