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. MrWhiteBrBa
    Aug 22, 2016
    10
    4 years of waiting and this clear emotional album states Ocean's frustrations with social anxiety. Personally one of the best albums of 2016 but go ahead and listen for yourself
  2. thebassline
    Aug 28, 2016
    10
    Most contemporary musical artists will do damn near anything to chase - and then maintain - relevance. In an industry of declining record sales and infinite musical choices a click away, major singers and bands are prone to hawk their product and brand incessantly across social media, corporate promotions, and ad campaigns. The fear of overexposure has been replaced by the fear of beingMost contemporary musical artists will do damn near anything to chase - and then maintain - relevance. In an industry of declining record sales and infinite musical choices a click away, major singers and bands are prone to hawk their product and brand incessantly across social media, corporate promotions, and ad campaigns. The fear of overexposure has been replaced by the fear of being forgotten entirely, and artists have reacted by shoving themselves in their audience’s face to the point of exasperation and passivity.

    It’s safe to say at this point that Frank Ocean is not like most artists today. In the four years preceding the release of Blonde, Frank drifted steadily further from the spotlight, hiding himself away in the studio and avoiding nearly all social media, and virtually any public appearances - musical or otherwise. Frank’s sabbatical from public life shot expectations into the stratosphere for his follow-up to Channel Orange, and after a protracted and unorthodox rollout, one of the key themes of listening to Blonde is how it twists and subverts those very expectations to create a sparse, insular masterpiece.

    As an opener, “Nikes” is both a promise and an affirmation. By beginning his long-awaited follow-up with three minutes of dramatically pitched-up vocals, Frank sends an immediate message that the album to follow was made on his own terms, and he is not beholden artistically to anything other than his own vision. The song shouts out the late A$AP Yams and Pimp C, who both died of drug overdoses including codeine - and the beat itself is a chopped-and-screwed downtempo haze reminiscent of codeine-fueled works of many Southern rap artists. But the most poignant remembrance is the one that follows: “RIP Trayvon, that **** look just like me” - one of the few times Blonde’s opaque reminiscences coalesce into a definitive social statement.

    When Frank’s unaltered voice finally reveals itself in the final two minutes of “Nikes”, adorned with a gently strummed acoustic guitar, it is as if the drugged-out haze has been parted by the sun. “We’ll let you guys prophesy”, he sings, setting up Blonde’s recurring rumination on the passage of time, memory, and an uncertain future. “White Ferrari” is a double entendre, reminiscing on both a drug-addled car ride and the highs and lows of a past relationship. “Solo” switches from present to past tense, with the first verse recounting tales of youthful innocence, and the second verse looking back from a jaded, melancholy perspective. “Seigfried” is an existential crisis masquerading as a love song, with a reference to solar flares that could extinguish civilization - a reminder to live in the moment with a future that can’t be controlled.

    These truths are revealed in a decidedly sparse manner, as Channel Orange’s expansive compositions are largely replaced by bare-bones arrangements, frequently consisting of little more than Frank’s voice and a single guitar. This sparsity is at first disarming, as it often seems upon first glance that these tracks could be home demos rather than professional studio recordings. Yet upon repeat listens, the power of this minimalism to reveal the underlying beauty in the songwriting becomes clear. Frank’s voice, as stunning and versatile as it has ever been, takes center stage throughout, and his lyrics cut through the guitar feedback with breathtaking emotional precision. As for the instrumentation itself, the dominance of guitars throughout Blonde gives the proceedings an indie rock edge rarely felt so strongly in R&B. A variety of studio collaborators, including Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, grace the record with diverse and subtle guitar work that perfectly fits each track. “Seigfried” is a particular standout, with a riff that feels straight out of classic rock ballads, pushed back in a haze of echo and reverb to appear as if broadcasting into the track from a distant stratosphere.

    Perhaps most striking on Blonde is the way that the variety of musical collaborators who contributed rarely make their presence explicitly known. Rather, their contributions serve as a means of achieving Frank’s singular vision, from which the album never wavers. Kendrick Lamar’s only vocal contribution to “Skyline To” is a few softly spoken words in the background, and even Beyonce is limited to harmonizing with Frank at the end of “Pink + White”, contributing very little lead vocals of her own. Tellingly, the only true guest vocal feature on the entire album is in many ways the best summation of Frank Ocean’s approach to artistry.

    For Frank and Andre, who have “stumbled and lived every word” in their songs, pure artistic expression is its own reward. Both men have carved out careers filled with bursts of brilliant creativity and long absences, and have lived intensely private lives outside the spotlight. And now, Frank Ocean has created a modern masterpiece that can stand tall with the best works of Outkast and others.    … Expand
  3. harr1397
    Aug 29, 2016
    10
    Easily the best album of the year. Surpasses Channel Orange and I was skeptical of that happening. I was terrified that he would turn into another money grubbing pop star with no substance. So far he's stayed true to the art form. This album is nothing short of genius and I'm very happy to be living in an era where we have artists like Frank Ocean.
  4. mslonnybreaux
    Aug 25, 2016
    10
    Trippy like Nirvana! When last has music made you feel high without actually getting high? Such raw emotion, such beautiful vocals, every lyric, every guitar strum made me feel out of this world. To love Frank is to know him and if u claim to be a music lover it is your duty to get to know him by listening to Blond(e).
  5. sherb
    Aug 24, 2016
    10
    Very infrequently can I say that it takes one listen-through to see that an album will undoubtedly be one day seen as a classic. It has all the trappings of a modern masterpiece, from its creative sonic exploration, to its unorthodox, but very cohesive, song structures. Ocean has absorbed, reflected, and refined, creating an album that it is totally, and unquestionably, original.
  6. Thorpey96
    Aug 26, 2016
    10
    Blonde requires a few listens before it starts to sink in, but when it does you'll be hooked. From my first listen I was very impressed by the sheer attention to detail. But it wasn't until after listening back to the lyrics, revealing a whole new side to the record that I had previously overlooked, did I really start to appreciate this album. Ocean has really blurred boundaries with thisBlonde requires a few listens before it starts to sink in, but when it does you'll be hooked. From my first listen I was very impressed by the sheer attention to detail. But it wasn't until after listening back to the lyrics, revealing a whole new side to the record that I had previously overlooked, did I really start to appreciate this album. Ocean has really blurred boundaries with this record showing that he is not afraid to speak his mind, and really leaves you thinking after every track. Although a lot of people may not see eye-to-eye with this record due to its lack of conformity, it is a prime example true self expression which is something a lot of popular modern artists are seemingly yet to discover. Overall a gorgeous, thought provoking album full of emotion, by an artist way ahead of his time.… Expand
  7. kevin3stacks
    Aug 24, 2016
    10
    This is an incredible album! Definitely one of the best this year. Frank Ocean got even better with his vocals. The production is great too. A lot of songs feel stripped down but this gives him the chance to take center stage. Nikes works as a great intro and gives the listener a general feeling of what to expect through the rest of the album. Other standouts for me include: Ivy, SelfThis is an incredible album! Definitely one of the best this year. Frank Ocean got even better with his vocals. The production is great too. A lot of songs feel stripped down but this gives him the chance to take center stage. Nikes works as a great intro and gives the listener a general feeling of what to expect through the rest of the album. Other standouts for me include: Ivy, Self Control, Nights, Solo and it's Reprise (Word to Andre 3000!!!), White Ferraris and the gospel sounding God Speed. Only time will help us decide whether this surpasses Channel Orange. But what is certain is that this is a modern day classic!… Expand
  8. latoyawalker
    Aug 25, 2016
    10
    Blonde is what happens when Channel Orange and Nostalgia Ultra have a baby. lol but seriously tho, how has Frank managed to keep his signature sound in an age where everything sounds so alike? Maybe thhat is what happens when you stay aloof and off social media. I love it.
  9. kennythekoala
    Aug 24, 2016
    10
    This album is dreamy and while you can let it play as background music, when you focus in, the pure genius of Frank Ocean shows. Personally, I was not the biggest fan of Chanel Orange, so this release I was skeptical- but Frank blew it out of the water. The album is quiet, self reflecting, and modest - and you need to hear it.
  10. ugura
    Aug 31, 2016
    10
    Easily the best album of the year. Surpasses Channel Orange and I was skeptical of that happening. I was terrified that he would turn into another money grubbing pop star with no substance. So far he's stayed true to the art form. This album is nothing short of genius and I'm very happy to be living in an era where we have artists like Frank Ocean.
  11. redjackb123
    Aug 26, 2016
    10
    It's not channel orange but its was worth the 4 year wait with beautiful vocals from Frank and features from Beyonce, an amazing verse from Andre 3000 and Kendrick Lamar. Frank did something totally different from his previous masterpiece and experimented with different sounds than Channel Orange. Honestly i don't have a favourite track because the whole album is a beautiful journey thatIt's not channel orange but its was worth the 4 year wait with beautiful vocals from Frank and features from Beyonce, an amazing verse from Andre 3000 and Kendrick Lamar. Frank did something totally different from his previous masterpiece and experimented with different sounds than Channel Orange. Honestly i don't have a favourite track because the whole album is a beautiful journey that you have to listen to more than 1 time… Expand
  12. Robertkm
    Aug 25, 2016
    10
    We all waited years for another Channel Orange by Frank Ocean, but Frank gave us something different, something better. Every single song you can just listen and vibe out to, and when the album switches tone halfway through, that just proves how genius this album is.
  13. HASiiiDimension
    Nov 5, 2016
    10
    After 4 years, he makes a triumphant return with amazing minimalist production, soulful vibe and touching lyrics. You can't deny that Frank Ocean is a powerhouse on this generation's R&B!
  14. freshie
    Feb 3, 2018
    10
    It's not immediately evident that Blonde is a masterpiece unlike Frank's debut studio album, but boy is it.
  15. jorge89
    Sep 20, 2016
    10
    Top 3 AOTY in no order: 1.Radiohead: A moon shaped pool 2. Frank Ocean: Blonde 3. Nick Cave: Skeleton Tree. For me this three albums are masterpieces!
  16. Reagan0
    Dec 16, 2016
    9
    The album answers the hiatus-long question: How do you top Channel Orange? The answer: By stripping the production back and laying on the sentiment. I wish I could go full Robert Christgau and just post a couple words instead of 150 character minimums, but instead I'll just leave with this: IIIII WILL ALLLLLLWAYYYYS LUUUUUUUUV YOUUUUUUU
  17. FrankDiaz
    Jul 3, 2017
    10
    Este disco es un mar de emociones, Frank es tan honesto y crudo en su musica, como cantante se hace muy exclusivo con su arte pero vale la pena mover mar y tierra para tener su musica este disco es como una bocanada de aire fresco un R&B esquisito. Uno de mis discos favoritos de esta decada sin duda.
  18. mattlynn1996
    Sep 3, 2016
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It is a beautiful and a broken-into-pieces album. It records Ocean's blur attitude toward his sexual orientation and his personal life. I really love this. I do love this. Coda makes me wanna cry… Expand
  19. selinap
    Sep 4, 2016
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is one of the best 2016 albums for me. I dont really do a lot of reviews but after purchasing this from itunes and listening to it for 2 weeks, i just felt I needed to put in writing how this makes me feel. I discovered Mr Ocean back when he was on twitter after he released Nostalgia Ultra (which was a really good mixtape)
    I fell deeply in love with his music when I listened to CO which became my soulmate album for years. I was so scared that I wouldnt like the current project as much as I love CO but wow wow wow!! Blonde speaks to me.
    Its very subtle then it just punches you!!
    I went in not expecting NU or CO and thats the best way to approach this, I also read the lyrics as I listened.
    Wow!! Wow!! Wow!! Wow!!
    Self Control is my favorite especially the 2nd part, the beat drop in Nights is THE BEST beat drop I have ever heard. Top 5 are
    1.Self Control
    2.Nights
    3.Solo
    4.Ivy
    5.White Ferrari    … Expand
  20. Jperalta
    Mar 28, 2017
    10
    This album is beautiful front to back. The instrumentals and the vocal performances are incredible. He has matured as a song writer and as an artist overall. A clear upgrade from Channel Orange (Both great albums)
  21. shoobiedogboy
    Apr 10, 2017
    10
    This album is living proof that you don't have to sacrifice your art for mainstream success, Frank creates one of the most beautiful albums I've heard in a long time. He sings too his social anxiety, insecurities, and lost love. Many of these songs will move you to tears. This is one of the greatest, if not the greatest R&B album ever made.
  22. rwessmyer
    Apr 16, 2017
    9
    Frank Ocean is the **** man. You would think that the amount of hype and impatience he substantiated would hinder the ability for people to see this album through a clear, unbiased light. False. he **** murdered this album in the most soft, expressive, Frank Ocean way possible. You all know the rest of the details. This album kills.
  23. BlownSpeakers
    Jun 21, 2017
    9
    In the four years since Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange, the lines between hip and hop and R&B have continued to blur- Rappers are “singing” (Auto-tune, sigh) while contemporary R&B artists are opting for a more thuggish delivery. Ocean’s newest release, Blonde, is content to further obscure our perception of a genre with an unexpected emphasis on surreal synth chords, lush guitar strumming,In the four years since Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange, the lines between hip and hop and R&B have continued to blur- Rappers are “singing” (Auto-tune, sigh) while contemporary R&B artists are opting for a more thuggish delivery. Ocean’s newest release, Blonde, is content to further obscure our perception of a genre with an unexpected emphasis on surreal synth chords, lush guitar strumming, and echoed vocals.

    The setting of these tracks is an intimate one, but not in the typical sense of sounding “live”- with its stream of conscious lyrics, and dreamlike echo of vocals, it’s as if the listener is swimming through Ocean’s thoughts. In contrast to the narrative structure of Channel Orange, tracks like “Pink and White” find Ocean collecting fading memories from past relationships, and assorting them into cryptic collages. He is more forward on “Ivy” when he exclaims, “I thought I was dreaming when you said you loved me;” the accompanying guitar bubbles and pops, conveying this moment of wonder.

    The floaty nature of these reflective love songs is grounded by the more soulful, gospel numbers of the album. Whereas the hopeful tone of “Godspeed” follows its somber organ play, “Solo” juxtaposes this instrumentation with eccentric lyrics about drug use, with Ocean singing from several different perspectives. Whether he’s singing as himself, a crackhead, or just a guy trying to get by, the rock-bottom-desperation in Ocean’s voice is impossible to escape as preaches, “Inhale, inhale, that’s heaven."

    Structurally, Blonde is scattered- songs can be quick to switch tones, go off on tangents, or drift into unexpected bridges. “Nights” seems more conventional on this nearly percussion-less album, with its ticking hi-hats and crisp backbeat, but glitches out in the verse as it interchanges stop-go guitars with what seems to be sampled xylophone(??). Ocean is more aggressive here as he raps the frustrations of man seeking solitude from the “every night **** every day **** A brief moment of escape is sonically conveyed by an abrupt switch, in the last third of the track, to a tranquil atmosphere, where wandering piano follows Ocean’s contemplative mood.

    Blonde plays like passing daydreams, ones that seamlessly slip in and out of consciousness on long car rides. Like Radiohead’s latest release, A Moon Shaped Pool, this album isn’t something you can pop on and listen to at any given time. The most rewarding listens are experienced in a reflective state, or while slightly distracted (working on a project, reading, taking a shower, drinking a cup of coffee with friends). For the hardcore fans that find themselves constantly annotating lyrics online, I leave you with some lines from “Seigfried” that’ve been cycling around in my head for about a week now-

    Dreaming a thought that could dream about a thought

    That could think of the dream that thought

    That could think of dreaming and getting a glimmer of God

    I be dreaming a dream in a thought

    That could dream about a thought

    That could think of dreaming a dream    … Expand
  24. sisterray24
    Oct 15, 2017
    10
    the best album I've heard this decade miles ahead of chanel orange and all his peers, his stories are more compelling emotions more clearly articulated I honestly think Frank Ocean is the future of music.
  25. NoahHylleberg
    Jul 27, 2019
    10
    I don't have the words to explain how well-produced and thought-out this album is. Raw emotion, mesmerizing beats, and insanely well-written lyrics. MASTERPIECE
  26. ceshe83
    Apr 14, 2020
    10
    Blonde came out in the late summer of my junior going into senior year of high school as I began dating my first girlfriend. All three parts of that sentence seem fitting to what Blonde is as an artistic work and a memoir on youth. As a sonic experience, listening to Blonde feels surreal. The ambient production is ethereal, dreamy, loose but utterly captivating. The songwriting, asBlonde came out in the late summer of my junior going into senior year of high school as I began dating my first girlfriend. All three parts of that sentence seem fitting to what Blonde is as an artistic work and a memoir on youth. As a sonic experience, listening to Blonde feels surreal. The ambient production is ethereal, dreamy, loose but utterly captivating. The songwriting, as idiosyncratic as it is, is relatable, intimate, heartrending, personal, and inspiring. Frank's tales of young love on songs like White Ferrari and Ivy activate instant nostalgia while other tracks like Nikes examine the human condition on a broader scale and the hypnagogic feeling of drug and alcohol-induced nights out at the renowned Berghain in Berlin. Blonde, overall, is an hour-long mesmerizing pop/RnB/soul/alternative masterpiece that drifts through time and fills the soul with wistful reminiscence of how it feels and what it means to be young.

    Score: 9.7/10

    Fav track(s): Damn near all of em
    Least fav track(s): Siegfried...maybe?    … Expand
  27. Alfredoplov
    Mar 21, 2021
    9
    The album is simply magnificent it’s beautiful melodies and anthems make this a wonderful listening experience. An album like blonde which explores childhood, love, adolescence, normal everyday life and more with this and the way it’s put together it makes it extremely easy to digest and hard at the same time. I absolutely love this album and hope you did too.
  28. azizchamkha
    Aug 22, 2016
    10
    a true masterpiece with this new beautiful sonic effect and legendary team that worked on this album
    gorgeous inside out just brilliant. i really loved where this album takes you it's his most ambitious album to date .
  29. redsaber
    Aug 22, 2016
    10
    I have never had an album hit me so hard on first listen. This project beats out when I first heard MBDTF, Yeezus, GKMC, and so much more. It's truly a masterpiece. The melodies, lyrics, and especially PRODUCTION are all beautiful. It's truly the peak of music so far and I can't wait to look back on this era of my life with Blonde. It's truly magical. I can't explain it. It's the only timeI have never had an album hit me so hard on first listen. This project beats out when I first heard MBDTF, Yeezus, GKMC, and so much more. It's truly a masterpiece. The melodies, lyrics, and especially PRODUCTION are all beautiful. It's truly the peak of music so far and I can't wait to look back on this era of my life with Blonde. It's truly magical. I can't explain it. It's the only time I've been speechless for an album.… Expand
  30. frienderman
    Aug 22, 2016
    10
    This is Ocean's most visceral and heartbreaking work yet, resulting in a devastating collection of masterful songs that leave you absolutely breathless
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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
See all critic reviews »