Endless
by Frank Ocean
  • Record Label: Def Jam
  • Release Date: Aug 19, 2016
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Drowned In Sound
    Sep 1, 2016
    90
    Divorced from the accompanying visuals, the exercise proves less engaging overall. In context, however, it is legitimately hypnotic and soothing, as if Bob Ross was reincarnated with woodwork on the brain.
  2. Boston Globe
    Aug 22, 2016
    90
    Time might have pushed along, but it was obvious how much Ocean’s rich, detailed, and urgent storytelling had been missed once it was here again.
  3. Pretty Much Amazing
    Aug 22, 2016
    83
    Like Wilson before him, Ocean has delivered a non-commercial pop curio that now and then slows down to focus on an idea long enough to form a “complete” song, or not.
  5. Uncut
    Sep 23, 2016
    80
    The Mood is subdued but cavalier, more of a mixtape. [Nov 2016, p.24]
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  6. Q Magazine
    Sep 23, 2016
    80
    These records might not eclipse Channel Orange, but they have their own mercurial gleam, mapping the spaces between people, reaching for a hazy intimacy that almost feels real. [Nov 2016, p.112]
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  7. The Quietus
    Aug 29, 2016
    80
    [Endless and Blond(e)] are great--but they require time and, realistically, a step-back from the extraordinary (and sometimes ludicrous) hype that necessitates Ocean’s new works be either masterpieces or a complete let-down.
  8. The Guardian
    Aug 19, 2016
    80
    A rich, varied and – at times – challenging musical feast.
  9. Pitchfork
    Aug 24, 2016
    75
    46 minutes of music that plays like a mixtape, sliding from song to song, demo to demo, like scrolling through Frank’s hard drive of unreleased material. It’s an intriguing peek into his process, and it contains some of the rawest vocal takes he’s ever put out.
  10. Consequence
    Aug 22, 2016
    67
    While Endless makes its visual implications clear, the whopping 18 tracks that soundtrack it muddle his intent.
  11. NOW Magazine
    Aug 22, 2016
    60
    The lyrics are vivid and occasionally rote in their romanticism, but the formlessness of Endless is deceptive.
  12. The A.V. Club
    Aug 25, 2016
    58
    For the most part, the musicality--much sparser than the maximalist sonic feasts of his earlier work--still holds the same synesthetic power of the past, even for those who don’t claim to have the ability to see sounds.
  13. AllMusic
    Aug 29, 2016
    50
    This offers more of the detailed scenes only Ocean can script, as well as some stray sly quotables. Ultimately, it's a smartly ordered patchwork of mostly secondary material.
  14. Under The Radar
    Sep 16, 2016
    40
    When the workers step into another room, suit up, and begin spray painting the boxes, the music takes on a more soothing, droning, electronic quality with distinctly ripping synths and chirping, muted background vocals. In short: the music finally becomes strong enough to make these unimaginably boring visuals watchable. Sadly that beautifully soundtracked spray painting sequence ends all too soon.

Awards & Rankings

53
#53 Most Discussed Album of 2016
35
#35 Most Shared Album of 2016

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 261 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 242 out of 261
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 261
  3. Negative: 14 out of 261
  1. thebassline
    Aug 19, 2016
    7
    Lots of great song ideas here but ultimately feels more like a collection of B-Sides to the actual album which is supposedly on the way. ThisLots of great song ideas here but ultimately feels more like a collection of B-Sides to the actual album which is supposedly on the way. This album reminds me a lot of Blake's "The Colour in Anything" in a lot of ways. It's sprawling and, at times, messy. But all the ideas on here cohere into breathtaking songs, and there are a ton of good moments on here. Although as much I thought this was an interesting release, I sincerely hope this isn't what I've been waiting four years for and that Boys Don't Cry really is a whole separate album.… Full Review »
  2. AlejandroLuque
    Aug 21, 2016
    10
    Es un proyecto audivisual muy bien elaborado, lleno de excitantes y nuevos sonidos ademas lleno de talento de los artistas que trabajaron conEs un proyecto audivisual muy bien elaborado, lleno de excitantes y nuevos sonidos ademas lleno de talento de los artistas que trabajaron con el, es una experiencia sumamente agradable para los oidos, Frank se tomo su tiempo y realmente valio la pena, es el mejor proyecto Audiovisual desde Lemonade de Beyoncé.… Full Review »
  3. cole_nubson
    Aug 19, 2016
    10
    The content never for a second slips weak. The perfect break of silence-- the patience and smoothness washes away any idea that Frank OceanThe content never for a second slips weak. The perfect break of silence-- the patience and smoothness washes away any idea that Frank Ocean has died out. There was a reason he took so long to release a new full piece of work, and the reason speaks more of the dedication and perfection that Frank Ocean puts in his music and in this case, his film. The music and video is not only Endless, it's also timeless. A modern marvel of work.… Full Review »
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