Freetown Sound
by Blood Orange
  • Record Label: Domino
  • Release Date: Jun 28, 2016
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 100 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 94 out of 100
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 100
  3. Negative: 4 out of 100
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  1. misfortune
    Jun 30, 2016
    10
    Possibly one of the greatest albums of this year, Freetown Sound shimmers and shines with masterfully crafted lyrics, spectacular vocals, and impeccable production.
  2. BrokenTel
    Jul 7, 2016
    9
    Atmospheric, honest and funky, I love getting lost in this album. The warm mixtape vibe and fluid sequencing helps draw you in but it's Dev's songwriting skills that take the cake. He masterfully incorporates all these disparate voices (poets, documentary samples, singers like Debbie Harry, Nelly Furtado, Carly Rae Jepsen and Empress Of among others..) with his own to create this cohesiveAtmospheric, honest and funky, I love getting lost in this album. The warm mixtape vibe and fluid sequencing helps draw you in but it's Dev's songwriting skills that take the cake. He masterfully incorporates all these disparate voices (poets, documentary samples, singers like Debbie Harry, Nelly Furtado, Carly Rae Jepsen and Empress Of among others..) with his own to create this cohesive collage of yearning and searching voices. People wondering aloud about love and their place in the world. The album gains power as the lyrics, context and themes sink in. Songs that I thought were boring ('Hands Up', 'Hadron Collider') develop an emotional resonance and the cheesy ones ('But You', 'Juicy 1-4') become not so cheesy when I'm humming them after repeated listens. Dope album with feeling.… Expand
  3. VonSeux
    Oct 2, 2016
    6
    wow calm down people , you seem to be hyping up this record for external factors other than music, while not bad at all, it's a pretty basic album with a poor-mans-Prince sound ; certainly this is an artistist worth keeping an eye on, but nothing groundbreaking or "album of the year" here
  4. ConfuciusPanda
    Oct 12, 2016
    5
    I would prefer to give this album a 5.5. I don't like this album, I found it boring. However there are some nice moments, but these tend to lead to disappointment.
    I will admit my analysis could be considered superficial, I've only listened to the album through once. But I have no real intention to listen to it again.
    Very lackluster, or rather just weak. Not really funky at all; most of    I would prefer to give this album a 5.5. I don't like this album, I found it boring. However there are some nice moments, but these tend to lead to disappointment.
    I will admit my analysis could be considered superficial, I've only listened to the album through once. But I have no real intention to listen to it again.
    Very lackluster, or rather just weak. Not really funky at all; most of the song IMO have life force, they just float about in my head. The vocal are the weakest part of this album, no real power behind them, too dreamy, and too much over-singing.
    HOWEVER, the are some nice sounds. Some really good synths. like in Augustine it starts with a nice smooth horn and synth bit?? but turns into weird watered down synthpop.
    Tries to be artistic and contemporary, but it truth it falls short.
    ALL MY OPINION, NOT FOR ME.    … Expand
  5. RadioheadLuv17
    Jul 11, 2016
    9
    This very well cold be the AOTY so far- more sonically unique than Lemonade, more consistent than untitled unmastered, more lyrically substantial than Coloring Book. Highlights include minimalist dance floor banger Best Of You, the trip-hop soul hybrid Thank You, and the subtly anthemic Hands up. Freetown Sound tackles both racism and sexism with an arsenal of instantly classic melodies.
  6. popcornnsprite
    Jul 10, 2016
    9
    Possibly my favourite album of 2016. The production is immense and it just captures a range of emotions. I've listened to Blood Orange's older albums but I feel like Freetown Sound is far more polished and a true step up. Love it.
  7. AnthonyMiller
    Nov 28, 2019
    10
    In my opinion this is the greatest album of the decade. It’s a bold statement, I know, but I truly didn’t enjoy any album the same as I did this one.

Awards & Rankings

82
#82 Best Album of 2016
93
#93 Most Shared Album of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Magnet
    Aug 11, 2016
    90
    Blood Orange moves swiftly, wipes clean his chill-pop slate and goes for stark, ham-handed topicality hop and loss as applied to menacingly atmospheric tones. That Hynes does this without losing his sense of pop and tunefulness is a sweet accomplishment. [No. 134, p.52]
  2. No Ripcord
    Aug 10, 2016
    80
    It’s a collection of unsightly surveillances expressed in a magnificent manner, and the work of a man more than capable of out-creating himself.
    Read full review
  3. Q Magazine
    Jul 26, 2016
    80
    Sprawling, ambitious and politically conscious. [Sep 2016, p.102]
See all critic reviews »