For many people, Channel Orange was their first introduction to Frank Ocean, and what an introduction it was. Released in 2012, Channel Orange was an album unlike what many people had heard before, being influenced by contemporary R&B, pop music, soul music, and has significant electronic influence as well. Adding intrigue to the album, Frank Ocean was a nearly unknown figure prior to the album’s release. While he had released mixtapes onto the internet, virtually nothing was known of the singers personal life. This was underlined by the face that most people did not know that Ocean was bisexual until they heard Channel Orange, which makes vague allusions to that fact throughout. Despite, or perhaps partly because of, Frank Ocean’s unknown, mysterious persona, the album took off upon release and was quickly critically acclaimed by numerous publications. This critical acclaim was backed by commercial success, and Channel Orange debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, and the album’s highest charting single, “Thinkin Bout You,” peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Thematically, Channel Orange touches on topics ranging from heartbreak, to jaded opulence, to criticisms of religion. While the subject matter of the album is varied, sonically the album works together rather well, and maintains a sort of melancholy, sentimental tone even on its most uptempo beats. Ocean’s vocal performance accompanies the tone of his instrumentals perfectly, and he doesn’t seem to be truly happy even once on this album. That being said, Frank Ocean’s vocal performances on this album are absolutely fantastic, and are certainly the highlight of the record.

Highlights

Thinkin Bout You- Channel Orange’s lead single and most popular song is successful for a reason. Lyrically, Frank Ocean paints a vivid picture of someone experiencing unrequited love. On the chorus he sings “Do you think about me still, Do ya?/ Or do you not think so far ahead/ Cuz I’ve been thinking about forever.” His vocal performance on this track is of particular note. He manages to hit a falsetto tone on the chorus that doesn’t seem like it should be possible, but sounds fantastic.

Pilot Jones- One of the lesser known tracks on the album, Pilot Jones tells the tale of Frank’s tumultuous relationship with a drug addicted girl. He smartly compares her addictions to substances with his addiction to her (“But I ain’t been touched in a while by the dealer/ And the stoner, with the sweetest kiss I’ve ever known.”) This is also a fantastic song to play in the car; the bass that comes in after the song’s introduction will give the speakers all they can handle.

Pyramids- At 9 minutes and 53 seconds, Pyramids is by far the longest song on Channel Orange, and is likely also its most thematically complex. Part one discusses the abduction and death of Cleopatra, a powerful black woman who ruled over monuments as impressive as the pyramids. In contrast, part two tells the story of a black woman (symbolically named Cleopatra) going off to work at a strip club called “The Pyramid.” Sonically, the song compliments this thematic shift perfectly. Part one of the song features a punchy instrumental that matches the pace of a search for a queen, while part two takes on a much darker, smoother tone that matches the setting of a prostitute waking up in a seedy motel in the morning.

Score: 9/10