Channel Orange Review: Smooth, Strange R&B
9/10 — Frank Ocean - Channel Orange (2012)
Pros
- 'Thinkin Bout You' and 'Pyramids'
- Beautiful, expressive vocals
- Detailed songwriting
Cons
- Slow pace
- Interludes
Channel Orange followed Ocean’s mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra and arrived with a public letter in which he wrote about his first love for a man. It features guests like André 3000 and John Mayer.
What works
‘Thinkin Bout You’ has a tender falsetto, ‘Pyramids’ is a ten-minute epic, and ‘Super Rich Kids’ and ‘Bad Religion’ are poignant. The production is spacious, the lyrics are full of detail, and Ocean’s vocals are expressive.
Where it falters
The skits and interludes slow the flow, and the album is slow-paced.
Verdict
A confident, adventurous and moving debut.
