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Post by when the pawn... on Aug 21, 2016 10:58:38 GMT -5
...I love it.
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Enigma.
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Post by Enigma. on Aug 21, 2016 11:11:07 GMT -5
One song I love is White Ferrari. That's just beautiful
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Post by Fat Ass Kelly Price on Aug 21, 2016 11:27:08 GMT -5
I agree with many assessments I've read here thus far. All I could think while listening to the album is that Frank needs to realize that experimenting with song structure can be highly rewarding and inventive, but at some point, there needs to be some clear, discernible melody. Most of the album just sounded like some spoken word mess. Don't get me wrong. I'm not a pop music groupie, so I can handle and actually prefer albums with a similar mood. But this just sounded like ramblings over instrumental at times. Nothing really stood out for me. There was nothing that I really wanted to revisit. On first listen, maybe Pink+White and Siegfried. But that's it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2016 16:04:04 GMT -5
Channel Orange was just kind of there to me, although it had enough moments to get me interested in what this album (these albums?) could be. There was a sense of connection there, but listening to Blonde feels both impersonal and invasive; like he's talking at me instead of talking to me. It's not inviting at all, and, as Ling-Ling said, his presentation makes it that much harder for me to connect, or even care at all. I actually don't have a problem with the song structure or lack thereof, but it's ill-suited for this record. What a shame.
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Caviar
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Post by Caviar on Aug 21, 2016 17:04:34 GMT -5
This album is simply too deep for the basic pop listener. His song structure and lyrical depth is something you don't hear on albums today.
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Post by Devil Marlena Nylund on Aug 21, 2016 17:16:10 GMT -5
This album is simply too deep for the basic pop listener. His song structure and lyrical depth is something you don't hear on albums today. In other words: Everyone is stupid.
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Rican@
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Post by Rican@ on Aug 21, 2016 20:13:19 GMT -5
This album is simply too deep for the basic pop listener. His song structure and lyrical depth is something you don't hear on albums today. That's cute to say; however, as not a Pop listener, I do love listening to music in general. I believe most on this site do as well. I can enjoy lyrics or production separately. Hell, there have been moments in which I would enjoy the lyrics and not the production, vice versa. However, for this album, I don't get that appreciation because the work feels overworked. And with him, he doesn't necessarily need to go to the extreme to be different. I'm fine with an album that is personal, but something in which you treat strange with more strange do not always give you the best outcome.
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Ling-Ling
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Post by Ling-Ling on Aug 21, 2016 20:18:07 GMT -5
LMAO at this album being too "deep" for a "basic" pop listener. Jesus Christ. This coming from someone with a Christina Aguilera avatar.
Oh no, I get this album, and lyrics were never a complaint. You can make the most delicious frosting in the world, but if you spread it on a turd you kind of defeated your purpose. He wrote an incredibly personal album with serviceable lyrics, that GASP, have actual meaning. Then put them on top of aimless songs with no structure, melody or hooks. Good for him, but I'm certainly not going to listen over and over again if there's no payoff or reward outside of his "depth."
I can stand back and appreciate this album for what it is. But like a lot of art, I have no need to revisit it again.
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Post by Heart Shaped Box on Aug 21, 2016 20:42:32 GMT -5
He really wanted this to be Lemonade, didn't he?
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Caviar
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Post by Caviar on Aug 21, 2016 21:41:13 GMT -5
:kii:
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SHOOTER
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Post by SHOOTER on Aug 22, 2016 0:41:08 GMT -5
Too self-indulgent and formless for me. I'll stick to the handful of records from CO that I don't skip when they come up on shuffle.
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music89
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Post by music89 on Aug 22, 2016 5:15:13 GMT -5
There are some moments that really stick and that pack an emotional punch on the album. But the way it's presented, ugh. Call me old fashioned, hell, call me old... whatever, but song structure exists for a reason. Things like discipline, direction, form, editing and focus in art aren't new concepts. You can play within and around the structure, not saying all songs need to be verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus, but come on, you have to have some kind of foundation. This is clearly a very personal album for him. I could hear that on first listen. But it's so insular it's almost a vanity project. Everything to him and nothing to me. I have really no desire to ever listen to it again, outside of letting it play in the background (it is pretty, I'll give it that much). But I doubt that's the goal he was aiming for, I genuinely think he was going for some form of dynamism. I'll never forget Rolling Stone's review of Natalie Merchant's debut album... "Does she think that too much instrumentation – too much music – will steal the focus away from the Very Important things she has to say?" That's exactly how I feel about this album. It's almost like he felt making actual digestible music with form would rob it of any real catharsis, so he just made a shapeless slog of a background record. That's what i'm thinking too I loved cO after a couple of listening but this new album feels like he's trying too much. I don't know if i can listen to it again from start to finish without getting bored. Pink + White is really good tho! I wish the album sounded more like this song.
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music89
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Post by music89 on Aug 22, 2016 5:15:55 GMT -5
There are some moments that really stick and that pack an emotional punch on the album. But the way it's presented, ugh. Call me old fashioned, hell, call me old... whatever, but song structure exists for a reason. Things like discipline, direction, form, editing and focus in art aren't new concepts. You can play within and around the structure, not saying all songs need to be verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus, but come on, you have to have some kind of foundation. This is clearly a very personal album for him. I could hear that on first listen. But it's so insular it's almost a vanity project. Everything to him and nothing to me. I have really no desire to ever listen to it again, outside of letting it play in the background (it is pretty, I'll give it that much). But I doubt that's the goal he was aiming for, I genuinely think he was going for some form of dynamism. I'll never forget Rolling Stone's review of Natalie Merchant's debut album... "Does she think that too much instrumentation – too much music – will steal the focus away from the Very Important things she has to say?" That's exactly how I feel about this album. It's almost like he felt making actual digestible music with form would rob it of any real catharsis, so he just made a shapeless slog of a background record. Spot on. I just mention to a friend that I felt that he was taken himself too serious as an artist with this one. I miss his "demo" days because he had such a care free vibe about him. The songs had structure while still not being too generic as a finish product. Now I'm getting bored with his offerings because the focus feels so much on being different than providing just great music. It does not need to be catchy, but give me at least a great melody to vibe too.
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music89
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Post by music89 on Aug 22, 2016 5:19:01 GMT -5
I agree with many assessments I've read here thus far. All I could think while listening to the album is that Frank needs to realize that experimenting with song structure can be highly rewarding and inventive, but at some point, there needs to be some clear, discernible melody. Most of the album just sounded like some spoken word mess. Don't get me wrong. I'm not a pop music groupie, so I can handle and actually prefer albums with a similar mood. But this just sounded like ramblings over instrumental at times. Nothing really stood out for me. There was nothing that I really wanted to revisit. On first listen, maybe Pink+White and Siegfried. But that's it.
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music89
Gold Member
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Post by music89 on Aug 22, 2016 5:24:42 GMT -5
This album is simply too deep for the basic pop listener. His song structure and lyrical depth is something you don't hear on albums today. mmm...i LOVE Erykah Badu and D'Angelo (two of my all time faves) and they definitely don't make catchy songs. I also LOVED To Pimp A Butterfly. Maybe Blonde will grow on my but for now i don't feel it... :|
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music89
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Post by music89 on Aug 22, 2016 5:26:46 GMT -5
He really wanted this to be Lemonade, didn't he? what? they are totally different.
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Enigma.
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Post by Enigma. on Aug 22, 2016 6:04:00 GMT -5
I think it's the concept, not the music
The whole visual album bulls**t must stop. To artists: Feel free to make music videos but don't think that you're interesting enough to make me watch your music videos for an hour at once. I didn't even cope it with Michael Jackson, not to mention Beyoncé or Frank Ocean
Make a proper movie instead if that's what you're after
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Rican@
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Post by Rican@ on Aug 22, 2016 7:41:44 GMT -5
I actually like the long form videos especially if the material is good. I think it is another way for artists to be creative though. So that is one aspect that I would not mind. It is hard enough for some artists to get a budget for one video so for one artist to do it for all of the songs, I find that excellent. I also think it was in Beyonce's best interest to do her videos because she understood her strongest point in the industry. She is an entertainer and she seen capture people's eye in a way that her opponents do not.
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Post by Live Your Life on Aug 22, 2016 18:47:10 GMT -5
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Post by when the pawn... on Aug 23, 2016 12:46:52 GMT -5
Expected to do 225k albums / 265k SPS. Channel Orange did 131k in July 2012. Those look like great opening numbers to me, though I assume they'll crash hard in the second week since this is not an album that will draw in casual fans. Can Endless chart just from Apple streaming?
I gave it a second listen last night and it's really beautiful. I agree that the album isn't so much based on SONGS but to me, it comes down to moments. The back-ends of "Self Control" and "Siegfried," the shift in "Nights," the moment where his natural voice comes in during "Nikes," etc etc. I like that it feels more personal than CO, which seemed to be based on stories of other people/characters. And while there are very few hooks on the album, I still find a lot of the melodies "catchy" and appealing. And because of that, I think it will be rewarding of further listens, as I learn the lyrics/melodies/songs.
Grammy chances? Beyonce likely will get Urban/Contemporary Album, though Beyonce lost to G.I.R.L. a couple years ago. Not out of the question that he could win there but I'd say it's unlikely. I think he is worth considering to be an AOTY nominee but doesn't seem like it'll be as much a lock as CO's nod in 2013. Who knows, maybe sales will sustain and "Pink + White" or "Ivy" break out as a single. It has a 90 on Metacritic from its first 9 reviews. It may not reach CO heights of critical adoration but seems like it's going well so far.
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Nick
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Post by Nick on Aug 23, 2016 13:11:44 GMT -5
Hoping he releases this on Spotify soon.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2016 14:23:40 GMT -5
Hoping he releases this on Spotify soon. Same. I'm intrigued enough by the bipolar reviews (tepid Pulse reaction, raving critical reaction) to want to hear it, but not intrigued enough to buy it or even hunt for an illegal dl.
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Post by when the pawn... on Aug 23, 2016 17:03:18 GMT -5
Hoping he releases this on Spotify soon. Rumor on the street is that it will be an exclusive for 2 weeks. I'll be happy if its just Blonde on Spotify but it'd also be nice to listen to Endless without the video (and with a clear track-by-track breakdown).
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14887fan
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Post by 14887fan on Aug 23, 2016 17:05:14 GMT -5
HDD has just reported that him and UMG have parted ways.
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@DjKingBee
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Post by @DjKingBee on Aug 23, 2016 17:12:34 GMT -5
HDD has just reported that him and UMG have parted ways. If true that means he cut an Exclusive apple deal which means he made some BANK off BLOND(e) anyways Im feeling the album ... Can be slow at times but most of his stuff is. My favorite track from his is still LOST. I need to let the album settle more
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SHOOTER
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Typical of those in power to stay worried about the *wrong* shit.
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Post by SHOOTER on Aug 23, 2016 17:14:23 GMT -5
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Caviar
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Post by Caviar on Aug 23, 2016 17:16:44 GMT -5
He proves gays can be messier than record labels.
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Post by when the pawn... on Aug 23, 2016 17:37:09 GMT -5
If we assume the following...
Blonde is $9.99 At a label, he earns 14% of sales and as an independent, he earns 70% of sales Blonde sells 225k this week
He makes...
Major Label: $314,865 Independent: $1,573,425
Dang. So he's making $1.5m in a week off of sales only for an experimental/ethereal/single-less R&B album in 2016. Good for him.
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Glove Slap
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Post by Glove Slap on Aug 23, 2016 17:53:16 GMT -5
Frankie O running game on the industry and making that coin to fund his little Lars von Trier tributes.
Still haven't listened to any of the new material aside from Nikes, but I'm planning on giving a solid revisit to NU and CO first, it's been about a year since I listened to either.
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Rican@
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Post by Rican@ on Aug 23, 2016 18:42:37 GMT -5
Wow, impressive job. Nice to hear that news.
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