His long-awaited comeback was short-lived. Will we ever get new Frank Ocean music? Or more importantly, should we even care?
By Aubrey Hoes
Frank Ocean performed his brief set at the Coachella music festival on April 15, 2023 / photo: Andy Abeyta, The Desert Sun.
Following his tumultuous performance at Coachella in April 2023, many fans have become disenchanted with Mr. Ocean. His lackluster stage presence, incoherent mumbling, and utter refusal to perform over half of the setlist left many shocked, saddened, or worse: disappointed. Fans spent thousands of dollars on plane tickets and festival admission solely to sit front stage and cry while Frank sang his heart out to White Ferrari. Unfortunately, the waterworks never came.
For six years, we have patiently waited for Frank (I will be referring to him by his first name today) to drop his next EP. Following the release of the certified platinum Blond, fans have been eager to get their hands on the next summer heartbreak album. Though the “Thinkin Bout You” artist has since dropped singles such as “Chanel,” “Biking,” and “DHL,” his activity has been nothing short of sparse. Unsatiated, loyal fans are still theorizing about his impending return to the spotlight. Reddit user u/tacosauce400 claims, “So Channel Orange was released on July 10, Blonde on August 20, so does that mean the next album is coming September 30???” Though the user likely made this comment in jest, Frank’s sporadic and altogether cryptic media presence has driven many, such as Mr. Tacosauce400, toward insanity.
Why has Frank taken so long? The answer to this question is unclear. The death of his brother, Ryan Breaux, in 2020, however, has taken a significant toll on his drive to produce new music. During his Coachella set, Frank reminisced on his experiences with his brother at the concert venue in previous years, stating “I know he would've been so excited to be here with all of us." As a fan, one would want Frank to take as much time as he needs to grieve so that he can recover and produce his best music. I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment. Since the untimely death of his brother, fans have rushed to shower the artist with support during this difficult time. Twitter user @nestydaw posted “jumping anyone who begs or complains about franks music inactivity. RIP.” Thankfully, fans have since recanted their pleas for new music as Frank is coming to terms with this unimaginable loss.
Unfortunately, the artist is not so quick to respond to his fans with the same respect. In the six years since his last project, Frank has capitalized on his success through the sale of merchandise and special edition vinyl copies. Though this is a standard practice in the music industry, the distribution of said merchandise has left fans skeptical as to Frank’s full intentions. A Reddit thread from user u/budsnhops compiled complaints from multiple blonded.co customers and cited various FTC violations regarding the sale, shipment, and delivery of official Frank Ocean merchandise. Complaints varied from the utter refusal to issue refunds to recent purchases, significantly delayed shipments, and severely damaged packages upon delivery. Aside from the unreasonable prices listed on the website, the lack of clarity and proper support coming from the blonded.co team has caused many to turn on the artist.
More recently, Frank has released a new jewelry line under the label Homer. On top of the slew of issues that also plague blonded.co, the Homer line is advertised as an “independent American luxury company” founded by the artist himself. Who on Earth would buy something as outrageously priced as the iconic Homer Cock Ring? Only the most dedicated fans, of course. Unfortunately, Frank Ocean fans, like myself, couldn’t even fathom spending $25,000 on an 18-karat gold genital muzzle, but that certainly won’t stop fans from trying, and I’m certain that Mr. Ocean knows this as well.
From the lack of fan engagement to de facto scamming and price gouging, one might wonder: why put up with this abuse? Does Frank have the musical resumé to even back up this sort of behavior? That’s where I come in. Half an article later, we have finally reached the music review. To answer this question, we must examine the artist’s short list of official releases to determine whether it really is worth waiting six months for a vinyl copy of Endless.
Frank’s initial project, Nostalgia, Ultra, is one that I have not given much attention to, and many casual listeners may not have even heard of. As his first solo project without the support of the distinguished cast of Odd Future, Frank delivered an unpolished mixtape, free for all to listen. Though many of the tracks were seemingly unfinished (see “Songs for Women”), there exist vestiges of beauty. Frank’s lyrical and vocal prowess is on full display. For example, in the second track, “We All Try,” Frank debates the merits of human virtue and depravity, pinned by his angelic vocals. “Novacane,” arguably the project’s most popular track, discusses how Frank has grown numb to the vice and pleasure with which he engages, while also coming to terms with his homosexuality. My personal favorite, “There will be tears,” contains one of Frank’s best performances on the project. A somber, low-energy track with a digitized drumline, Frank rebukes the absence of his father while grieving the loss of his grandfather. Unfortunately, the tracklist and runtime are rather scant, and due to copyright issues, Nostalgia, Ultra was never destined for the mainstream.
Channel Orange, Ocean’s first official album, is probably the first introduction to the artist for many (myself included). The best way I can describe this album is ‘surrealist R&B.’ Not only does Ocean reach for spaced-out tones in tracks like “White” or “Pink Matter,” but he also captures catchy grooves as can be found on “Monk” and “Sweet Life.” The laid-back energy of the 17-song tracklist evokes a lackadaisical feeling while listening through. This theme works perfectly with songs like “Super Rich Kids” or “Thinkin Bout You,” as Ocean discusses more mundane aspects of life such as reminiscing over a first love or living to excess. However, this is not to say that the artist shies away from the heavy-hitting themes from his first project. “Bad Religion” delves into Ocean’s sexuality, equating an unfettered devotion to his significant other with the dangerous allegiance to a ‘bad religion.’ “Crack Rock,” though his ad-libs throughout the song will never cease to get on my nerves, is a soulful syncopation of drug addiction and the American drug trade.
One cannot mention Channel Orange without addressing “Pyramids.” With a runtime of almost ten minutes, it almost feels like two songs combined as one. Ocean narrates the lives of two women, both named Cleopatra. The first is an Egyptian ruler; the second a prostitute. The artist first tells the tales of both women individually, while later juxtaposing their lives in the latter half of the track. However, it is the production on the track that makes this song so integral to Ocean’s discography. The song starts as a brooding anthem, confidently strutting through the narrative of the ephemeral Queen Cleopatra. About four minutes in, the song transitions to a nocturnal trap beat, more representative of the latter Cleopatra–a lady of the night. Lastly, the song is capped by a one-and-a-half-minute guitar solo with swelling synths, eliciting a sense of wonderment and longing.
Finally, and most popularly, is Ocean’s 2016 project Blond (or Blonde). After a four-year hiatus, the artist responded to his commercially successful Channel Orange with a disjointed psych-soul record that stands as Ocean’s best album to date. Through the tracklist, the artist lays bare all of his vulnerabilities, while making zero compromises on the production. Blond seems to be the embodiment of Ocean’s vision to its fullest. It is on this album that we can observe some of his best performances. “Ivy,” “White Ferrari,” “Nights,” and “Godspeed” stand out as heart-wrenching odes to love and loss that will never cease to make a grown man (or person) cry.
The lack of percussive presence throughout this album accentuates the intimate, mournful themes of which he speaks. Furthermore, the minimalist production on each track forces listeners to hear what the artist has to say. And he sure has a lot on his mind.
This album is by all means a departure from his previous work. A far cry from the grooves of Channel Orange or the eclectic pop/R&B sound of Nostalgia,Ultra, Blond stands out among his discography. As this album was released while I was still taking Algebra II at Mt. Blue High School, I thought this album was too grown up for my taste. To that point, I do think that Blond was ahead of its time. However, after doing some growing up myself, I can now appreciate the beauty of this project. Blond, like myself, has also aged wonderfully in the seven years since its release and remains relevant today.
Now that the review is out of the way, I will revisit the question. Do I think that Frank deserves the hype? Completely. I am aware that I am a biased fan, but his credentials are undeniable. Also, I am writing this article and not you, so I don’t care what you think. That being said, fans need to grow up and move on. The day that Frank releases another album, another song–if it ever comes–I will happily listen. However, I’ve no longer the energy to keep up with the Frank Ocean lore. There will always be those ready to open their wallets to support the artist, so who knows if creating new music has even crossed his mind. He’s making his bag, albeit at the expense of his loyal fanbase. Honestly, I’d do the same. My word to the Frank Ocean subreddit: don’t wait up. There’s more music out there. He’s just a dude. If you need any recommendations for new music while you cope, listen to Dijon.
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