2016 – a year remembered for black beetles, kazoos and Hamilton, where a few hit albums might come to mind including, “Blonde” by Frank Ocean. PHOTO CREDIT: etsy.com
While it’s difficult to recall what I did on my 16th birthday, what I did last summer or even last week, I can always recall the artists I listened to a lot throughout my life.
Frank Ocean has been my most streamed artist on Spotify for the past four or five years now, and his sophomore album, “Blonde,” has haunted me to this day (in a good way, of course). For years, no matter what mood I’ve been in or what I’m doing, I always come back to “Blonde” as if it’s inescapable.
Released in 2016, the album was critically acclaimed upon arrival. Not only was it Ocean’s first album in four years, following 2012’s Channel Orange, but it was a remarkably different take on R&B at the time. Now, admittedly, I was too young at the time to understand—or even care—about this album. Though, it would inevitably catch up with me in a few years.
“Blonde” essentially became the soundtrack of my youth, appropriately so considering its themes of identity, masculinity, sexuality and relationships—pretty topical themes for adolescents.
I think “Blonde” is an album that has aged very well. That’s why four years after I discovered it, I appreciate it more than ever. It has a certain timeless quality because Ocean’s lyrics and themes only make more sense as I get older.
As mentioned before, the album delves into many different themes surrounding youth. The album plays out somewhat like an autobiography of Ocean’s own experiences growing up, though his songwriting remains broad enough so that many listeners can relate and identify with his words. Whether it be themes of relationships in “Self Control,” loneliness in “Solo” or even materialism in “Nikes,” it’s a perfect balance of comprehensiveness and specificity. That kind of nuance is the album’s greatest accomplishment.
Instrumentally speaking, the album has a dreamy quality to it. Its soundscape is sparse but far from boring. Guitars, synths, pitch-shifted vocals and minimal percussion make up the overall sound, and these elements are used to great effect.
Each song has its own distinct sound, yet together they each meld into an ethereal noise, like hazy memories floating about. This approach to production is intentional; it’s all in service to the album’s elliptical themes of youth.
It’s also an album that’s worth a relisten. While I countlessly relisten to “Blonde” front to back, I still notice new things all the time. Most of them are small details, like the subtle but intricate transition between “Skyline To” and “Self Control.” Sometimes, I’m even able to reflect on my own experiences to gain a new perspective and understanding of the lyrics after time passes.
“Blonde” has a very special place within me. More than it is a great listen, I also have a certain nostalgic attachment to it. At first, it was just an interesting, new-vibe album I would throw on occasionally. It has since become a meaningful reminder to take life slow and enjoy being young while I still can.