Final Grade: A-

channel Orange is definitely one of the best albums I've heard this year.  Frank Ocean has proven that he has his own style, but gives everyone a lil bit of what they already love.  I think the first half of the album outweighs the second; "Thinkin Bout You" through "Super Rich Kids" is pretty flawless, and incredibly clever.  Production throughout the album is on point, and serves to a wide demographic.  Some would think that his "coming out" served only as a publicity stunt, but he's got the album to back him up, so the timing of his admittance should factor into no one's mind when they listen to this album.  If Ocean keeps puttin out shit like this, he's gonna be a forced to be reckoned with in new music.

White

Monks

Bad Religion

Pink Matter ft André 3000

Forrest Gump

End

Songs of the Day

So after a bunch of gigs, I'm back to this Frank Ocean album.  Don't go thinkin I forgot about it!  Quite the opposite, it's been on straight repeat.  So, it's the end of the album I'm covering today: "White," "Monks,""Bad Religion," "Pink Matter," "Forrest Gump," and "End."  This album definitely has a strong ending, which only continues the impressive theme going on.  "Bad Religion" sticks out to me the most of these final songs, which is probably why he performed it on Jimmy Fallon with The Roots.  I like what the organ adds to the track, and that it's organ in a non funk setting; it's still got that church feel to it.  "Pink Matter" has a cool vibe to it as well, and he successfully made a song about a vagina that doesn't sound vulgar.  See people - it is possible.  I especially like the weight of the bass that comes in about 2/3 of the way through the song, before André 3000 makes a much appreciated appearance.   The other tracks are pretty solid as well, much respect.