#2. Frank Ocean- Channel Orange

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Frank Ocean is number two on the countdown for his first studio album, Channel Orange.  When I mentioned him on my other blog last year, I knew for a fact he would be around for a while, releasing one of the best mixtapes of 2011, nostalgia, Ultra.  His voice and music give off the coolest vibe, and when "Thinking About You" was released online he had the internet going CRAZY!  With nU he already garnered a buzz, but with that song followed by "Sweet Life" and the almost 10-minute "Pyramids," he solidified himself as a staple in R&B.

Channel Orange is one of the best R&B albums to come out in years.  Each song is more beautiful than the last.  On "Bad Religion" and "Forrest Gump," Frank lets us into his personal life, expressing his feelings for his first love -a man- which we found out about this past summer when he put up this Tumblr post.  Like I said in my previous post about nU, I love how open and honest he is, and he continued this on CO. On songs like "Pilot Jones" ad "Lost," Mr. Ocean speaks on his former female lovers and how they've gotten caught up in the drug lifestyle. You almost forget this man is telling a story because you're so wrapped up in the flow and his voice on the album.  And let's not get into the songs with features. MAN.  The homie Earl Sweatshirt finally got some widespread recognition with his bars on "Super Rich Kids," and John Mayer had a smooth instrument solo on the track "White," although I would have much rather preferred the version where Frank Ocean sang (as featured on The OF Tape, Vol. 2- listen here). "Pink Matter" though?  With Andre 3000? Between Frank's awesome vocals, the lyrical content, the dopest feature, AND a reference to Dragon Ball Z, this is definitely one of the best tracks on Channel Orange.  Hell, even the interludes are hot.  From the intro "Start" where he is playing Street Fighter on the PS to the the other interludes where he gears us up for the next track (which is good reason as to why you should listen to this album in order), they all go.  The hidden track "Golden Girl" on the end of "End" with Tyler, the Creator is also a nice surprise.  I haven't even mentioned "Crack Rock" and "Sierra Leone," but if you have listened to CO you know that this entire album is perfection.

Listen to one of the best albums of the year below, so good that Frank is nominated for SIX Grammys in 2013- hats off to him.  Also check out the videos for "Pyramids" and "Thinkin Bout You," as well as his newest track, "Wise Man," off the Django Unchained soundtrack:

 

Frank Ocean feat. John Mayer- Pyramids

 Frank Ocean- Thinking About You