CD Review: Frank Ocean

Channel Orange (Island Def Jam)

By Michael Gallucci on Wed, Jul 25, 2012 at 4:00 am

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Coming out a few weeks ago may have doubled as one-of-a-kind, mass-market publicity for the Odd Future singer's debut album, but Channel Orange doesn't need the push. The LP packs enough great songs (the epic "Pyramids" and the stormy ballad "Bad Religion" are highlights) to sell itself. Ocean sounds a little like Stevie Wonder here, a little like Prince there, and like the future of R&B all over. One of the year's best.