Rolling Stone, the corporate rock magazine run by a geriatric guy who hasn't been cool since the seventies.the magazine that once fired a critic for refusing to give positive reviews to Hootie and Dave Matthews. Need proof? Just look at some of the others! So, basically, my list is just like the others-except my list is 100% right. There's no need for me to pander to artists so that they'll later appear on the cover of my magazine or perform at my music festival in Chicago. My list is based only on my own expertise as a brilliant human being with discerning, critical taste who has been listening to music for years and years and years.
TV shows.Īnd every year sometime in January I tend to do the same thing. These visuals were from Frank Oceans 2013 Youre Not Dead tour.Every year there are tons of magazines and web pages and people with internet connections and a space to type who put out their list of the best whatever of the year. These festivals would be Franks final live appearances for the next three years.įranks First Release In November 2014, after appearing on Converses Hero and John Mayers Wildfire, Frank released his first solo song in 2 years, titled Memrise, on his Tumblr.Ī month later, Frank made an extremely rare appearance on social media through Lil Bs Instagram: A post shared by LIL B THE BASEDGOD OFFICIAL (lilbisgod) on at 6:26am PST In December 2014, beautiful visuals for Memrise were uploaded by director Francis Soriano. The rest of Franks year consisted of 3 festivals: Bonnaroo, Pemberton and Camp Flog Gnaw. The following month, Frank made an appearance at the 2014 Met Gala, where he performed Super Rich Kids and Thinkin Bout You with a live orchestra. Making sophomore album game A post shared by NABIL (nabildo) on at 8:50pm PDT One week later, Nabil stated that an album was coming and that it was going to be followed by a music video: Nabil Elderkin Entrevista Watch this video on YouTube Frank followed up by posting a message on his Tumblr subtly hinting that the album was being wrapped up: Franks since-deleted Tumblr post (Summer, 2014) In April of 2014, Frank attended the Time 100 event in New York City his first public appearance since the 2013 Grammys.
Multiple updates were briefly given throughout 2014 and a summer release was widely expected: Frank hinting at a Summer 2014 release (Fall 2013) In the Spring of 2014, Swim Good director Nabil Elderkin gave the first update in months: Frank in the lab. Frank Ocean Blonde Album Update In Months The European streets of London provided a source of solace, a place where he could hide from the underbelly of the industry and the glamour that came with it.Īs everyone waited for his return, the reclusive artist would mind his own business.Īll the while, a single hard drive, located in his backpack carried his music, country to country (a habit that dates all the way back to Franks songwriting days as Lonny Breaux ). The project was recorded internationally in New York, London, Tokyo and Paris and costing over 2 million to create.Īs the album slowly brewed for four years, expectations rose and Frank ensured every element would be meticulously crafted to meet his vision.īlonde: The Beginning More than anything, Frank Ocean is an artist whose minimalist approach leads him to prefer to have his music speak for him.
Long time peers Malay Ho and OmMas Keith were called up once again to forefront the direction.
Highlights amongst the star-studded cast included French movie composer Christophe Chassol, multi-instrumentalist Jon Brion, Radioheads Jonny Greenwood, and ex Vampire Weekend member Rostam Batmanglij.
The Road to Frank Oceans Blonde August 20th, 2018 marked the second anniversary of the album the world was yearning for.Īn album which saw Frank Ocean tucked away in London at Abbey Road Studios working 16-hour shifts.Īway from the spotlight and music industry, Frank was quietly crafting his sophomore album, Blonde. This curated multimedia experience is created by Habeel J himself, the man behind the most celebrated Frank Ocean blog on the internet. Welcome to an in-depth visual re-telling of Frank Oceans entire creative process, from the 2013 Grammys to the day Blonde was released more than 3 years later. Frank Ocean Blonde Album Update In Months.