Blonde (Frank Ocean album)
| Blonde | ||||
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| Studio album by Frank Ocean | ||||
| Released | August 20, 2016 | |||
| Recorded | 2013–16 | |||
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 60:08 | |||
| Label | Boys Don't Cry | |||
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| Singles from Blonde | ||||
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| Alternate cover | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Aggregate scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 8.4/10 |
| Metacritic | 87/100 |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    |
| The Daily Telegraph | |
| Entertainment Weekly | A |
| The Guardian | |
| The Observer | |
| Pitchfork | 9/10 |
| Rolling Stone | |
| Spin | 8/10 |
| The Times | |
| Vice | B+ |
Blonde (stylized as blond) is the second studio album by American singer Frank Ocean. It was released on August 20, 2016, as a timed exclusive on the iTunes Store and Apple Music, and followed the August 19 release of Ocean's visual album Endless. Initially known as Boys Don't Cry and teased for a July 2015 release, the album suffered several delays and was the subject of widespread media anticipation leading up to its release.
The album features an abstract and experimental sound in comparison to Ocean's previous releases, and includes guest vocals from André 3000, Beyoncé, Yung Lean, and Kim Burrell, among others. Production is handled by Ocean himself, alongside a variety of high-profile record producers, including Malay and Om'Mas Keith, who collaborated with Ocean on Channel Orange, as well as James Blake, Jon Brion, Buddy Ross, Pharrell Williams and Rostam Batmanglij, among others.
Blonde debuted at number one in several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, and in its first week recorded sales of 232,000 copies (275,000 with album-equivalent units). Its physical release was accompanied by a magazine entitled Boys Don't Cry. The album was supported by lead single "Nikes". It has received widespread acclaim from critics and appears on the year-end lists of many publications.
On February 21, 2013, Ocean confirmed that he had started work on his second studio album, which he confirmed would be another concept album. He revealed that he was working with Tyler, The Creator, Pharrell Williams, and Danger Mouse on the record. He later stated that he was being influenced by The Beach Boys and The Beatles. He also stated that he was interested in collaborating with Tame Impala and King Krule and wanted to record the album in Bora Bora. Ocean ultimately began recording at New York's Electric Lady Studios and, after a period of writer's block, recorded in London at Abbey Road Studios in addition to various other studios.
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