Frank ocean nostalgia ultra full#
Frank ocean nostalgia ultra professional#

Switchfoot Cover Frank Ocean, Vampire Weekend and Harry Styles on New EP James Blake Releases Emotive Rendition of Frank Ocean’s ‘Godspeed’ Upon the mixtape’s critically-acclaimed release, Ocean was met with a flurry of interested labels, opportunities to work with musical behemoths, and a dedicated cult following. Feelings of loneliness are accented by his snappy yet gloomy inaugural single “Novacane.” (“Numb the pain” he repeats near the song’s end.) Thoughts of suicide after heartbreak are found in the heartbreakingly poetic “Swim Good.” (“Don’t try savin’ me, no flares, no vest and no fear,” he cries.) In just over 40 minutes, Ocean meanders his way through evocative memories and scenarios, however, several interruptions of a readjusting tape deck or blaring alarm clock serve as snapbacks to the austere realities of his current life.

Frank ocean nostalgia ultra professional#

16, 2011) provides a candid first glimpse into his mind.ĭropped without advance warning on his Tumblr page-home base for several personal and professional musings throughout his career- Nostalgia, Ultra delves into the complexities of Ocean’s emotional and mental state through top-notch storytelling. Yet, Ocean’s debut mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra (released on Feb. Ocean came to life when he sang, but his reserved temperament (a likely byproduct of his clear ambivalence regarding spotlight) was overshadowed by Tyler’s electric personality, making personal connections with this man of mystery a slight challenge for fans.

Frank ocean nostalgia ultra full#

Frank joined West and Jay-Z on the album, Watch the Throne.Click here to read the full article on SPIN.įrank Ocean may be one of the most popular musical acts of the 21st century, but back in 2010, the California-based, New Orleans-bred artist ( formerly known as Christopher Breaux) was just getting his feet wet as a member of the hip-hop collective Odd Future, led by fellow future Grammy winner Tyler, the Creator. The controversy led to more eyes watching his creative talents and later caught the eyes of Kanye West who was reportedly a fan of the mixtape. Controversy later arose in March 2012 over his rendition of American rock band Eagles’ song “Hotel California” entitled “American Wedding.” That didn’t stop Frank Ocean from continuing to flourish as a result of the release. Nostalgia Ultra caught the radar of several music critics’ and publications’ end-of-year album lists.

Ocean surprised fans during the festival’s first weekend by bringing out Tyler the Creator as a guest performance during his set. Ocean performed live renditions from Nostalgia Ultra in 2012 at his first Coachella Festival performance including songs, “Novacane,” “Strawberry Swing” and “Lovecrimes.” It is one of those projects that simply embodies “the feels.” Honestly, this mixtape was such an emotional experience for anyone who dared to listen.

It is a mix of sheer happiness and a wave of uncomfortable sadness, because Ocean’s music translates effortlessly to his listeners. If you have experienced Frank Ocean’s earlier live performances, you understand the emotional turmoil felt afterwards. Ultimately, the release of Nostalgia Ultra established Frank Ocean as a visionary artist carving out his own lane in an industry that wasn’t built for individual thinkers. Ocean felt dispensable to his label and decided to release it on his own without any promotion or sample clearances. Instead, the EP was indefinitely delayed and eventually cancelled. In May 2011, Def Jam announced plans to release the mixtape as an EP the following summer.

There are a few things to note about how epic this mixtape is to music and entertainment for a new artist. Today, fans of the mixtape reflect on how the mixtape affected the way we experience modern day R&B and Frank Ocean’s introduction to the industry.

Nostalgia Ultra was received well amongst music critics and fans across the world. The mixtape cover, much like Frank Ocean, is mysterious and not telling of what the project would become. The cover features Ocean’s dream car, a bright orange BMW E30 M3, amidst a lush bed of greenery. The songs throughout the project focus on relationships, personal reflection and social-political commentary surrounding world events.