| | Full Review | Ratings (170) |
Give your Rating |
| 3.5 great | wtferrothorn | July 5th 16 |
As someone who wasn't much of a fan of 'Cupid Deluxe', this was a great improvement from Devonte rHynes. The songwriting has improved tenfold, the production feels much more rewarding, and these rshorter song lengths result in much sharper, focused songs overall. I hope Hynes continues to rimprove more and more with each project he releases under this Blood Orange moniker.rHere's your positivity,bitch
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.0 poor | ibringyoufire | June 30th 16 |
There are a lot of beautiful and important statements Dev's trying to make with this thing, but sonically speaking, this is pretty unbearable.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | LotusFlower | July 5th 16 |
whats with all these soundoffs being filled with negative nancies come on guys!
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.7 great | Erwann S. STAFF | May 12th 22 |
HEYO DO YOU LIKE PRINCE??? ME 2, NICE!!! Thankfully, Freetown Sound ain't a vulgar Prince pastiche - even though the 80s vibes are stronk with this one. It's full of a bittersweetness that's counterbalanced by funky basslines and sophisti-pop production. Many Some tunes compensate their thinness with a masterful production, but at least that guarantees a pleasant listen.
Bump |
| 2.5 average | literallyzach | February 16th 17 |
Diet lemonade. Full of meaningful, complicated ideas about identity that fail to enliven the drab music. "Best to You" is exceptional, however, and really shows some of the potential Dev Hynes fails to capitalize on here.
Bump |
| 3.0 good | TheManMachine | October 21st 16 |
Lotsa good bleedin' on through here: lush-n-dreamy arrangements that are percussively preeminent, multi-instrumentalist mastermind crooner with loads of soul and sensitivity and smarts to boot, a gaggle of propitious girl-guests. Prominent Prince worship and kicking things off with a fiery feminist recitation never hurts neither -- but I'm not sure the near-permanent placidity is quite conducive to the durational ambition and socially conscious commentary, the latter of which comes through in interludial sampling more than it does the actual tunes. A handful of moments pump up the pep, but on the whole it seems stuck in a shell of subtlety. Nothin' wrong with that per se -- just could've done with a bit more in the way of hard-selling methinks.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Alabaster Jones | August 25th 16 |
If this is what Freetown really does sound like, I may have to call my travel agency pretty soon here. Blood Orange has really keened in on consistency on Freetown Sound, because throughout the hour-long runtime, there isn't one song that is a dud or doesn't serve a definitive purpose. The mellowed, laid-back alternative R&B sound is still very much at play here, but it sometimes strays into more artsy waters. For instance, "Augustine" sounds extremely influenced by synthpop, and there is no doubting the sophisti-pop that also comes through when mixing the warm synth lines with jazzier elements. Of course, one could make the argument that it's simply not variant enough to make a lasting impression, but one could also look at it this way: it's totally smooth, easy-going take on this style gives the record a really welcoming and wholly enjoyable atmosphere, and definitely gives off really nice vibes of positivity and hope. Really, Freetown Sound is an interesting and altogether easy listen, but it's also a very enjoyable experience.
Bump |
| 3.0 good | KidEnkidu | July 19th 16 |
prince haunts this album. it had to be said. but consider me a sailor in the "too long, not varied enough" boat
Bump |
| 3.5 great | dihstyle69 | July 8th 16 |
hey still need to focus more as far as the production goes. you can't do an album this long with prod so mellow and wavy that puts you to sleep in no minute. a step up from their previous tape, but it could and should've been way better. 3.5-
Bump |
| 2.5 average | SonofSnow | July 5th 16 |
Really enjoyed what was sonically going on at first, but by album's end I just felt worn out.rSome great stuff here, especially in the lyrical realm. I just wish I found it sonically enjoyable.
Bump |
| 2.0 poor | FlipTrackz | June 28th 16 |
Just as bad as the last album. Nothing as changed here.
Bump |
| 3.0 good | doofy | January 8th 24 |
| 3.5 great | osey | October 19th 22 |
| 3.5 great | StBrox | October 22nd 20 |
| 3.5 great | jlsg | September 27th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | BeeRyan | November 15th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | orogo | October 12th 19 |
| 2.5 average | Prole | September 19th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Josh | August 24th 19 |
| 3.0 good | Ryus | January 24th 19 |
| 3.5 great | akimbo | December 13th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | Meruem | November 21st 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | hamblast | November 16th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Luisito | September 11th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | xuewen | September 10th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Evrimen | September 4th 18 |
| 3.5 great | KevinMM | September 2nd 18 |
| 3.0 good | Skoop | August 27th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Gueero | August 24th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Jadiel | June 20th 18 |
| 3.5 great | YayoG1 | April 8th 18 |
| 2.5 average | Runeii | December 20th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | gschwen | August 7th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | nkbizer | February 6th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Irving EMERITUS | November 18th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Jordan M. EMERITUS | November 11th 16 |
| 2.5 average | Smelty | November 7th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Fuff24 | October 31st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | kahbs | October 13th 16 |
| 3.5 great | peterj | October 7th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Krvst | October 3rd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Handers | October 1st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Behexen | October 1st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Undertow | September 15th 16 |
| 2.5 average | Rail | September 8th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | spur55 | August 24th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Rudy K. EMERITUS | July 21st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | iGuter | July 12th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | robin | July 11th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Denis | July 6th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tom R. CONTRIBUTOR | July 3rd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | ti0n | June 30th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Spec | June 30th 16 |
| |
Give Your Opinion on Freetown Sound
|
