Fans have anxiously followed the singer's impenetrable online presence since he announced that he was working on his second studio album way back in 2013. But the wait is over, on August 20th, Frank Ocean finally released his highly anticipated sophomore album, Blonde (stylized on the album art as Blond), the follow-up to the 2012 monumental, Grammy-nominated debut, "Channel ORANGE."

The term "sophomore slump" does not apply when speaking about Frank Ocean. Although I personally thought that there was no way Frank Ocean could create something so influential and well put together as "Channel ORANGE." He has made me eat my words and I apologize for doubting the potential, creativity, and superior storytelling that Frank possesses.

While still contradicting expectation and disobeying existing rules of genre and sexuality, the music is sparer on Blonde than it was on "Channel ORANGE" — more sensible and less filled with excitement, but still daring to say the least. Guided by raw emotion and backed by heavy musicalinstrumentation, including isolated guitar and simple electric keyboard chords, fidgety rhythms and eccentric vocal effects, Frank is able to speak on avariety of instinctual feelings. Though grayscale tone, He examines unreciprocated love on ("Self Control"), failed relationships on ("Ivy"), loneliness on ("Solo"), and substance abuse on ("Skyline To"). Although Blondedelineates from the norm, it is still insightful in a relatable, impactful way. With the release of the Blonde, it is clear that Frank Ocean is back and better than ever.