Fans did not have to wait long for Brent Faiyaz’s new album “Larger Than Life.” It was released in October, just one year after “WASTELAND,” which missed the mark of Faiyaz’s former glory. Would another year have made the difference?
The album starts off with “Tim’s Intro,” and the first words the listener hears are an echo of “Sonder,” a reference to Faiyaz’s debut album “Sonder,” playing five times. This song, much like the rest of the album, contains Faiyaz’s backup vocals and lusty sound, the same music the listener hears in “Sonder.”
The album touches on the title multiple times, but it does not seem to be the focus. The theme is love, but it indicates two sides. Faiyaz spends most of the record exploring his love for someone. In past albums, the recurring theme has been about Faiyaz being misunderstood, unable to commit and trying not to hurt someone he loves.
But in “Larger Than Life,” Faiyaz seems to be on board and serious about his love. In “Last One Left,” Faiyaz ends the song by talking about “me and you” being “larger than life.” This form of unconditional love and the title are intertwined throughout the album.
The first two tracks have no obvious break between them, and if you’re not listening closely, you won’t even realize you’ve jumped between songs. Faiyaz could be alluding to the fact that he has fallen in love without realizing it.
By the third track, Faiyaz has committed. The title “Forever Yours” says it all, but the song is at an awkward time. It immediately takes off with its beat, but the listener just waits for the song to change and be about something. At one minute and 36 seconds, the song ends abruptly. Faiyaz sings, “I’m all yours,” but the commitment does not continue to last.
By track five, “Outside All Night,” they are not together, but Faiyaz still has love in his heart. He longs for her and does not know if he should confess his feelings, so he waits “outside all night.” With track six, they are officially apart. The song makes the listener want to sway to it, singing the lyrics while feeling a sadness only Faiyaz can provoke.
After track nine, “Upset,” the listener must push themselves to continue listening to the album. Most songs are best at the end, but the rest of the song is not worth getting through, which leads to the tracks going unheard. Specifically, on “On This Side,” A$AP ANT’s rap is so unfamiliar to Faiyaz’s style that the voices seem to clash instead of blending with each other. Most of the songs will be liked on the first listen, but very few will eventually be loved.
There is some classic Faiyaz a listener can find with “WY@,” with his soft vocals and heartbreak lyrics.
Any song with Faiyaz’s talent will stand out, however, this album disappoints from previous ones. With his talent, fans expect the best, and this album just did not deliver.
