For the past 2 years, Brent Faiyaz has remained my personal favorite R&B artist, as his albums have been very cohesive and entertaining. Faiyaz stands out with his discography, including “Sonder Son,” which sees him reminisce and ponder the past, present, and future, while his next three albums are centered around love, whether he’s looking for it, regretting past actions, or thinking about what he wants to do with a lover since his singles and albums have been consistently engaging and polished I am excited to see how his newest album, released on February 13th, plays out

1. white noise. – 7/10

A completely instrumental track, the aptly titled intro to Icon features trumpets, delicate strings, and twinkling sounds, potentially setting a cinematic mood or tone to the album.

2. wrong faces. – 9/10

In the second song of the album, Faiyaz sings a heartfelt and lush chorus, repeating that someone he knows has looked for love in the wrong people and places. The beat is very minimal, featuring just a simple harp-like loop and slow drums, which complement the maximalist vocals and background vocals Faiyaz utilizes as he sings of his love and caring for another person.

3. have to. – 8/10

Starting off with pitched-up vocals, Faiyaz describes how he wants to see his lover after he lands. With a beat reminiscent of contemporary 2000s R&B, it sounds nostalgic without feeling like a rip-off. Faiyaz switches between pitched-up and normal vocals, creating a contrast between the hook and verse, while also contributing to a cinematic mood, with multiple versions of his voice saying different things at once. 

4. butterflies. – 10/10

Beginning with ambient synths and eerie humming, the song holds a mellow vibe. A simple, slow melody plays throughout, suggesting how slow and uncertain Faiyaz feels the relationship he’s in is moving. Throughout the song, he ponders how effortlessly “perfect” the girl he’s in love with is wondering if she’s too good to be true and how he is proceeding with caution because he doesn’t want to mess up his relationship with her. This song is a lyrical standout because, despite the understated lyrics and beat, Faiyaz captures and conveys his exact emotions about a relationship and lets in on his uncertainty and nervousness.  

5. other side. – 9/10

With an energetic guitar loop and funk-reminiscent drums, this song is definitely more upbeat, sounding almost like an ‘80s pop song Michael Jackson might have sung. Faiyaz switches from bare vocals to lush, chorus-like vocals throughout, adding contrast to the energetic sound.

6. strangers. – 8.5/10

In the first half, Brent Faiyaz sings to a lover and friend, wondering how they’ve become more like strangers over time, with understated instrumentation. In the second half, the tempo increases, with the addition of a slow bass and hard-hitting snare. This song stands out for mainly showcasing Faiyaz’s smooth voice and his ability to convey sorrow and regret over almost no instrumentation until the second half.

7. world is yours. – 7/10

Inspired by the motif “the world is yours,” Faiyaz explores how he’ll give his full devotion to a partner. In the song, he describes how he’ll do anything she wants, how he’s worthy of her trust, and how he’ll give her anything. Utilizing ambient instrumentation and pitched-up vocals throughout, Faiyaz and his production team create a romantic and heartfelt atmosphere. A nicely paced song, the beat and layers of vocals slowly build as the song progresses, with ambient noise in the beginning and hi-hats starting to come in. 

8. four seasons. – 10/10

Probably my favorite song on the album because of its simplicity and catchiness, with Brent Faiyaz comparing his lover to the seasons and other weather-related references over a simple, but catchy beat. Faiyaz also doesn’t try to be more than he is, meaning he doesn’t push his vocals in a way that might sound unpolished or dramatic, but contributes to the overall introspective tone with his calm vocals.

9. pure fantasy. – 7/10

For many, this song might be a pure fantasy with crowd noise effects and the spotlight, but for Faiyaz, he describes a relationship with pure love, mutual trust, and respect. Contrasting his many songs about toxicity and failed love, Faiyaz seems to be both happy and hopeful in this song.

10. vanilla sky. – 8/10

An introspective closing song to the album, Faiyaz repeatedly asks someone he knows about happiness and love, including what it means to them and if they feel it. The looping strums and lyrical repetition suggest that Faiyaz believes love and happiness are loops that go on forever, as shown by his asking whether happiness is short-term or lifelong.

     Overall, this album was a very enjoyable listen with highlights being “butterflies.” and “four seasons.” Though its 30-minute runtime is pretty short, Faiyaz is able to pack a lot of emotions into it over a variety of pitches, beats, and tempos. What’s also impressive is the lack of features, showcasing Faiyaz’s ability to hold his own as a singer and songwriter, and my overall rating of “Icon” is a 9/10.