Album Review: Larger Than Life
By: Diamonte Giacovelli
If you are a regular reader of this magazine, you should have known that this review would be written by me. The R&B community received a pleasant surprise when Brent Faiyaz’s sophomore album, Larger Than Life, was released at midnight on October 27, 2023. Upon my initial listen, I found this album somewhat perplexing, but after giving it another go, I realized its potential to become the R&B album of the year.
I initially intended to compare it to Brent's debut album, WASTELAND. However, I soon realized that these albums exude distinct vibes. WASTELAND featured a low-key production with a remarkable narrative woven between each song and skit, while Larger Than Life stands out as a production masterpiece, evoking the R&B vibes of the 90s and 2000s, which my mom raised me on. I was deeply impressed by the improvement in sound.
The album kicks off with "Tim's Intro," which delivers phenomenal instrumentals, outstanding vocals, and an appearance from the legendary Timbaland. This opening track was the best way to start a sophomore album. The subsequent three tracks are arguably the album's best. "Last One Left," in my opinion, showcases one of Brent's most outstanding vocal performances as a solo artist. That being said, I found the featured artists, Missy Elliott on the hook and Lil Gray, lacking in effort. The Missy Elliot feature was misleading as it was a sample of her song “Crazy Feelings” that was the hook. Fans like myself were expecting a new funky verse from the icon but instead got a repeat of what has been out for years. Lil Gray wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great, to say the least. It was a mid-verse, in my opinion.
"Forever Yours" and "Best Time" would have worked excellently as a combined song. The transitions between the songs were some of the smoothest I've heard on an R&B track. Despite their contrasting styles, both productions were powerful and effective. The "Big Mad Skit" delivered Brent's typical toxic vibes. "Moment Of Your Life" featuring Coco Jones is one of my all-time favorite Brent songs, although I skipped it since it was released as a single a few months earlier.
"Outside All Night," featuring A$AP Rocky and N3WYORKLA, was by far the most disappointing track. It seemed as if there was no chemistry, and Brent's vocals were barely present. It was just not a great song to me but, ironically, the best song is right up next. "Wherever I Go" is my favorite cut on the album. It's refreshing to hear Brent pushing his vocals to the maximum. "Upset" did not resonate with me, mainly due to the inclusion of Tommy Richman, whose style I'm not a fan of.
"On This Side" was a pleasantly surprising song, boasting solid production and chemistry. "Dawg Em Skit" served as another toxic interlude in Brent's album. "Belong To You," featuring Babyface Ray, has the potential to become a Billboard hit. The two artists made this song work, and I can envision it being played in the club.
"WY@" was excellent when it was released as a single, although I dislike the removal of the Spanish verse. This mysterious woman was spitting, and if you know how to translate Spanish, you will understand. Finally, "Pistachios" was a fitting conclusion to the album, although I preferred the sound of the leaked version.
Overall, in my view, this album was phenomenal. I'm delighted to see such a significant improvement in production. The only downside is that some of the featured artists felt underwhelming, and Brent could have perfected the songs with his vocals. I've noticed a trend of him holding back his vocal capabilities, and I believe it's time to unleash them, as he is emerging as one of the top R&B artists of this generation. I recommend that everyone take the time to listen to this fantastic album.