Background
After Brent Faiyaz scrapped his album “Icon” after announcing it on July 3, 2025, fans were devastated. It seemed like it was going to be his next major album following the success of “Wasteland,” but then it was gone. Just like that. No release date or anything. This left a lot of questions for what was to come, as Faiyaz is known for building eras and aesthetics around his music. Following months of silence from Faiyaz, good news came. Here, the album was announced with a new narrative to the project, and what felt like a lost era became the most anticipated album of the month.
How I rated
In this review, I am going to take a different approach from other reviews I have done. I have 5 categories: Perfect, good, mid, bad, and unplayable. I will decide which category a song will go into based on its replayability, lyrics, production, its impression and its contribution to the album. Alongside, I will go into the meaning of and a synopsis of the songs. Although I will still give the album itself a number rating from 1 to 10.
Tracklist
- white noise.
“white noise.” acts as a perfect intro into the album, and it sets the tone perfectly for “Icon.” It’s a beautiful euphony of orchestral sounds and synths, blended perfectly, making it like “ear candy.” Meaning-wise, it acts as a perfect song to ease into a new era for Brent Faiyaz. I like this song, but the only place it lacks is lyrics, because this song is an instrumental. That really affects its replayability and doesn’t give me much to go off of for meaning.
Good
- wrong faces.
“wrong faces.” dives into themes of fake relationships, trust issues, and being surrounded by people who don’t have genuine intentions, which fit naturally in the album. The production is smooth and slightly dark, with a moody tone that complements the vocals, and meaning well. I really liked this song on first listen, and it’s what really dragged me in to listen to the rest of the album.
Perfect *Added to Playlist.
- have to.
“have to.” shifts into a very emotionally conflicted spot, focusing on things needed in a relationship rather than genuine love or desire. Faiyaz’s delivery is very expressive, and I love the use of high-pitched vocals. This whole song feels very personal. The production is very minimal, allowing Brent to get the message across clearly. I really like this song, and when it came out as a single, I could not stop listening to it. It had me excited for the album.
- butterflies.
“butterflies.” introduces a soft and romantic tone to the album, adding warmth and contrast to the previous songs. The production is very smooth and melodic, which makes it enjoyable to listen to and replayable. “butterflies.” Feels very emotionally open and vulnerable, which helps balance out the colder and more distant songs on the album. I absolutely love this track. Faiyaz chose the right path of being more romantic rather than toxic compared to previous albums.
Perfect *Added to playlist.
- other side.
“other side.” is about Brent loving someone from a distance and that he can treat her right, but isn’t able to get that close to her. The production of this song is very upbeat and catchy. This song isn’t as comparable to the other ones, but it’s still a good song.
Good *Added to playlist.
- Strangers.
“strangers.” is a very important song on the album, as it captures the part of a breakup where once intimate people become unfamiliar with each other or become strangers. The songwriting seems very developed, and the production supports the message perfectly. I really resonate with this song, and I love almost everything about it.
Perfect *Added to playlist.
- world is yours.
“world is yours.” shifts into a more giving and devoted tone, with Faiyaz projecting himself as a guy willing to give a girl everything: his time, attention, and material. The lyrics suggest that his love language is providing rather than emotional openness, which adds imbalance. It feels like an attempt to keep the girl from the last song. I love the production on this song, the lyrics and the vibe. I also really resonate with this track, making it all the more meaningful.
Perfect *Added to playlist.
- four seasons.
“four seasons.” uses the idea of seasons changing as a metaphor for the progression of feelings in a relationship. The lyrics go through the progression over time: change, growth, and eventually decline. This concept really makes this track symbolic, tying in with the other themes of this album. I really like this song; the vibe is majestic and meaningful, which I love in songs. Faiyaz did an amazing job at representing the progression, and the replayability is elite.
- pure fantasy.
“pure fantasy.” centers around romanticizing a relationship to the point where it becomes detached from reality. Instead of facing the flaws and problems, he seems to just look at an idealized version of the relationship. The dreamy production reinforces the meaning, matching that fantasy part of the relationship. I really like this song, and the production is phenomenal. The lyrics are relatable and catchy, making this replayable.
Perfect *Added to playlist.
- vanilla sky.
“vanilla sky.” closes the tracklist with a reflective and bittersweet tone, focusing on acceptance and emotional closure. The lyrics go through trying to look at experiences with understanding and emotional closure, asking many questions. This track is very calm and provides resolution to the album. This song really completes the album, and I really like it because of the questions it poses to the love.
Perfect *Added to playlist.
Final Thoughts/Rating
Overall, “Icon” proves why Faiyaz continues to stand out in the industry. After scrapping an album and bringing it back, it could’ve felt rushed and inconsistent, but instead, it’s very intentional and masterful. Production-wise, the album is extremely consistent, keeping the same palette, which each match the album perfectly. While a lot of songs are minimal, that leaves room for the messages to really stand out, which I love about it. If there are any weaknesses it’s that some of the tracks don’t really stand out individually but stand out within the album. If I were to listen to some of these songs, it would have to be when I’m listening to the entire album to fully enjoy them. “Icon” lives up to the hype, and it is honestly one of Faiyaz’s best albums.
9.5/10
