Nineteen Fifty-Six Vol. 3 Issue 1

Wasteland
Album Review:
DANI BROWN
Brent Faiyaz’s third studio album, “WASTELAND”
embodies his idiosyncratic style, as it tells
the unique story of how the consequences of
actions have an effect on one’s mental state. The cinematic
theme of the album captivates the mind to visualize the
feelings of suspense, anger, pain, passion, and heartbreak.
Faiyaz and his music are often deemed as toxic, as it
often correlates to emotionally fragmented relationships.
WASTELAND embodies the failure of relationships made
worse by successes. The album, WASTELAND consists
of 19 elements, the introduction, 14 tracks (songs), an
interlude, and three intriguing skits.
The arrangement of the album truly fits the sequence of
the story that Faiyaz is trying to convey. Starting with the
introduction as it gives the listener a sense of anticipation
for what’s to come in the following tracks. Each song track
on this album allows us to dive into Faiyaz’s struggles
with his success, as it takes a toll on his relationships and
mental health. He truly takes us on a visual journey in the
making of his skits as they grab our attention, keeping us
eager for answers and explanations for each.
Track 1 - VILLAIN’S THEME
Faiyaz’s opening introduction, VILLAIN’S THEME is a
portrayal of how he views the ways of life while dealing
with the rise to his success. It starts as a conversation
that encompasses how working can become so repetitive
that you can lose yourself during the process. During this
introduction he states that he makes real music “that’s like
a temporary euphoria.” Throughout VILLAIN’S THEME
he addresses the label “toxic” in which the internet world
has attached to him. He expresses why he messes around
having fun and finding joy in ways that others view as
reckless. In the end of his intro he poses the question,
“What purpose do your vices serve in your life?”
Track 2 - LOOSE CHANGE
In this song Faiyaz recognizes his successes and rightful
path to fame as he questions his lover and their intentions
of being with him. The song begins with “What’s left of
us? “What’s left of our lives?” These lyrics engage the
audience as it gives us a relatable visualization of his his
declining relationship. The condition of his relationship
caused him to question love and its entirety. In all, the
misunderstanding of love can lead him to making more
poor decisions in other relationships to follow.
Track 7 - PRICE OF FAME
Understanding Faiyaz’s disappointment in the song,
LOOSE CHANGE leads to his acceptance that success
and fame often has a price to be paid when it comes
to maintaining relationships. In his 6 minutes and 19
seconds song, PRICE OF FAME, he goes into depth of the
disconnect that he has with relationships because of his
fame that he feels is overrated. The song begins in slow
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