By Ayomide Tayo
Album- Refazed
Artiste- Faze
Features- 2Face Idibia, Black Face, Vector
Label- Independent Entertainment (2012)
After a couple of missteps last year, Faze releases his fourth studio album Refazed without a hit single in heavy rotation or a colourful music video getting heavy airplay. The former Plantashun Boy is so confident of his talent that he drops an album without the obligatory hype. Truth be told, we know what Faze can do, from his Plantashun Boyz days to his solo career.
‘I’m okay musically, physically and mentally, like Fela Kuti and Marley. If you check out my history you’ll never forget me…I’m okay’ sings Faze on the album opener ‘I’m Okay’ in a bid to reassure his fans that he’s still got the magic touch. To show that he’ also ‘current,’ Faze crafts an Azonto track on ‘Follow Your Mind’ which sounds like a P-Square creation. ‘Follow Your Mind’ is a rare Azonto creature, as it’s not as fast-paced as other Azonto songs. Faze is also confident enough to sing on the song and not just ride the beat. ‘Butterflies’ is a pop song with European heritage that shows that Faze has been studying trends, and the song works- a couple of years out of the game haven’t really hurt Faze’s talent.
It’s no secret that Faze is one of the best R&B singers in the country, and he chooses to flex his pipes on ‘Secret’- a cool R&B song. ‘Take off your clothes; I’m ready to take you on a cruise. I know you are ready to roll. Can you keep a secret?’ asks Faze on one of the standout tracks on his new LP. ‘Good Wife’ which eschews the virtues of a good woman eerily sounds like Faze’s hit single ‘Faze Alone’. Here, it seems Faze is trying to re-create the formula of his debut single; he even sneaks the name ‘Angel Gabriella’ (angel Gabriella was the title of a song in Faze’s first album) in the song. ‘Good Wife’ is a good track, but would have been better if ‘Faze Alone’ didn’t exist.
The past is still heavy on Faze’s mind. ‘Everybody get their own time. Today fit be your own, tomorrow fit be mine. So hear what I say, don’t think twice, see am talking from experience no be lie’ he sings on ‘Reality Check’. His sermon on patience and hardwork is sort of biographical, if you remember that Faze had to fight for his spot in an era monopolized by his former band mate 2face Idibia. Coming from an authentic place, ‘Reality Check’ hits the mark.
‘Sweetie Sweetie’ is a dance track straight from the confectionery. ‘My Girl’ featuring Vector is a tale of a man longing for another man’s girl. Faze brings his high-pitched voice and Vector’s witty lines (wanna know the reason I can’t cheat on your down time/I’m still an Arsenal fan) to deliver more pop candy. ‘Nkem’ sounds tepid, one of the few wrong turns on the album.
Plantashun Boyz fans will be definitely like ‘Best of the Best’ which features all the three members of the iconic pop group. The trio go down memory lane, recollect their hits and pledge to be still on top. It’s a standard Plantashun Boyz song complete with Faze’s patent (annoying) shrill and a rap verse from Black Face.
17 tracks long, Refazed might be a bit too long for your average listener, but Faze makes few mistakes on his new LP. He sounds rejuvenated after a couple of years in the wilderness. He’s been re-fazed, no doubt, and now it’s time for the public to acknowledge that.
Rating- 3.5/5
20 comments
faze is on point
I love him die even if he sings abc and 123
foreverFAZE!
Abeg this review is wanting. Refazed album rating na 6/5, 2 thumbs up, for real. You hardly see an album where all the songs are ghen! ghen!, all the tracks on Refazed are so on point, individually crafted to perfection.
Dats my dude. Gud to Go. Refazed LP. Love it. Thank u 4 nt giving up my brother.
as for me and my house hold.faze is stil d very best,tightest and my source of inspiration. U are the best bro!!
Faze is just too gbaski and he deserves to be at the top. F’ck this reviewer.
How can the reviewer criticize a song like “Good wife” and other great songs in the Refazed album. I think Faze was actually talking to enemies of progress such as this reviewer in “Make Dem Yan” and “Am Ok”. He also criticized P’Square’s album earlier, an album which has become the most successful African album. Check this link: http://thenetng.com/2011/08/19/psquares-the-invasion-album-review/. I have listened to all the tracks in the Refazed album and they are all on point. I don’t have much to say. WACTH FAZE AS HE CROSSES THE BORDER LINE this time. Album rating according to me, my household and my friends is 7/5. If you no like the album go hug transformer.
IT”S IN HIM…SO I BELIEVE HIM TO DEATH…GO ON GUY WE GAT UR BAK
WTF frm dis reviewer?? You say NKEM sounds what???? You are eida frm afganistan or u ve not been listening to other naija albums of which i stopped buying new albums except you are proven overtime to give music lovers songs to always remember. I bought my refazed album on friday and have had it in the car deck since then. All songs are just too tight.
Faze… Always having that ORIGINALITY… even in the entire SOCIETY……
Make una HALLA E NAME……………………………
any one that criticize faze refazed album much be an enimy of progress. no mistake in that album is so on poin, is still on reply in my car and home….faze caryy go the lord is ur strenth bro, hater go hug transformer
“make dem yarn,na dem get dia mouth”*singing in faze’s voice*…the refazed album is so much on point! Itz nt easy holding down the fan base as faze did despite lying low 4 a while…welcome bk baba, ur truly ‘ok’
Look at what this reviewer has done to himself. Now, people are raged in anger because you’ve spoken ill of a Refazed album that has no comma. The Refazed album is the best for now take it or leave it. Maybe I’ll try my hand in reviewing albums in Nigeria. Make Dem Yarn Faze is so so okay will definitely reach the peak as he crosses borderlines with Refazed album- I love Faze.
Refazed is hot and flawless.all tracks on point.am having it on replay and cant seems to be tired of it.no one can do it like faze.am not impressed by this review.
i cant just stop listening to d album.lng life faze baba.
cant wait till the day he’ll do a collabo with Darey or Banky W…
Faze any day, any-time i believe u,cool headed guy ur fans tight. God is with U.
ebelebe……………..reality check…Faze is the only real R & B musician in naija, love his reggae vibes in his songs…i love u faze..i love the track(good wife) is really reggaesious…ahahahahahah.
Faze has always been a great singer. He has got someting 2show 4it dis tym. REFAZED is a good one.