Last year marked the epic comeback of the big-hatted mentor to pop artists, Pharrell. Winning more than seven Grammys for his music, Pharrell Williams, former member of N.E.R.D., is now endeavoring in his own field of rhythm-and-blues music. He combines old Sinatra-style singing with new-age electronic beats and a dash of Jamaican reggae spices.

“Brand New,” featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, is the second song on the album, and it’s my least favorite. It  lacks substance and creativity, it’s repetitive and, to top it all off, it’s a complete waste of Timberlake’s and Williams’ talent. Much of this song consists of a low-humming background beneath soft-spoken lyrics that say nothing more than how “the price tag is still on it.” Timberlake is barely even noticeable in this song. He just harmonizes during the chorus.

But overall,  I adore this album. It’s a masterpiece for Pharrell, with most of the songs displaying complex tones and love-saturated lyrics. I have been a fan of Williams since his early R&B days with N.E.R.D. His iconic voice mesmerizes and enchants the listener with all of the calm serene pitches. While 2013 was definitely the year for Williams, “Girl” shows 2014 coming in as a close second. Williams has a governmental hold on the music industry and demonstrates his “jack of all trades” persona here. I eagerly await new compilations and new partnerships with other artists in the future.