Welcome to the latest installment of Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar’s New Music Reviews of 2026! (Bitmoji property of Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar)
By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
Happy New Music, Friday! Welcome to the first March 2026 edition of Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar’s New Music Reviews! We got a lot of music to unpack, so let’s start this party!
DEADLINE-EP showcases BLACKPINK at the crescendo of the pop music powers! (Album cover property of YG Entertainment)
Deadline EP by BLACKPINK
K-pop group BLACKPINK is back! Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, and Rosé dropped their latest extended play, Deadline. The “Ice Cream” quartet teamed up with an all-star group of collaborators, including Chris Martin, Cirkut, Diplo, Ejae, Theron Thomas, Tommy Brown, and the polarizing Dr. Luke, to co-write and co-produce five tracks that showcase BLACKPINK at the crescendo of the pop music powers! B+
Tracks to Download or Stream: “Jump,” “Go,” & “Champion.”
The Romantic cements Bruno Mars’s legacy as my generation’s greatest showman. (Album cover property of Atlantic Records)
The Romantic by Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars fans have waited a long time to hear new solo material from the “Locked Out of Heaven” performer! The Romantic, his fourth studio album, is his first solo material in a decade! He reunited with veteran collaborators Brody Brown, D’Mile, James Faunterloy, and Philip Lawrence for nine new songs. Listeners will travel back to the 1960s and 1970s, where the bold flavors of R&B, Motown, and Latin fused into popular music genres such as pop and rock. The “Die with a Smile” vocalist continues to showcase why his powerhouse vocals captivated millions of fans. The only minor complaint I have about The Romantic is that “Risk It All” should not have opened the album, as it might have put listeners to sleep. Minus that only complaint, The Romantic cements Bruno Mars’s legacy as my generation’s greatest showman. A
Tracks to Download or Stream: “Cha Cha Cha,” “I Just Might,” “On My Soul,” “Something Serious,” & “Why You Wanna Fight?”
Luck…or something is a splendid record that proves that Hilary Duff still has it musically and that she should not wait another decade to release a record. (Album cover property of Sugarmouse, Inc)
Luck…or something by Hilary Duff
2000s icon Hilary Duff surprised fans when she dropped her first record in a decade! Luck…or something is the Disney Channel alum’s sixth studio album. Her husband, Matthew Koma, and Brian Phillips co-executive-produced the album, and songwriters Dan Book, Thomas DeLonge, Mark Hoppus, Scott Raynor, Madison Love, and Delacey assisted the trio with crafting the tunes. Fans would be impressed by how the “What Dreams are Made of” performer addressed her alleged fallout with her older sister, Haylie, and her father in “We Don’t Talk” and “The Optimist,” respectively. Luck…or something is a splendid record that proves that Hilary Duff still has it musically and that she should not wait another decade to release a record. B+
Tracks to Download or Stream: “We Don’t Talk,” “Future Tripping,” “Growing Up,” & “Mature.”
Lauv shone by showcasing his vulnerability on Songs I Couldn’t Forget – EP. (Album cover property of AWAL Recordings America)
Songs I couldn’t forget – EP by Lauv
Electropop recording artist Lauv unlocked his vault and unearthed six new songs. Billboard Philippines reported that these six tunes were written in 2018 and stayed with the “I Like Me Better” singer-songwriter throughout the years. As I had admired Lauv’s vocals for years, I always wondered what they would sound like without the constant EDM overproduction, and on these tracks, Lauv shone by showcasing his vulnerability. I hope fans have another opportunity to hear Lauv perform unplugged tracks in the future. B+/A-
Tracks to Download or Stream: “Fake it,” “Ghosts,” “Insecure,” & “Mariah.”
“Fever Dream” by Alex Warren
Social media sensation and Grammy nominee Alex Warren dropped a new song: “Fever Dream”! The “Ordinary” performer co-wrote the track with Cal Shapiro, Mags Duval, and Adam Yaron, who also served as the song’s producer. This stomper will make fans dance in their seats and showcases that Alex Warren’s time in the recording industry is just getting started. A-
“Save My Love” by Kygo, Khalid, & Gryffin
EDM producer Kygo recruited Khalid and fellow EDM superstar Gryffin for a powerful new song, “Save My Love.” The production gave me my first set of EDM chills of the year. The lyrics tug at the listeners’ heartstrings while making them dance. I am going to boldly predict that “Save My Love” is going to be one of 2026’s massive songs! A+
Artists to Watch:
Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar’s Artists to Watch is back! Here are several names that have the potential to shake up the music industry:
BOXING DAY (Deluxe) by Lauren Minear
It has been ages since former Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast guest Lauren Minear dropped new music. Recently, she dropped the deluxe edition of her 2025 album, Boxing Day. The album incorporates numerous headlines such as the climate crisis, division, and women’s rights under attack. Lauren also takes listeners on an emotional roller coaster, delivering powerful vocal punches through heartbreak and burnout. BOXING DAY (Deluxe) showcases Lauren Minear at her finest. B+
Tracks to Download or Stream: “Bullshit,” “Boxing Day,” “Love Me Too,” “Is It Enough?”& “Everything And Nothing.”
TAHOE by Red Leather
The anonymous alternative rocker, Red Leather, finally dropped his sophomore album, TAHOE. According to the mysterious recording artist in a statement sent to Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar, “TAHOE tells the story of becoming a person again after being a drug addict for many years. When the medicine was gone, the silence and intensity of emotions became deafening…. TAHOE is a long journey into the wilderness of the mountains.” I truly admire Red Leather’s artistry and boldness as a musical talent. TAHOE is an explosive and haunting record that cements Red Leather as an artist that everyone needs to keep an eye on as the decade continues its second half. A+
Tracks to Download or Stream: “THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY,” “BONNIE & CLYDE,” “LAST CALL,” “GHOST TOWN,” “WISH YOU WERE HERE (FAR AWAY),” & “LOSING MY RELIGION.”
“Lighthouse” by Zachary Baker
Avenged Sevenfold’s Zachary Baker wraps up this edition of Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar’s New Music Reviews! The celebrated guitarist is dropping a solo record, Dark Horse, later this month. He shocked fans when he chose to record music in the alternative country genre. “Lighthouse” features splendid vocals and unplugged guitars that would give listeners chills! I cannot wait to listen to Dark Horse. B+
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