Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews: Week of May 15, 2026

By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com

Happy New Music Friday, Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Family! We got a lot of new music to unpack, so let’s start this party!

 

Love is Kind – EP by The Chainsmokers & Oaks

Dance pop producers The Chainsmokers reteamed with frequent collaborator Winona Oak (now known as Oaks) for a new five-track extended play, Love is Kind. While Oaks delivers some sturdy vocals, the Chainsmokers’ arrangements feel redundant, as some of the production sounds like it belongs to the mid-2010s. C-

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Echo” & “Five Past Three.”

 

BROWN by Chris Brown

R&B icon Chris Brown dropped his twelfth studio album, BROWN. It is the backronym of Break Rules Only When Necessary. The “Forever” recording artist recruited an all-star group of collaborators, ranging from featured artists Bryson Tiller, Leon Thomas, and GloRilla to producers and songwriters such as Alan Sampson, DJ Paul, Harvey Mason, Jr., Jermaine Paul, and Usher. BROWN offers some of Chris Brown’s best material of the decade so far and showcases that he is a master when it comes to blending R&B and hip-hop. A-

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Leave Me Alone,” “Obvious,” “Fallin’,” “It’s Not You, It’s Me,” & “In My Head.”

 

CINEMATIC by Josh Groban

The Los Angeles tenor is taking fans to the cinema! The “You Raise Me Up” singer-songwriter is tackling some of the movie industry’s top songs for his latest offerings. CINEMATIC features Josh Groban’s take on Disney anthems (“Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” & “When You Wish Upon a Star”), treasured franchises such as The Godfather (“Brucia la Terra”) and James Bond (“Skyfall”), and a duet with an EGOT icon – Ms. Jennifer Hudson (“Unchained Melody”). While CINEMATIC features Josh Groban’s top vocal performances, I must dock him points for choosing songs that have already been covered numerous times. B-

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Skyfall,” “Brucia la Terra,” “Unchained Melody,” & “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?”

 

Middle of Nowhere by Kacey Musgraves

Country music sensation Kacey Musgraves dropped her seventh studio album, Middle of Nowhere. Variety reported that the “Rainbow” songstress’s seventh offering is focused on a period of reflection coming out of her divorce with fellow musician Ruston Kelly. She mainly co-wrote the record with top songwriters Daniel Tashian, Ian Fitchuk, Luke Laird, Shane McNally, and Steph Jones. She also welcomed folk rocker Gregory Alan Isakov, bluegrass musician Billy Strings, and country music royalty – Miranda Lambert and Willie Nelson as featured artists.  Middle of Nowhere showcases a softer but confident side of Kacey Musgraves, with superb ear candy that I predict could play a role in the country music award season.  A

 Tracks to Download or Stream: “Middle of Nowhere,” “Dry Spell,” “Abeline,” “The Loneliest Girl in the World,” “Horses & Divorces,” & “Uncertain, TX.”

 

“Home to Us” by Sir Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr

The last living Beatles, Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Ringo Starr, reunited for a single on the legendary singer-songwriter’s twenty-first solo studio record, The Boys of Dungeon Lane. I got instant goosebumps when Sir Paul first sang the tune’s first note. The combination of Sir Paul’s vocals, along with Sir Ringo’s drumming, will make music lovers and Beatles fans’ hearts pitter-patter with delight! A+

 

“In the Stars” by The Rolling Stones

Rock legends The Rolling Stones are about to make history! The celebrated rock music group will release their twenty-fifth (!) studio album, Foreign Tongues, this summer! Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood teamed up with super-producer Andrew Watt for the album’s creation process. Their first single, “In the Stars,” perfectly sets the stage for what is to come. This song is perfection and showcases that the legendary “Gimmie Shelter” band is still on top of their A-game. A+

 

“Dirty Rosie” by Shania Twain

One of country music’s queens, Ms. Shania Twain, will drop her seventh studio album, Little Miss Twain, on July 24! “Dirty Rosie” is Shania at her finest. The “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” songstress’s vocals and irresistible blues guitar hooks will sink their teeth into listeners as she transports them into her formative years.  B+

 

“Control” / “Dive” by Tori Kelly

Tori Kelly rounds out this edition of Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar’s New Music Reviews with two new songs – “Control” / “Dive.” The Sing voice actress and singer dropped the new singles that will be a part of her sixth studio album, God Must Really Love Me. “Control” might have been a song that Tori “stole” from Alicia Keys’s songbook, while “Dive” could be the child of an 80s synth-pop and 90s R&B melody. Both songs are superb and an excellent start to a new chapter! A

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