Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews: Week of October 23, 2026

 

By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com

Welcome to the second October 2026 edition of Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar’s New Music Reviews! We’ve got a lot of new music to unpack, so let’s start this party!

Pick You Up by Sheryl Crow

Sheryl Crow dropped her thirteenth studio album, Pick You Up. The “Soak Up the Sun” songstress decided to explore the Americana genre with fellow songwriter and album producer Jeff Trott. I love Sheryl Crow, but some of the songs on Pick You Up nearly made me fall asleep. I miss the pop-rock anthems that made me smile and tap my toes; sadly, Pick You Up isn’t for the record books! C-

 Tracks to Download or Stream: “Miles Around” & “Pick You Up.”

 

She’s The Best by Troye Sivan

Troye Sivan continues to ignite the dance music world with his fourth studio album, She’s the Best. The “Rush” performer collaborated with hitmakers such as Allie X, Cirkuit, Jack Antonoff, and Oscar Gorres to co-pen new tunes, while he sampled Madonna’s “Music” in his single, “Party.”  Lily-Rose Depp is the project’s only featured artist who appears on “Lost Time.” She’s The Best has some timeless tracks, and I hope this album grows on me. B-

 Tracks to Download or Stream: “Party,” “Canada Dry,” “FF,” & “Embarrassingly.”

 

“Don’t Chart” by Cardi B

Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album continues to drop singles from this massive soundtrack. One of rap music’s Queens, Cardi B, released “Don’t Chart.”  The “Bodak Yellow” rapper collaborated with Timbaland, Jordan Thorpe, and Anderson Hernandez on the single. “Don’t Chart” shows that, nearly a decade into the public eye, Cardi B isn’t slowing down and continues to dominate. A-

 

“Bright Lights, Big City” by Keith Richards

Music legend Keith Richards tackled Jimmy Reed’s 1961 classic “Bright Lights, Big City” for Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album. This cover was a pure masterclass! A+

 

“Goodbye to You” by Michelle Branch & Maren Morris

Michelle Branch is celebrating 25 years of her recording career by releasing re-imagined versions of her massive hits. After collaborating with the New Radicals on “The Game of Love,” the “All You Wanted” singer-songwriter partnered with country-turned-pop recording artist Maren Morris for a new version of “Goodbye to You.”  While I miss the powerful guitars that gave the song its punch, Michelle and Maren’s vocals blend well. B

 

“Expectations” by Olivia Rodrigo & Chappell Roan

Throughout pop music’s history, fans have always enjoyed when two recording artists of the same stature teamed up.  For Generation Z members, they must have screamed when two of their biggest recording artists – Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan – dropped “Expectations.” The duo co-wrote the tune with their mutual collaborator Dan Nigro and Amy Allen.  “Expectations” is one of pop music’s biggest event songs this year! A

 

“The Greatest Show on Earth” by U2

U2 is marching towards the November 13 release of its sixteenth studio album, Carnaval de Luz. The “One” rock band has dropped the record’s third single, “The Greatest Show on Earth.”  The song reminds me of the band’s early 2000s material such as “Beautiful Day” and “Walk On,” where the tune gradually grows in loudness and meaningfulness throughout the listening process. B+

 

Artists to Watch:

Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar’s Artists to Watch is back! Here are the recording artists that are going to shake up the music world!

 

Confessions of a Lonely Heart by Eric Nam

To be honest, I hadn’t heard of Eric Nam until he was cast on the popular Peacock Reality TV series The Traitors US. Now, the recording artist is back with his fourth studio album, Confessions of a Lonely Heart. He told The Today Show that this record is full of optimism.  The Traitors US alum’s latest record features some of the slickest production and superb vocals I have heard so far in 2026. B+

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Psycho,” “Miss Me More,” “Sober Up,” & “How the Fire Started.”

 

MADHOUSE by Noshows

New York-based alternative rocker Noshows (the musical project of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Max Sadow) released his first full-length studio album, MADHOUSE. The record explores life’s unpredictability through relationships, addiction, and self-discovery. Noshows’ lyrics and superb guitar and drum arrangements tugged at my heartstrings, and it could be this decade’s American Idiot. A

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Madhouse,” “The Loop,” “I Don’t Want It,” “Fall Apart,” “Don’t Look Down,” & “Who.”

 

“Maya” by Cherokee Social

Frontman Julian Navarro and guitarist Alex Creighton make up the Denver-based indie pop duo Cherokee Social.  Their latest song, “Maya,” pays tribute to Jeremy’s mother. The superb guitar riffs and driving drums will put listeners in a trance, and it reminds me of mid-2010s pop rock. B+

 

“Santa Sucks” by Jamie Alimorad

Los Angeles-based pop rocker Jamie Alimorad wraps up this edition of Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar’s New Music Reviews! He released his anti-Christmas anthem, “Santa Sucks.”  The song focuses on how Santa made Christmas miserable. “Santa Sucks” will remind long-time pop-rock music lovers of a combination of Adam Sandler’s “Love Stinks” and Fountains of Wayne’s “Stacy’s Mom.” Bravo, Jamie! A-

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