By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
Welcome to Jake’s Take: New Music Reviews! This week, Jake’s Take spotlighted several Top 40 favorites and friends to the blog! Let’s get this party started.
(Album cover property of Peak Productions & Sony Music Entertainment)
Home by Collabro
Calling all American Collaborators! Collabro’s Home finally dropped today. Home is the first full-length studio album that features the group as a quartet. Michael, Matt, Jamie, and Thomas tackle some of the best music from a plethora of musicals. From well-known Broadway blockbusters such as Les Miserables and Wicked to animated features turned Great White Way adaptations such as Anastasia, Beauty & The Beast, and The Lion King, the group’s signature four-part harmonies will continue to astonish their fans. Also, Home debuts its first original song: “Lighthouse,” which will tug at your heart strings. I believe this album will cement the group’s reputation as one of Classical Crossover music’s greatest acts. I honestly believe that the best is yet to come for Michael, Matt, Jamie, and Thomas. Congratulations, Collabro! Home is my Album of the Week! A+
Tracks to Download: “This is the Moment,” “Beauty & The Beast,” “That’s Life,” “Journey to the Past,” “He Lives in You,” & “Lighthouse.”
More Life by Drake
For the first time in his career, Drake has released a playlist as an album. Initially, I thought that More Life was going to be a studio album. This 81-minute playlist has a lot of content to sift through, and I would advise the listener to clear your mind and at least an hour-and-a-half of your day to listen to More Life. I applaud Drake for embracing more worldly genres such as dancehall, grime, and Afrobeat. The “YOLO” rapper also gave introductions to his fans to international artists that they would not necessary hear on Top 40 or Urban radio stations including South African DJ Black Coffee and UK artists Sampha, Giggs, and Jorja Smith. The only problem that I have with More Life is that there were too many chefs in the kitchen. More Life had 32 producers involved in this project and while there were some hits, I thought that there were some dud tracks that should not have been on the album. B-
Tracks to Download: “Get It Together,” “Madiba Riddim,” “Glow,” & “Fake Love.”
(Album cover property of RCA Records, Polo Grounds & Mr. 305)
Climate Change by Pitbull
Mr. 305 is back! Climate Change follows the same formula that has made Pitbull a sensation throughout the 2010s. Pitbull recruited longtime collaborators such as Austin Mahone, Enrique Iglesias, Jason Derulo, and Jennifer Lopez for new tracks. He also invited Flo Rida, Kiesza, Leona Lewis, Robin Thicke, and Stephen Marley to the party. Climate Change is one big party, and I definitely think this album on par with both 2011’s Planet Pit and 2012’s Global Warming. I hope that this album is implemented in playlists across radio stations and gyms around the country. B+
Tracks to Download: “We Are Strong,” “Bad Man,” “Greenlight,” & “Options.”
Score by 2CELLOS
Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser have captured the world’s hearts with their spectacular interpretations of pop culture classics on their cellos. 2CELLOS’ Score is their fourth studio album with Sony Masterworks, and it is the duo’s best album yet! Luka and Stjepan transport their listeners from their coffeehouse offices or bedrooms into iconic scenes from their favorite films and television shows. However, they were not alone in this musical endeavor as the London Symphonic Orchestra assisted them throughout the album’s 14 tracks. I look forward to seeing where Luka and Stjepan go next on their musical journey. A-
Tracks to Download: “May It Be,” “Moon River,” “My Heart Will Go On,” “Schindler’s List Main Theme,” & “Now We are Free.”
(Album cover property of Reviver Records)
317 by Michael Tyler
317 is the debut album of rising country star and friend to the blog: Michael Tyler (MT). There are so many bland singer-songwriters in the country music industry, but Michael Tyler blows them out of the water. He has penned successful songs for Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean, and LoCash and now MT is ready for the spotlight. His sound will satisfy both veteran and newbie country music fans, plus he has a strong voice that has already captured the attention of CMT. I see a bright future for MT and I really hope that the country music community continues to embrace this talented man. A
Tracks to Download: “Here’s to the Nights,” “Crazy Last Night,” “They Can’t See,” “Songs About Missouri,” & “Interstate.”
All links that are includided in this article belong to the artists and their respective record labels.
