By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
Happy Fourth of July weekend, everyone!
As you prepare for your Fourth of July picnics and parades for the United States of America’s 240th birthday bash, you might need to update your playlist with today’s hottest music.
Without further ado, here are some of the albums and singles that you might want to include in your Fourth of July playlist.
(Album cover property of Island Records)
What We Live For by American Authors
Let’s kick off this edition of Jake’s Take’s Music Reviews with friends-of-the-blog: American Authors! When I interviewed the band back in February 2014, I knew that Zac Barnett, James Adam Shelley, Matt Sanchez and Dave Rublin were going to be a breakout act. What We Live For is full of positivity and showcases how this alternative rock quartet has grown as both songwriters and musicians. I will be honestly shocked if this album does not get any nominations for American Music, Billboard Music or Grammy Awards because this album is pure perfection! Congrats, American Authors! What We Live For is my Album of the Week! A+
Tracks to Download: “Go Big or Go Home,” “What We Live For,” “I’m Born to Run,” “Right Here Right Now,” “Pride” & “Nothing Better.”
Conscious by Broods
New Zealand-based sibling duo Georgia and Caleb Nott are continuing to break new ground in the electronic music world. For their sophomore album, the Notts recruited several of their generation’s brightest hit-makers such as Lorde, Tove Lo (who co-wrote and is featured on the sixth track: “Freak of Nature”), Alex Hope, Joel Little, and Captain Cuts to create an intricate listening experience. Georgia’s vocals are stunning, and Caleb is just an impeccable virtuoso as he played multiple instruments on this album. Conscious is a great feel good album that put a smile on your face and put feelings of “hope and faith” back into your mind. B+
Tracks to Download: “Free,” “Freak of Nature,” “Are You Home” & “Recovery.”
(Album cover property of RCA Records)
FMA by Grace
While we are on the other side of the world, let’s talk about Australian hip-hop/soul singer Grace. Her debut studio album with RCA Records, FMA, stands for “Forgive My Attitude” and after listening to this album, listeners will not say: “Grace, don’t apologize…we love your attitude!” Since the death of Amy Winehouse, Mary J. Blige currently MIA and Mariah Carey working on other projects such as a Reality TV show and her Las Vegas residency, the hip-hop/soul community needs someone to represent their genre. Mark my words, Grace is going places, and I think that she is going to have an extensive career in the music industry. A-
Tracks to Download: “Hell of a Girl,” “You Don’t Own Me,” “”How to Love Me,” “Feel Your Love” & “New Orleans.”
In My Room by Jacob Collier
One act that is taking the Jazz world by storm is 21-year-old Jacob Collier! The London, England native’s music has captured the attention of music luminaries such as Take 6, Herbie Hancock, and the one and only Quincy Jones. Jacob’s music combines elements of various musical genres including jazz, a cappella, and gospel. In My Room brings us into his universe and listeners will be instantly captivated with his arrangements of classic tunes such as “In My Room” and The Flintstones theme song, plus his original material is “off the chain” as well. After listening to this album, I believe that he will be the millennial generation’s ambassador to Jazz music. A-
Tracks to Download: “Saviour,” “Hajanga,” “Flintstones” & “In My Room.”
(Album cover property of Republic Records & Photo Finish Records)
ACT ONE by Marian Hill
Another music duo that is making noise in the electronic music industry is Jeremy Lloyd and Samantha Gongol, better known to their fans as Marian Hill. The Philadelphia duo has started building a social media following thanks to appearances on The Late Late Show with James Corden and at YouTube Space L.A.’s “Music Night.” Samantha’s gorgeous vocals combined with Lloyd’s smooth production skills have created a musical combination that cannot be ignored. Their seductive sounds are pieces of ear candy that your mind will love to devour, and they might be one of Summer 2016’s breakout acts. B+
Tracks to Download: “Down,” “Wild,” “Good,” & “I Want You.”
“M.I.L.F. $” by Fergie
Fergie is back! Stacy Ferguson is preparing to release her sophomore solo studio album that is supposed to drop sometime this year. While Fergie has sparingly released material over the past few years, she still proves that the former Black Eyed Pea can run circles around some of today’s Top 40 artists. Her beats are slick and the way she delivers the rap lyrics blew me away. I am very excited to see what she brings to the table later this year. B+
(Album cover property of
Westbury Road & Interscope Records)
“Sledgehammer” by Rihanna
Our favorite pop princess is boldly going where no one has gone before. She became the latest crew member of the U.S.S. Enterprise! Rihanna’s “Sledgehammer” is the theme track for the upcoming Star Trek Beyond, which is scheduled to drop into theaters July 22. The record paired Ms. Fenty with hitmakers extraordinaire Sia Furler and Jesse Shatkin, and this combination is unworldly good. This is one of my favorite tracks from a film this year, and I hope that the Academy Awards’ voting membership consider this song when it is time to select the 2016 Oscar nominees. A
“Ghostbusters” by Fall Out Boy featuring Missy Elliott
Excitement and anticipation are building as the all-female Ghostbusters team prepares to save the Big Apple from the supernatural on July 15. The Ray Parker, Jr. theme song has been turned upside down and remade by Fall Out Boy and rapper extraordinaire Missy Elliott. It is an intriguing twist and put a smile on my face, but at the same time, Ray Parker, Jr.’s original is such an iconic dance song that this version does not hold a candle to it. B-/C+
“We’re All Somebody Somewhere” by Steven Tyler
After constantly teasing us that he is going country with catchy singles, legendary rocker Steven Tyler will be releasing his first solo country studio album on July 15! I have been waiting for him to drop this album since he appeared on the second-to-last American Idol finale and debuted “Love Is Your Name.” His latest single, “We’re All Somebody Somewhere,” features the classic Tyler swagger and superb lyrics from Mr. Tyler and his co-writer, Jaren Johnson. July 15 can’t come soon enough! B+/A-
(Album cover property of RCA Records)
“Change” by Christina Aguilera
The last song in this edition of this edition of “Jake’s Take: New Music Reviews” belongs to one of my all-time favorite singers: the one and only Christina Aguilera. Sadly, this single was released to honor the memories of the late Christina Grimmie and the victims of the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting. Co-penned with Jake “Who is Fancy” Hagood and Flo Reutter, Christina’s “Change” is a powerful track that everyone should listen to before they go to their weekend festivities. This track is not only a wake-up call that we need but thanks to The Voice coach’s as always fantastic vocals, “Change” should not only be in our mindset this weekend, but we should also think about the atrocities that happened Paris, Brussels, Israel and Istanbul and why we live in an incredible country that is “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” Congrats, Christina! “Change” is my Song of the Week! A+
I do not own the music that is featured in this article. They belong to the artists and their record labels.
