Welcome to the latest installment of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews of 2024! (Bitmoji property of Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar)
By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
Happy New Music Friday, everyone! Here is the final Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews for August 2024. We got a lot of new music to unpack, so let’s start this party!
Stay by Barbara Nadas
Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar friend Barbara Nadas released her album, Stay. The record combines elements of pop, jazz, and rap music. All of Barbara’s songs will pull at listeners’ heartstrings, including her tribute to her grandmother (“Hey Granny”), a message about protecting our planet (“Lawyer of the Earth”), and finding the courage to love (“Never Too Late to Love”). Stay is a fabulous album and showcases why Barbara Nadas is needed in today’s music industry. A+
Tracks to Download or Stream: “Lawyer of the Earth,” “Overthink,” “We Don’t Stop,” “24 Hours Love,” “For You,” & “Soar (Tom Martin Remix).”
Whirlwind showcases why people have fallen in love with Lainey Wilson’s stories and how she is becoming a role model for many up-and-coming country music artists. (Album cover property of This is Hit d/b/a Broken Bow Records)
Whirlwind by Lainey Wilson
Lainey Wilson has become one of the top country music stars throughout the 2020s. Her music won a Grammy and multiple Country Music Association Awards, attracting a massive fanbase. Her fifth studio album, Whirlwind, showcases that the “Watermelon Moonshine” singer-songwriter is not slowing down anytime soon. Her longtime producer, Jay Joyce, was the record’s executive producer. At the same time, Josh Kear, Trannie Anderson, Jon Decious, Dallas Wilson, and Miranda Lambert, who also appears on “Good Horses,” assisted Lainey with the songwriting. Whirlwind showcases why people have fallen in love with Lainey Wilson’s stories and how she is becoming a role model for many up-and-coming country music artists. A-
Tracks to Download or Stream: “Keep Up with Jones,” “Good Horses,” “Whirlwind,” “Call a Cowboy,” “Hang Tight Honey,” & “Bar in Baton Rouge.”
About a Woman is a solid album showcasing why Thomas Rhett remains one of my generation’s top country music recording artists. (Album cover property of Valory)
About a Woman by Thomas Rhett
Thomas Rhett released album number seven! About a Woman features songs that the “Look What God Gave Her” singer-songwriter co-penned with longtime collaborators Julian Bunetta and Dann Huff. Andy Albert, Charlie Handsome, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, John Ryan, Joshua Coleman, and Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar friend John Morgan also assisted with songwriting. About a Woman marks the first time that there are no featured artists on this album, which is a double edge sword as it would have been nice to listen to a “Playing with Fire” (his 2015 collaboration with Jordin Sparks) or a “Don’t Threaten Me with a Good Time” (his 2019 collaboration with Little Big Town).” Despite not featuring guest artists, About a Woman is a solid album showcasing why Thomas Rhett remains one of my generation’s top country music recording artists. B/B+
Tracks to Download or Stream: “Overdrive,” “Beautiful as You,” “After All the Bars are Closed,” “Country for California,” & “Don’t Wanna Dance.”
Days Before Rodeo showcases the blueprint that Travis Scott used to propel him to the rap music world’s echelon and why he has superstar status. (Album cover property of Grand Hustle)
Days Before Rodeo by Travis Scott
Travis Scott released his 2014 SoundCloud-only mixtape Days Before Rodeo onto significant music streaming platforms for the first time to commemorate its tenth anniversary. As I listened to the mixtape and looked at the collaborators, I was in awe of who was involved with the recording process. Travis was able to recruit the 1975, Big Sean, Migos, and Young Thug as featured artists before they became headliners, while Lex Luger, Mike Dean, and Metro Boomin assisted in the production process. Days Before Rodeo showcases the blueprint that Travis Scott used to propel him to the rap music world’s echelon and why he has superstar status. A-
Tracks to Download or Stream: “Days Before Rodeo: The Prayer,” “Mamacita,” “Quintana Pt. 2,” “Don’t Play,” “Zombies,” & “Sloppy Toppy.”
“Vultures” by AJ Mitchell
AJ Mitchell has grown leaps and bounds since he released “Slow Dance.” His latest single, “Vultures,” is a hauntingly beautiful song about a lover or friend who scorned him in the past. Bravo, AJ, “Vultures” is a home run! A
“Naked (Part One)” by Harrison Barnes
Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar friend Harrison Barnes released his latest single: “Naked (Part One).” The song reminds me of Bobby Brown and Britney Spears’s “My Prerogative” mixed with 1990s new jack swing. As always, Harrison perfectly seduces the listener and always leaves them wanting more. B+
“Finally” by Swedish House Mafia & Alicia Keys
“Finally,” EDM super trio Swedish House Mafia teamed up with 16-time Grammy-winning Alicia Keys. The “No One” singer-songwriter’s beautiful vocals blend brilliantly with Swedish House Mafia’s hypnotic beats. “Finally” will surely be a fantastic dance club anthem that will entertain music lovers for years. A-
Artists to Watch:
Jake’s Take’s Artists to Watch is back! Here are the latest recording artists looking to shake up the music industry!
“Easier to Hate You“ by Daniel Arison
Singer, songwriter, and producer Daniel Arison released a stunning song, “Easier to Hate You.“ Daniel has a superb voice, and the guitar arrangements are splendid. Many people can relate to the song’s subject matter, and “Easier to Hate You“ should be used in many mental health music playlists. B+
“American Zombie“ by Demi the Daredevil, RudyWade, Ethan Gander, & Mitchel Dae
Alternative pop artist Demi the Daredevil (real name Jeff Azar) teamed up with LA-based TikTok superstar RudyWade, Filipino-American star Ethan Gander, and Nashville’s alternative hip-hop darling Mitchel Dae for “American Zombie.“ Between the epic guitar riffs, Demi the Daredevil’s superb vocals, and the lyrics’ powerful take on how the digital media landscape impacted our society, “American Zombie“ is one of 2024’s explosive songs. A
“Sugar“ by Pia Mia
Platinum recording artist Pia Mia rounds out this edition of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews. She is preparing to release her debut album, Anti Romantica. “Sugar“ is the latest single from the record. Pia co-wrote the track with Lauren Larue, A1 LaFlare, Ryan Ogren, Alex Schwartz, and Joe Khajadourian, while Ogren and the Futuristics co-produced it. “Sugar“ is a sweet piece of pop music ear candy that has shades of “God is a Woman“ and “Thank u, next.“ I am looking forward to hearing the rest of the album! B
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