Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews: Week of August 9, 2024

By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com

Welcome to the first August 2024 edition of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews! We got a lot of music to unpack, so let’s start this party!

 

ANGELENO by Dylan Dunlap

Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar’s friend Dylan Dunlap dropped a new studio album, ANGELENO. The City of Angels based singer-songwriter’s hypnotic guitars arrangement and honest lyrics transported his audience into many emotional journeys of Los Angelenos. Like in his previous pieces, Dylan tugs at listeners’ heartstrings and makes them think. A-

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Keep to Myself,” “Mr. Deflector,” “The Long Way Home,” “Tell Me,” & “Will You.”

 

Ask That God by Empire of the Sun

Seventeen years ago, Emperor Steele and Lord Littlemore began a journey that led the Australian electronic music duo Empire of the Sun to worldwide fanfare. Ask That God is their first new record in eight years. Peter Mayes helped the duo executive produce the record as renowned songwriters such as Ali Tamposi, Before You Exit’s Connor and Riley McDonough, Henry Hay, and Richard Boardman helped the duo co-write these superb songs. Ask That God is a phenomenal electronic record that contains some of Empire of the Sun’s future gems. A

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Changes,” “Cherry Blossom,” “Music on the Radio,” “Television,” “Revolve,” & “Happy Like You.”

 

 

Sincere by Khalid

Khalid dropped his third studio album, Sincere. The “My Bad” singer-songwriter has blossomed into one of R&B’s leading men, and Sincere features superb songwriting from Khalid and his collaborators.  Longtime collaborator Alicia Keys, Denis Kosiak, Drake, Gregory Hein, and Mark Landon assisted with the writing process. Chrome Sparks, Jason Kellner, and Nate Mingo were among the producers assisting Kosiak and Langdon with the production process. Sincere reminds me of the classic late 1990s and early 2000s, where Joe and Usher dominated the R&B airwaves with their smooth and hypnotic produced songs. I could see this album play a major role in this year’s upcoming awards race. B+

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Adore U,” “Everything We See,” “Altitude,” & “Please Don’t Fall in Love with Me.”

 

 

Intermission – EP by Maren Morris

Maren Morris has officially left the country music genre! “The Middle” singer-songwriter’s turbulent 2020s, which included leading the uncalled-for witch hunt against Morgan Wallen and her divorce from husband Ryan Hurd, led Maren Morris into the pop music genre. She starts her new chapter with a superb duet with Julia Michaels (“cut!”) and declares that she will never fall in love again in “I hope I never fall in love.” It is a solid start for Maren Morris, and I look forward to seeing what she contributes to pop music. B

Tracks to Download or Stream: “I hope I never fall in love,” “push me over,” & “cut!”

 

Stampede by Orville Peck

Orville Peck released his fourth studio album, Stampede. This album is the first for the “Lafayette” singer-songwriter, as it is a record full of duets and collaborations. Stampede features an all-star group of collaborators that range from rising music stars Margo Price (“You’re an A*****e, I Can’t Stand You (and I Want a Divorce”), Midland (“The Hurtin’ Kind), Mickey Guyton (“Where Are We Now?”), Noah Cyrus (“How Far Will We Take It?”), and Teddy Swims (“Ever You’re Gone”) to music legends Beck (“Death Valley High”), Sir Elton John (“Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”), and Kylie Minogue + Diplo (“Midnight Ride”). Stampede is a phenomenal album that showcases how Orville Peck is one of today’s most versatile artists in the recording industry. I hope this album is featured in numerous Best of 2024 and Best of the 2020s articles and playlists. A+

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond Of Each Other,” “The Hurtin’ Kind,” “Saturday Night’s Alright (for Fighting),” “Death Valley High,” “Ever You’re Gone,” “How Far Will We Take It?” & “Midnight Ride.”

 

 

“Love Bites“ by Nelly Furtado featuring Tove Lo & SG Lewis

Nelly Furtado is making a comeback! The Canadian singer-songwriter is known for hits such as “I’m Like a Bird,” “Turn Off the Light,“ and “Say it Right“ will release 7, her first studio album in seven years on September 20. Her latest single, “Love Bites,“ is a collaboration between Tove Lo and SG Lewis, who co-wrote the song. I love all three artists, but it took me a few times to listen to “Love Bites“ to like it. C

 

 

“Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark)” by Papa Roach & Carrie Underwood

Rockers Papa Roach invited American Idol champion (and future judge) Carrie Underwood to re-record their 2022 hit “Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark).” The song has become an anthem for suicide awareness, and Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix has excellent vocal chemistry with the “Ghost Story” singer-songwriter. This version of “Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark)” is a haunting anthem that will give listeners chills. A-

 

Artists to Watch:

Jake’s Take’s Artists to Watch is back! Here are some of the recording artists that have the potential to shake up the music industry:

 

“Stars“ by Lark

New South Wales, Australia-based artist Lark combines Madonna’s boldness, KISS’s glamour and attitude, and Swedish pop. Her latest single, “Stars,“ is a beautifully hypnotic synthpop track that will make music lovers dance. A-

 

“I 2 I (Eye to Eye)“ by Magnolia Park

Lead vocalist Joshua Roberts, guitarists Tristan Torres and Freddie Criales, drummer Joe Horsham, and keyboardist Vincent Ernst make up Orlando-based pop punk band Magnolia Park. The quintet recently covered A Goofy Movie’s “I 2 I“ as a part of Disney’s upcoming A Whole New Sound. I never thought that a metal version of a 1990s Disney anthem would give me chills. Bravo, Magnolia Park! You gained a new fan! A

 

“Swim Team” by McKenna Grace

Actress and singer McKenna Grace dropped her latest single: “Swim Team.” The Emmy-nominated performer’s latest song is the perfect song that perfectly showcases the classic teen angst trope. Once again, McKenna Grace’s bubbly voice will hypnotize listeners, while the superb guitar arrangement will make them rock out! B+

 

“Childhood Photographs“ by Moy Cohen

Moy Cohen rounds out this edition of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews! The Australia-based self-taught musician is a mental health advocate, and his song, “Ocean,“ was featured on the CW’s Walker. His latest single, “Childhood Photographs,“ is a haunting tune that took listeners to a haunting episode in his childhood: his parents’ divorce. Moy perfectly tugged on listeners’ heartstrings, and “Childhood Photographs” is one of 2024’s heartbreaking songs. B+

Love my content? Subscribe today to my YouTube channel and my podcast!