Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews: Week of June 7, 2024

By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com

Happy New Music Friday, everyone! Welcome to the first June 2024 edition of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews! We got a lot of new material to unpack, so let’s start this party!

 

Honeymind by Ben Platt

Emmy, Grammy, and Tony-winning entertainer Ben Platt dropped his third studio album, Honeymind. The Dear Evan Hansen and Parade alum decided to take his fans on a Folklore adventure that has shades of John Denver and Paul Simon’s Graceland. Honeymind is a gorgeous album. Ben’s vocals on “Before I Knew You” remind me of Peter Yarrow and Art Garfunkel, while “Cherry on Top” is superb ear candy for pop and folk music lovers. Even “Shoe to Drop” has shades of “Chicken Fried” and “Sleeping Around the Corner.” Look out for Brandy Clark, who sings on “Treehouse.” A-

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Right Kind of Reckless,” “All American Queen,” “Andrew,” “Cherry on Top,” & “Shoe to Drop.”

 

 

Timeless by Meghan Trainor

Meghan Trainor has come a long way since she released “All About That Bass” a decade ago. She won a Grammy, 4 ASCAP Pop Music Awards, and was named one of Billboard’s Women in Music. Now, the “No” singer-songwriter dropped her sixth studio album, Timeless. She recruited an all-star group of collaborators that included featured artists T-Pain, Niecy Nash, and Lawrence and songwriters Scott Hoying, Emily Warren, and Jacob Kasher Hindlin. Timeless is a superb album combining her previous work’s elements into an excellent listening experience. B+

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Been Like This,” “I Wanna Thank Me,”  “Crushin,”& “Whoops.”

 

 

Orgy of the Damned by Slash

Celebrated guitarist Slash released his second solo studio album in his multi-year career. Orgy of the Damned focuses on blues/rock as he tackles some of the genre’s classic hits with some of the music industry’s biggest names. Fans can expect music legends such as  Billy F Gibbons (“Hoochie Coochie Man”), Brian Johnson (“Killing Floor”), and Paul Rodgers (“Born Under a Bad Sign”) to rock out. Meanwhile, Chris Stapleton, Demi Lovato, and Gary Clark, Jr. solidified their coolness by singing with the guitar virtuoso. Orgy of the Damned is a superb roller coaster and a must-listen for rock music lovers. A+  

Tracks to Download: “Crossroads,” “Oh Well,” “Born Under a Bad Sign,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” “Killing Floor,” & “Living for the City.”

 

 

“Then There Was You” by Calum Scott

Britain’s Got Talent champion Calum Scott released a new song: “Then There Was You.” This song is part of The Garfield Movie soundtrack. This song perfectly describes Garfield and Jon Arbuckle’s relationship, and it comes across as a warm hug that everyone needs right now. B+

 

 

“I Died” by Cassadee Pope featuring Dashia McBride

Cassadee Pope is returning to her pop-punk roots with her latest album, Hereditary, expected to be released on July 12. The latest single off the album is “I Died,” which features rapper Dashia McBride. “I Died” is a superb pop-punk and rap fusion song and is a good sign of things to come from The Voice winner. A-

 

“Houdini” by Eminem

The iconic Oscar and 15-time Grammy-winning rapper dropped his first single off his upcoming twelfth studio album: The Death of Slim Shady. “Houdini” incorporates Steve Miller Band’s 1982 hit “Abracadabra” along with elements from his 2002 classic “Without Me.”  “Houdini” has some elements of nostalgia for fans who grew up with the 8 Mile actor while introducing a new generation to killer beats. B+

 

Artists to Watch:

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

Hot City by Bonnie McKee

Bonnie McKee has co-written some of the greatest pop music songs ever. She co-wrote hits for Adam Lambert, Britney Spears, Charlie Puth, Christina Aguilera, Katy Perry, Kesha, and Leona Lewis.  For the first time in 20 years, the “Heart Wants What it Wants” and “Let There Be Love” co-writer has released a full-length studio album. Hot City is one of the best pop music albums ever. The album showcases Bonnie McKee’s superb ability to craft superb dance-pop anthems that will inspire music lovers to dance. I hope Bonnie can perform at some of the music industry’s biggest festivals and concerts because it is her time to shine! A+

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Hot City,” “Jenny’s Got a Boyfriend,” “Show You Mine,” “American Girl,” “Forever 21,” & “Slay.”

 

 

CYDIA by NSB

North Star Boys (NSB) is the first Asian American content and music group. Founded by Oliver and Sebastian May, this octet (the Mays, Regie Macalino, Ryan Nguyen, Justin Phan, Darren Liang, Kane Ratan, and Tyler Bray) are united by a common goal – to be the Asian-American representation in the media that they lacked while growing up. The group released its latest album, CYDIA. NSB’s smooth songs are near the perfection level of tracks that BTS, Monsta X, and NCT 127 release. I predict big things for this group, and I know that NSB is closer to achieving its goal and inspiring a new set of fans along the way. B

Tracks to Download or Stream: “CYDIA,” “Never Did This Before,” “Bug,” & “SUNSHINE.”

 

 

Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going by Shaboozey

Shaboozey is having a moment right now. This year, Beyonce featured him on two of her Cowboy Carter tracks, and his hit song: “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has peaked on seven countries’ music charts.  Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going, his sophomore studio album with American Dogwood and EMPIRE Records, showcases his take on country music. This superb album showcases Shaboozey and his team’s ability to combine his rap, country, Americana, and folk music roots into an enjoyable listening experience. I cannot wait for Shaboozey to release more music! B+/A- 

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Horses & Hellcats,” “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” “Last of My Kind,” “Highway,”  & “Let It Burn.”

 

 

“Hit Me with Your Love” by Anna Aya

International singer, model, actress, and multi-lingual artist Anna Aya is poised to become the first global princess of J-Pop. She released her latest single: “Hit Me with Your Love.” Anna co-wrote the song with Louis Bell, Michael Africk, Terrell Mackey, and Jahmal White, while Mike Hart and Jacob Lee McMillan assisted Africk with the track’s production.  “Hit Me with Your Love” reminds me so much of Robyn’s iconic “Show Me Love.” Like the 1995 dance-pop anthem, “Hit Me With Your Love” features seductive vocals from Anna and a hypnotic chorus that will make listeners delightfully tap their toes. A-

 

“Unstoppable” by Boyce Avenue featuring Mariana Nolasco

Brothers Alejandro, Daniel, and Fabian Manzano founded the American band Boyce Avenue. The Sarasota, Florida natives have collaborated with the likes of Connie Talbot, Fifth Harmony, and Sarah Hyland and even hold the record for the most viewed independent globally per the Guinness Book of World Records. The trio joined forces with popular Brazilian YouTuber Mariana Nolasco for a rousing cover of Sia’s “Unstoppable.” I loved the arrangement and believe Sia would be delighted with this cover. B+  

 

 

“Lobster“ by RJ Pasin

RJ Pasin rounds out this edition of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews. RJ Pasin is a guitarist and producer with a massive Instagram and TikTok following and high-profile collaborations with Bring Me the Horizon and Polyphia’s Tim Henson. His latest single, “Lobster,“ is an electrifying guitar track that feels seductive and dangerous. It would be an excellent addition to Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights. A

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