Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews: Week of November 15, 2024

By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com

Happy New Music Friday! We got a lot of new music to unpack, so let’s start this party!

 

American Spirit by Fancy Hagood

In 2015, Fancy Hagood began his career in pop music under the “Who is Fancy?” moniker  when he released the hit song “Boys Like You” with Ariana Grande and Meghan Trainor. More recently, the singer-songwriter found more success in the country music arena thanks to collaborations with Abby Anderson (“Where Did All the Cowboys Go?”) and Kacey Musgraves (“Blue Dream Baby”) and the 2021 debut album Southern Curiosity. His follow-up, American Spirit, transports listeners to the heights of 1990s country music.  Fancy’s vocals showcase much growth, and he has become a superb storyteller who tugs at his listeners’ heartstrings. A-

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Ever Really Ready,” “Isn’t That Life,” “Good Grief,” “Through,” & “American Spirit.”

 

Bouquet by Gwen Stefani

Gwen Stefani dropped her first album in seven years! Bouquet marks the first time Scott Hendricks, husband Blake Shelton’s longtime producer, executive produced her music.  The “This is What the Truth Feels Like” singer-songwriter recruited a new generation of hitmakers such as Cirkut, Fred Ball, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Nick Long, production team Jack & Coke, and Madison Love to assist in co-writing duties. Bouquet does a superb job blending Gwen’s iconic sound with yacht rock. I am looking forward to seeing how this new era unfolds. A-

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Somebody’s Else,” “Swallow My Tears,” “Purple Irises,” “Bouquet,” & “Marigolds.”

 

 

Beethoven Blues (Batiste Piano Series, Vol. 1) by Jon Batiste

Grammy, Golden Globe, and Oscar-winning Jon Batiste released the first volume of his Batiste Piano Series. The first volume showcased the singer, songwriter, and former Late Show with Stephen Colbert bandleader, delivering his interpretations of Ludwig von Beethoven’s compositions. Throughout the listening experience, I was in awe of Jon’s innate abilities as a composer as he perfectly translated one of classical music’s celebrated composers’ arrangements for a new generation to enjoy. A+

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Für Elise,” “5^th Symphony in Congo Square,” “Symphony No. 5 Stomp,” “Ode to Joyful,” & “American Symphony Theme.” 

 

Patterns by Kelsea Ballerini

Kelsea Ballerini launched a new era with the release of her fifth studio album. Patterns is the follow-up to her 2023 extended play, Rolling Up the Welcome Mat, which dealt with her headline-making divorce from fellow country music star Morgan Evans. She recruited Jessie Jo Dillon, Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild, Hillary Lindsey, and Alysa Vanderheym, the album’s co-executive producer. Also, keep an eye out for Noah Kanan, who appears in “Cowboys Cry Too.”  Patterns showcase that Kelsea Ballerini got her groove back.  A

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Patterns,” “Baggage,”  “First Rodeo,” “How Much Do You Love Me,” “We Broke Up,” & “Cowboys Cry Too.”

 

 

Shawn by Shawn Mendes

Since Shawn Mendes captivated the world with his debut single, “Life of the Party,” the Canadian singer-songwriter has become one of pop music’s biggest superstars. However, in 2022, Shawn decided to cancel his then-upcoming worldwide tour, Wonder, to focus on his mental health. Two years later, the “Mercy” performer dropped his fifth studio record, Shawn. He recruited his longtime collaborators Scott Harris, Mike Sabath, and Eddie Benjamin and reunited with Amy Allen and Nate Mercureau (who both participated in the 2018 Shawn Mendes record). Shawn is one of the “Treat You Better” performer’s personal records to date, and he has shown a lot of growth since he entered the spotlight. B+

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Why Why Why,” “Isn’t That Enough,” “Nobody Knows,” “Heart of Gold,” & “That’ll Be the Day.”

 

 

The Season 3 by Steve Perry

Legendary rocker Steve Perry released the third volume of his holiday season record, The Season 3. The “Oh Sherrie” vocalist tackled beloved holiday classics such as “Santa Claus is a Coming to Down,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” and “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” Honestly, the arrangements put me to sleep and I wished that the former Journey frontman brought a little rock and soul into the holidays. D

Tracks to Download or Stream: “What a Wonderful World,” “The Christmas Song,” & “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”

 

 

“God Bless the U.S.A. (Rock Version)” by Lee Greenwood & Drew Jacobs

Lee Greenwood’s iconic “God Bless the U.S.A.” got a rock makeover thanks to Drew Jacobs. The guitar riffs were a welcome addition while the classic melody remained in play. It was an excellent remake and should be used in several national celebrations. B+

 

 

“You Ain’t the Only One” by Mary J. Blige

The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige, has had an exciting 2024 as the “Be Without You” performer was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and will release her fifteenth studio album, Gratitude. “You Ain’t the Only One” is the second single off of the album. The “I’m Goin’ Down” singer co-wrote the song with Bryan Jones, Patrick Kelly, and Angelo Velasquez. Kelly also worked on the song’s production with Aidan Brody, Doc, and Will Campbell. “You Ain’t the Only One” is on the same level of excellence as classic tunes “Be Without You,” “Family Affair,” and “Fine.” A+

 

Artists to Watch:

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

 

 

“Hit a Lick” by 24kRacks

24kRacks dropped a new single, “Hit a Lick.” The song takes music lovers on a high-stakes adventure in Miami. 24kRacks is an impeccable emcee who drops fiery beats and commands listeners’ attention. B

 

 

“Sin City” by Karisa

Toronto, Ontario-based singer-songwriter Karisa started releasing music in 2020 and is slowly building a social media following thanks to her 1980s New Wave and 1990s to 2000s dance beats. Her latest single, “Sin City,” is a superb cinematic track that will leave listeners in a hypnotic trance. B+

 

 

“224” by Triple Charm

Sisters Amalia, Raena, and Gabriella, who are collectively known as Triple Charm, round out this edition of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews. The girls’ YouTube videos have accumulated over 8 billion views and are preparing for a world tour. Triple Charm’s latest single, “224,” focuses on the message of “today” (2), “tomorrow” (2), and “forever” (4).  The sisters co-wrote this delightful piece of ear candy with Latin Grammy-winning producer Andrø Pop, who also produced the track. I believe that Triple Charm could be one of 2025’s breakout artists. A-

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