Welcome to the latest installment of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews of 2025! (Bitmoji property of Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar)
By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
Welcome to the first September 2025 edition of Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar’s New Music Reviews! We got a lot of new music to unpack.
Jon Batiste’s BIG MONEY is a combination of lyrics and melodies will tug at listeners’ ears and command their attention. (Album cover property of Verve Records & Interscope Records)
BIG MONEY by Jon Batiste
Jon Batiste is one of the millennial generation’s top R&B/Soul music sensations. The former Late Show with Stephen Colbert bandleader and seven-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and composer, released his seventh studio album, BIG MONEY. The album pays homage to classic R&B, Soul, blues, and world music that he incorporated into his 2023 album World Radio Music. The combination of lyrics and melodies will tug at listeners’ ears and command their attention. Bravo, Jon! A
Tracks to Download or Stream: “LEAN ON MY LOVE,” “BIG MONEY,” “LONELY AVENUE,” “PETRICHOR,” & “PINNACLE.”
Justin Bieber’s SWAG II should have been released sometime in 2026, as that would have given its predecessor more time to gain recognition. (Album cover property of ILH Production Co. & Def Jam Recordings)
SWAG II by Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber enhanced his SWAG era with the release of a sequel! SWAG II includes 23 new songs along with the 21 tracks from the first album. The “Anyone” singer-songwriter brought in Dylan Wiggins, Carter Lang, Daniel Chetrit, and protégé Eddie Benjamin as the core team for songwriting and production. Meanwhile, other collaborators such as Dijon Duenas, Josiah Sherman, and Mike Will Made It, along with featured artists Bakar, Hurricane Chris, Lil B, and Tems, appear at various points across the record. SWAG II should have been released sometime in 2026, as that would have given its predecessor more time to gain recognition. Sometimes, too much Bieber is a bad thing. C
Tracks to Download or Stream: “Speed Demon,” “Love Song,” & “I Think You’re Special.”
The X – EP by Monsta X
In 2020, before the world turned upside down, I had the unique opportunity to watch Monsta X (Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Joohoney, and I.M) make their New York City debut to preview their first English-language album, ALL ABOUT LUV. Five years later, the K-pop band is celebrating its tenth anniversary by releasing its thirteenth extended play, The X. Joohoney, I.M, and Hyungwon collaborated with artists like 37, Bekah Boom, Blaise Railey, Dem Jointz, Imad Royal, and Jantine Annika Heij on the songs. Monsta X has grown significantly since I first saw them in NYC, and I look forward to seeing how their tenth anniversary celebration unfolds. B
Tracks to Download or Stream: “Fire & Ice,” “N the Front,” “Do What I Want,” & “Savior.”
Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend is full of catchy lyrics and synthesizer sensations that remind older listeners of classic pop music. (Album cover property of Island Records & Universal Music Group)
Man’s Best Friend by Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter’s seventh album, Man’s Best Friend, is out! Following her successful 2-2024 blockbuster record Short n’ Sweet, the “Espresso” songstress reunited with Jack Antonoff, John Ryan, and Amy Allen, and the quartet produced one of the best pop music albums of the year! Man’s Best Friend is full of catchy lyrics and synthesizer sensations that remind older listeners of classic pop music, including ABBA, Ace of Base, and Janet Jackson, with several nods to her contemporary older sisters, such as Lana Del Rey and Taylor Swift. A-
Tracks to Download or Stream: “Manchild,” “Tears,” “My Man on Willpower,” “Nobody’s Sun,” & “When Did You Get Hot?”
“One Night in Bangkok” (snippet) by Aaron Tveit & the Cast of CHESS
One of the millennial generation’s top leading men, Aaron Tveit, is making his return to the Great White Way in the latest revival of CHESS. To tease theatergoers, the CHESS production team released a snippet of the show’s signature song, “One Night in Bangkok.” From the 1-minute and 22-seconds I heard, Aaron Tveit and the cast do a superb job breathing new life into the synth-heavy tune. I cannot wait to listen to the whole track. B+
“I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Calum Scott & Whitney Houston
Calum Scott recorded a new duet with the late legendary Whitney Houston! The Britain’s Got Talent winner collaborated with the Estate of Whitney E. Houston to re-record the iconic “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me).” While the “You Are The Reason” performer worked with Jons “MAGS” Maguire, Andrew Yeates, and Charlie T in the United Kingdom, Whitney’s legendary collaborator and producer Narada Michael Walden handled her timeless vocals. This duet is pure bliss and will give longtime Whitney fans goosebumps! A+
“The Dead Dance” by Lady Gaga
Grammy and Oscar-winning superstar Lady Gaga made headlines when she joined the popular Netflix show Wednesday for its sophomore season. To commemorate the appearance, the “Hold My Hand” performer collaborated with Andrew Watt and Henry “Cirkut” Walter to co-write and co-produce “The Dead Dance.” This is her “Thriller” and “Is It Scary?” as her Tim Burton-directed music video pays homage to both Michael Jackson songs and The Island of the Dolls. “The Dead Dance” will be on Halloween playlists for years to come. A-
“Butterfly” by Zac Brown Band & Dolly Parton
Zac Brown Band is inching closer to releasing their eighth studio album, Love & Fear. Their band’s latest single, “Butterfly,” features the iconic Queen of Country Music – Ms. Dolly Parton! Zac co-penned this song with Dan Auerbach and Sasha Sirota. This song gave me the chills and is pure magic! A+
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