Despite the Samsung promotion and the assistance of Beyoncé, Frank Ocean, Justin Timberlake and Timabaland, “Magna Carta Holy Grail” is just above average. (Album cover property of Roc-A-Fella Records & Universal Music Group)
By: Jacob Elyachar
Welcome to an exciting week of New Music Releases!
This week, I will be reviewing new material from Jay-Z and Skylar Grey, a re-release from Travis Tritt and new singles from Karmin, Priyanka Chopra, Gloria Estefan and John Newman.
Magna Carta….Holy Grail by Jay-Z
Jay-Z’s 12th studio album was hyped like there was no tomorrow. He cleverly teamed up with Samsung to release the album early and apparently the hype delivered a hit-and-miss result. If Jay-Z delivered the album of only the odd-numbered tracks, Magna Carta….Holy Grail would have been declared Album of the Year at the 2014 Grammy Awards. However, the even tracks could not hold the candle to the Justin Timberlake, Frank Ocean and Beyoncé-assisted tracks. Despite the A-list production team and guest collaborators that are sprinkled throughout the album, Magna Carta….Holy Grail is just above average. B-
Songs to Download: “Holy Grail,” “Tom Ford” & “Part II (On the Run)”
Don’t Look Down by Skylar Grey
This is the first official studio album for Skylar Grey. Over the past three years, Ms. Grey has collaborated with Diddy, Dr. Dre, Eminem and Lupe Fiasco and now the Mazomanie, Wisconsin native has delivered a sultry album. There are a lot of artists who co-write five-to-six tracks on an album, but Ms. Grey co-wrote ALL OF THE TRACKS! Almost all of the content that is featured in Don’t Look Down is chart worthy and I have a feeling that Skylar Grey is going to have a huge 2013-14. A
Songs to Download: “Back from the Dead,” “Final Warning,” “C’Mon Let Me Ride,” “Love the Way You Lie, Pt. III” & “Sunshine”
While Travis Tritt has a lot of old material on the album, “The Calm After” is a great addition to the country music lover’s growing music library. (Album cover property of Post Oak Records)
The Calm After by Travis Tritt
Six years after Travis Tritt released his tenth studio album, the Storm, the Grammy Winner is back with a re-release/”semi-sequel” of the album with The Calm After. This album is a terrific album for country music lovers to get reacquainted with Grammy Winner because it features superb songs penned by Diane Warren, Richard Marx, Hank Williams, Jr. and the Kroeger Brothers. In addition, keep an ear out for a tender duet between the Country star and his daughter, Tyler Reese Tritt. Welcome back to the recording industry, Mr. Tritt! We missed you! A+
Songs to Download: “(I Wanna) Feel Too Much,” “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough,” “Rub off on Me,” “Stay with Me” & “Something Stronger Than Me”
“Acapella” by Karmin
Everyone’s favorite pop rock meets hip-hop duo: Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan is back with a sparkling new single. The beats are incredible and the lyrics are so catchy. While it is still hard to tell if Amy Heidemann is actually Nicki Minaj in disguise, this song has the potential to rock the rest of Summer 2013! A
“Exotic” by Priyanka Chopra feat. Pitbull
The Bollywood star’s latest single will transport everyone to the Tropics. “Exotic’s” beat will ignite the clubs around the world and Chopra’s enchanting vocals will entice listeners to download this song onto their MP3 players. B+
Gloria Estefan’s incredible cover of “How Long Has This Been Going On?” will be a highlight on her September 2013 album. (Photo courtesy of Gloria Estefan & Sony)
“How Long Has This Been Going On?” by Gloria Estefan
The Queen of Latin Pop will be tackling the American Songbook this September. Her first single off of her upcoming studio album: The Standards. This is an excellent arrangement that not only shows off Gloria’s superb vocals but also is very jazzy and stays true to the Bob Thiele-George David Weiss tune. A
“Love Me Again” by John Newman
There are so many artists that want to follow the Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears and One Direction route. However, that is not John Newman’s style! The British soul singer-songwriter’s “Love Me Again” features outstanding vocals and superb musicianship. I have a feeling that this song is going to change his world. A+
I do not own any of the songs that are featured throughout the article. They belong to the artists and their respective record companies!
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