By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
This week’s New Music Releases features a diverse group of artists at various stages in their careers.
Barbra Streisand teamed up with an assorted group of A-list vocalists to deliver bold interpretations with her signature tunes. (Album cover property of Sony Music Records)
Partners by Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand is one of the greatest singers of all-time! For her 34th studio album, Ms. Streisand recruited a dozen of the music industry’s most beloved male vocalists to help her breathe new life into some of her signature songs. Listeners will get chills while listening to her collaborations with Billy Joel on “New York State of Mind,” Lionel Richie on “The Way We Were” and Andrea Bocelli on “I Can Still See Your Face.” Partners is probably the most intimate duet album that Ms. Streisand has ever done and it presents a road map for this generation’s vocalists on how to collaborate and how to remain timeless. Congratulations, Ms. Streisand…Partners is my Album of the Week! A+
Tracks to Download: “It Had to Be You,” “People,” “New York State of Mind,” “The Way We Were,” “I Can Still See Your Face” & “Somewhere”
Sundown Heaven Town by Tim McGraw
In all honesty, Tim McGraw’s Sundown Heaven Town is a mix bad of great up-tempo tracks and dull guitar-laced ballads. While a bulk of the material was from an A-List group of songwriters such as Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally, Luke Laird and the Warren Brothers, I wished Tim stepped up and helped them co-write some of this material. However, the duets with his wife Faith Hill, Catherine Dunn and Kid Rock barely save this album from the scrap heap. Please try again soon, Tim. C-
Tracks to Download: “Dust,” “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s” & “Lincoln Centennials and Cadillacs”
Keep an ear out for this LA-based trio! Sir Sly are going to rock the music world! (Album cover property of Cherrytree Records & Interscope Records)
You Haunt Me by Sir Sly
One band that is going to be rocking the charts sometime in the near future is LA-based trio: Sir Sly. Landon Jacobs, Jason Suwito and Hayden Copelen delivered a sturdy debut. The lyrics are honest and would stab (or heal) listeners’ hearts instantly. The trio’s instrumental arrangements throughout each song of the album are spectacular and I think that You Haunt Me is fall’s best Alternative album so far! I hope the trio has tons of success and has a long career. A-
Tracks to Download: “Gold,” “You Haunt Me,” “Found You Out” & “Where I’m Going”
X by Chris Brown
Chris Brown’s sixth studio album, X, marks a brand new chapter in his recording career! He has let go of his past demons and embraced the R&B/Hip-Hop world, while adding some elements of the Eurodance arena! He paid homage to his role models from iconic singer-songwriters Michael Jackson (“Add Me In”) and Stevie Wonder to music legend Quincy Jones. In addition, he received vocal and rap support from fellow MJ heir Usher, R. Kelly, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande. After a couple of rough years, I believe that Chris Brown is ready to challenge Usher and JT as the King of R&B. B+
Tracks to Download: “X,” “Add Me In,” “New Flame” & “Autumn Leaves”
Jessie Ware’s songwriting collaboration with both Ed Sheeran and Benny Blanco was pure liquid gold. (Album cover property of Interscope Records)
“Say You Love Me” by Jessie Ware
The English songbird’s first single off of her studio album is a hot tamale! Jessie Ware’s soaring vocals and brilliant range will entice listeners to playback this track over and over again. The passionate lyrics, which Ms. Ware co-wrote with Ed Sheeran and Benny Blanco, will stab the listeners…right into the gut. I have a strong feeling that this song is going to be on the top of the charts very soon. A
“Shut Up & Dance” by Walk the Moon
Do you need an upbeat song in your library? The Cincinnati quartet’s latest single will instantly put a smile on your face and make you get out of your chair and dance! The synthesizer and drum arrangements were ear candy and Nicholas’s vocals might remind millennial music lovers of a cross between Brendon Urie and Ryan Tedder. Because of its irresistible tempo and spunky personality, Walk the Moon’s “Shut Up & Dance” is my Song of the Week! A+
I do not own any of the links that are featured in this article, they belong to the artists and their respective record companies.
