By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
It is hard to believe that we are in December 2019! That means, we only have two more editions of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews of 2019. This week, a plethora of recording artists have released new music! There is a lot of new material to unpack, so let’s get started.
Romance by Camila Cabello
Camila Cabello has had a wild ride this decade. From being discovered on The X Factor USA and finding success with Fifth Harmony to starting a solo career, the “Havana” singer-songwriter could definitely be in the running for this decade’s breakout artist. Recently, she released her sophomore studio album: Romance. An all-star group of producers and songwriters that range from Justin Tranter and Benny Blanco to the production teams of The Monsters and the Strangerz and Mattman & Robin. From start to finish, Romance is one of the strongest records that I have heard this year. I hope and pray that this album does not get lost in the shuffle when we talk about the 2020-21 awards season. A
Tracks to Download: “Living Proof,” “Shameless,” “Senorita,” “Liar,” & “Easy.”
LP1 by Liam Payne
Liam Payne is the fourth member of One Direction to release his solo project. While his former bandmates have spread out to numerous music genres such as R&B (Zayn Malik), rock (Harry Styles), and singer-songwriter (Niall Horan), Liam decided to continue in the pop world. However, what makes Liam standout is his decision to insert a spice of musical genres (hip-hop, Pop Latino, and Reggaeton) into several songs throughout his debut record. LP1 has a lot of gems on this album. A lot of LP1’s success is due to these delicious pieces of ear candy. Charlie Puth, Ed Sheeran, the Monsters & the Strangerz, Ryan Tedder, and Zedd are some of the high-profile collaborators that either co-wrote or co-produced the record. I believe Liam does have what it takes to dominate the music industry and into the 2020s. A-
Tracks to Download: “Stack It Up,” “Strip That Down,” “Familiar,” & “Bedroom Floor.”
Another Kind of Christmas by Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo just released his first-holiday album. Another Kind of Christmas is a hybrid album as it featured original penned tracks and Christmas classics. Entertainment website The Source reported that the three-time Grammy winner covered “The Christmas Song,” “Merry Christmas, Baby,” and Stevie Wonder’s “Someday at Christmas.” The World of Dance judge also recruited several rising recording artists that make appearances throughout the album. The Four alum Candice Boyd, Ne-Yo protégé RaVaughn, Satori, and Dre Island all make appearances throughout the album. In all honesty, Another Kind of Christmas left me scratching my head. Did Ne-Yo really need to record this? Some of the tracks were great, but others should not have been included at all. C
Tracks to Download: “Just Ain’t Christmas,” “Talk About It,” & “I Want to Come Home for Christmas.”
“I Know” by Rence featuring Riz La Vie
Jake’s Take friend and Epic Records recording artist Rence dropped his latest remix. Rapper Riz La Vie joined the “Darkside” singer-songwriter for a remixed version of “I Know.” Riz added additional flavor to the song with his fiery solo raps, and this remix will hypnotize its listeners. B+
Artists to Watch
Jake’s Take’s Artists to Watch is back! Here are three recording artists that could shake up the music industry in years to come!
“Always Be My Baby” by Brasstracks
Ivan Jackson and Conor Rayne are the latest duo to make their Jake’s Take debut. Known as Brasstracks, the duo got their start at New York City’s Manhattan School of Music. They have taken the music world by storm through their sold-out shows in NYC, Los Angeles, and Seattle. They released a brilliant re-imagining of Mariah Carey’s legendary “Always Be My Baby.” From start to finish, this arrangement made me smile and having an entire horn section elevates the song to a whole new level of excellence! I cannot wait to see what they have in store for the future. A
“2 Many” by Kodie Shane
Epic Records recording artist Kodie Shane is next on my Artists to Watch playlist. The 21-year-old Atlanta native received accolades for her artistry from The New York Times to Pitchfork. Her latest single, “2 Many,” is a spitfire song that would be on almost every R&B and Urban DJ playlist at many end of the decade parties. I have a feeling that we will be hearing a lot more from Kodie in the near future. B+
“Ready” by Lindsay Foote
Lindsay Foote wraps up this edition of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews. The Massachusetts native turned Toronto transplant is building an audience in the folk music world. She just dropped a haunting and revealing single: “Ready.” This song has hypnotic lyrics and a fantastic arrangement that would send listeners into a trance. Well done, Lindsay! A-
I do not own the music that is featured throughout the album. They belong to the artists and their respective record labels.
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