By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
Welcome to another exciting edition of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews! We have a lot of music to review, so let’s get this party started.
Can’t Say I Ain’t Country by Florida Georgia Line
Florida Georgia Line (Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard) is one of the biggest singer-songwriter duos discovered this decade. They recently dropped their fourth studio album: Can’t Say I Ain’t Country. While I am not a fan of the album’s name, I certainly like a majority of the music featured on the album. Both Mr. Kelley and Mr. Hubbard recruited a plethora of country music’s best songwriters in the business including David Garcia, Ashley Gorley, Hillary Lindsey, Dallas Davidson, and Tom Douglas. Also, keep an ear out for Jason Aldean, Jason Derulo, and Hardy, who all make cameos throughout the album. B+
Tracks to Download: “Simple,” “Women,” “People Are Different,” & “Colorado.”
Head Above Water by Avril Lavigne
It has been six years since Avril Lavigne released new music. However, the “I’m with You” singer-songwriter is back with a vengeance! Head Above Water reflects her turbulent years including the “Complicated” singer-songwriter’s public divorce from ex-husband Chad Kroeger and battle with Lyme disease. Thanks to collaborators such as Lauren Christy, Nicki Minaj, Bonnie McKee, Ryan Cabrera, Ross Golan, and even her ex-husband, Head Above Water is probably one of her strongest records to date. As a longtime fan of Avril, I am so happy to see her return to prominence. A-
Tracks to Download: “I Fell in Love with the Devil,” “Tell Me It’s Over,” “Dumb Blonde,” & “Souvenir.”
Hello Happiness by Chaka Khan
Music legend Chaka Khan just dropped her first studio album in 12 years. Hello Happiness showcases the “Ain’t Nobody” singer at her finest. All seven tracks are impeccable and will not only satisfy Ms. Khan’s longtime fans, but her newest generation of fans. In addition, Ms. Khan co-wrote all seven tracks with a superb group of collaborators such as Switch, Troydon Murison, and Sarah Ruba. We missed you, Ms. Khan! A+
Tracks to Download: “Hello Happiness,” “Too Hot,” “Like Sugar,” “Like A Lady,” & “Don’t Cha Know.”
2009 by Wiz Khalifa & Curren$y
Ten years ago, rappers Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y released an extremely popular collaborative mixtape called How Fly. Fans of both rappers praised their collaboration and it played a part of raising both their profiles in the music industry. Last week, the duo released the highly anticipated album, 2009. In all honesty, I have mixed feelings on the album. Both rappers deliver strong beats, but at times I felt that they made some mistakes by adding too many boring tracks. C
Tracks to Download: “The Life,” “From the Start,” & “Getting Loose.”
“Please Me” by Cardi B & Bruno Mars
Cardi B and Bruno Mars are reunited! The dynamic duo dropped a new collaboration called “Please Me.” This flirtatious single was produced by the “Locked Out of Heaven” singer-songwriter and his production team, the Stereotypes. The Grammy-winning rapper continues her hot streak with hits that would dominate mainstream music charts. I have a hunch that “Please Me” will be up for several awards later on this year. B+/A-
“Love You Still” by Sons of Serendip
Friends of the blog, Sons of Serendip, recently released a brand new track. For the first time ever, the America’s Got Talent: the Champions alums released an original song called: “Love You Still.” This track is not only perfect for Valentine’s Day, but it could also be used for various wedding nights and anniversary celebrations. “Love You Still” is a song that needs to be heard on radio stations across the country! Way to go, Sons of Serendip! A
“Never Enough” by Brian Justin Crum
Another AGT alum released new music this week. AGT: Champions finalist Brian Justin Crum covered The Greatest Showman’s heartbreaking ballad: “Never Enough.” It was a beautiful cover from start to finish and “Never Enough” showcases Brian’s growth since he first made his nationwide debut in 2016. I hope that the song’s composers, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, listened to this cover, because I have no doubt that they would love Brian’s version of their song. A
“365” by Zedd & Katy Perry
On Valentine’s Day, Zedd and Katy Perry gave their fans a massive present, their very first collaboration. From the get-go, Zedd’s hypnotic licks and Katy’s vocals teleported music lovers to Coachella, where they got down to this superb track. I could see “365” dominate the charts and the airwaves throughout 2019. A-
Artists to Watch
Artists to Watch is back! Here are several musicians that might take the music industry by storm.
“Spelling Lessons” by Birch
NYC-based synth-pop artist Birch kicks off this edition of Jake’s Take’s Artists to Watch. Birch brands her music as feminist synth-pop and promotes both female empowerment and gender equality through song. Her latest single, “Spelling Lessons,” is superb listening experience that definitely will inspire synth-pop musicians. B+
“Karma” by Raja Kumari
GRAMMY®-nominated songwriter-rapper Raja Kumari is taking the world by storm! She has over 100,000 Facebook fans and nearly 150,000 YouTube subscribers. In a few short weeks, Raja Kumari will release her upcoming extended play: Bloodline. My jaw dropped when I first listened to “Karma.” I was impressed with her powerful beats, phenomenal lyrics, and the superb production. I have a sneaky suspicion that 2019 will be a fantastic year for Raja Kumari. A-
“Like Water” by Christian Löffler featuring Mohna
Christian Löffler has the privilege of closing out this edition of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews. “Like Water” is beautifully produced single that showcases Löffler’s superb talent as both an arranger and producer. The song also features fellow German singer-songwriter Mohna, who provides the vocal assistance. I think he has a strong future in the EDM world and he is well on his way to becoming one of the next breakout stars from the German music community. B+
I do not own any of the clips that are featured in this article. They belong to the artists and their respective record labels.
[…] EP: Bloodline. The record featured production work from Sean Garrett and Danja and one of my personal favorite songs, […]