By: Jacob Elyachar
Today is a new day for jacobelyacharjournalist.com as New Music Tuesday has evolved to New Music Reviews, a two-part music review series that focuses on the hottest albums on one day and the singles that you need to check out on the next day.
In honor of the inaugural entry, this part of New Music Reviews will look at Taylor Swift’s Red, Tony Bennett’s Viva Duets and Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d. city.
Taylor Swift’s fourth studio album “Red” perfectly showcases her ability to balance both her country roots and her new interest in pop rock. (Album cover property of Big Machine Records)
Red by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift’s sound has evolved so much since she made her 2006 self-titled debut album. This author can finally sense some confidence from her that is sprinkled all throughout this album. Taylor recruited several big names that helped her record this album including superstar producers and songwriters including Jeff Bhasker, Semisonic’s Dan Wilson, Max Martin and Shellback. Overall, this album showcases that Taylor perfectly balance country and pop rock plus it also shows how much she has grown as a lyricist that is currently taking the world by storm. A-
Songs to Download: “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, “ “22,” “Everything Has Changed (feat. Ed Sheeran),” “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “I Almost Do.”
Taylor performed the hit single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” at the 2012 iHeart Radio Music Festival. To watch this performance, click here: http://youtu.be/GazssASh-rc
While Tony Bennett recorded several strong duets, he should have used different songs because some of his audience might be bored because of hearing the same songs that were featured in the last two “Duets” album. (Album cover property of Columbia Records)
Viva Duets by Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett released his third album in his Duets series. However, what makes this album different from the previous albums is that the music legend recruited some of the biggest names in Latin music to duet with him. While he recorded astonishing collaborations with Christina Aguilera, Marc Anthony and Gloria Estefan, Mr. Bennett could have selected other songs that were not used in the previous albums because he risked losing his audience multiple times on this album because sometimes the listeners could have gotten bored. B-
Songs to Download: “Steppin’ Out With My Baby (with Christina Aguilera),” “For Once in My Life (with Marc Anthony)” and “Who Can I Turn to (When Nobody Needs Me) [with Gloria Estefan]”
This is not the first time Tony worked with Christina Aguilera. They previously performed this song live during the 2007 Primetime Emmy Awards: http://youtu.be/wGVgT5yOsdY
Kendrick Lamar’s first studio album: “good kid, m.A.A.d city” proves that he is on the right track to become one of the princes of Hip-Hop/Rap. (Album cover property of Top Dawg, Aftermath and Interscope Records)
good kid, m.A.A.d. city by Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar is one of the new faces of hip-hop and his first debut studio album is full of smooth raps, interesting samples including the usage of Janet Jackson’s “Any Time, Any Place” in “Poetic Justice” and superb guest stars including Jay Rock, Drake, Anna Wise, Chad Hugo and the rap master Dr. Dre. If he continues to build up this momentum and Kendrick continues to grow as a rapper, he is going to have a long career ahead of him. A-
Songs to Download: “Backseat Freestyle,” “Poetic Justice (featuring Drake),””good kid,” “m.A.A.d. city (featuring MC Eiht)” and “Swimming Pools (Drank).”
To listen to Kendrick and Drake’s collaboration “Poetic Justice,” click here: http://youtu.be/avC69u4qHvA
