By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
Welcome to the second July 2021 edition of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews! We got a lot of new music to unpack, so let’s get this party started.
Jam & Lewis, Vol. 1 by Jam & Lewis
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are two of the music industry’s biggest heavy hitters. They wrote and produced for some of the biggest names in music. Now, the duo finally released their first studio album. Jam & Lewis, Vol. 1 contains ten collaborations with some of their top collaborators. From start to finish, Jam & Lewis, Vol. 1 delivers an impeccable collection of R&B, Soul, gospel, and pop songs that should be heavily featured on both streaming and radio playlists. From Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey to Mary J. Blige and Usher, both Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis elevated their collaborators to the next level of excellence. I implore that every R&B and pop songwriter and producer listens to this record because Jam & Lewis, Vol. 1 could restore the music industry to its former glory. A
Tracks to Download: “Spinnin’,” “The Next Best Day,” “He Don’t Know Nothin’ Bout It,” “Somewhat Loved (There You Go Breakin’ My Heart),” & “Do It Yourself.”
Sob Rock by John Mayer
John Mayer dropped his eighth studio album: Sob Rock. The seven-time Grammy-winning singer, songwriting, and guitarist wrote all the album and it feels uneven. Sob Rock features some robust tracks such as “Last Train Home” (which features guest vocals from Maren Morris) and “New Light,” but there are songs that are unnecessary fillers that drag the album down. C
Tracks to Download: “Last Train Home,” “New Light,” & “Carry Me Away.”
Space Jam: A New Legacy (Soundtrack) by Various Artists
I am excited to see Space Jam: A New Legacy, the highly anticipated sequel to the 1996 live-action/animated sports comedy film Space Jam. The film’s soundtrack featured some incredible music such as Seal’s “Fly Like An Eagle,” Monica’s “For You I Will,” All-4-One’s “I Turn to You,” and the Quad City DJs’ superb version of the film’s theme song. The sequel’s soundtrack does feature a plethora of all-stars such as Anthony Ramos, Big Freedia, Chance the Rapper, the Jonas Brothers, and John Legend. However, I was a little disappointed by the soundtrack. There are some standouts such as Chance the Rapper + John Legend’s “See Me Fly,” However, there is WAY TOO MUCH HIP-HOP! The producers needed to bring more diversity in artists and musical genres. It would have been nice to see Adam Lambert, Christina Aguilera, Maren Morris, Morgan Wallen, Orville Peck, and Pentatonix be included over untested and unpopular rappers. D+/C-
Tracks to Download: “See Me Fly,” “Crowd Go Crazy,” & “Mercy.”
“The Rainbow Connection” by Barbra Streisand & Kermit the Frog
Barbra Streisand has recorded many duets with music legends such as Billy Joel, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and Tony Bennett. Now, the entertainment industry icon can add Kermit the Frog to the list. The New York Daily News reported that the EGOT recipient released a 1979 recording that featured the “New York State of Mind” singer performing with the Muppets’ beloved leader, the late Jim Henson, who was Kermit the Frog’s first voice. “The Rainbow Connection” is a beautiful cover and would give listeners chills and a powerful nostalgic punch. A+
“Motley Crew” by Post Malone
Singer-rapper Post Malone is on a hot streak thanks to his past two albums – 2018’s Beerbongs & Bentleys and 2019’s Hollywood’s Bleeding. Now, the three-time American Music Awards-winning artist dropped a new single: “Motley Crew.” Thanks to producers D.A. Got That Dope and Louis Bell, the track is a phenomenal trap song that could hypnotize its listeners. B+
Head to the second page for this edition of Jake’s Take’s Artists to Watch!
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