Welcome to the latest installment of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews! (Bitmoji property of Jake’s Take)
By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
Welcome to the latest edition of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews! We got a lot of music to unpack, so let’s start this party.
Janelle Monáe’s The Age of Pleasure (Album cover property of Wondaland Productions LLC)
The Age of Pleasure by Janelle Monáe
It has been six years since my fellow Kansas Citian – Emmy-winning singer-songwriter Janelle Monáe – released her game-changing album: Dirty Computer. The “Make Me Feel” performer dropped her fourth studio album: The Age of Pleasure. The album features a combination of Afrobeat, reggae, and soul music. Roman GianArthur, Nana Kwabena, Sensei Bueno, and Deep Cotton’s Nate “Rocket” Wonder assisted Monáe with the album’s production. Meanwhile, CKay, Doechii, Grace Jones, and Nia Long are the album’s featured artists. The Age of Pleasure is an interesting listening experience. While it did not pack a powerful punch as Dirty Computer, The Age of Pleasure did showcase the Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery actress’s ability to make hypnotic dance tracks. B-
Tracks to Download or Stream: “Float,” “Phenomenal,” “Lipstick Lover,” & “Water Slide.”
John Mellencamp’s Orpheus Descending (Album cover property of Republic Records)
Orpheus Descending by John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp’s twenty-fifth album: Orpheus Descending, is out! The legendary rocker produced the whole album at his own Belmont Mall Studio. At moments, the “Jack & Diane” singer-songwriter tugged at listeners’ heartstrings throughout the record. However, Mr. Mellencamp’s gravelly vocals could turn listeners off from the album at some moments of listening to the record. C
Tracks to Download or Stream: “Hey God,” “The Eyes of Portland,” & “Orpheus Descending.”
Niall Horan’s The Show (Album cover property of Neon Haze Music and UMG Recordings)
The Show by Niall Horan
2023 is turning out to be the Year of Niall Horan. The “Slow Hands” singer-songwriter beat outgoing coach Blake Shelton on The Voice USA: Season 23 and dropped The Show, his third solo studio album. The Show saw the “Nice to Meet Ya” performer reunite with longtime collaborators John the Blind, Julian Bunetta, Tobias Jesso Jr. and Jamie Scott to craft the tunes. They were joined by newcomers including Amy Allen, Caroline Ailin, Shane McNally, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, and the TMS production team. The Show is probably one of the strongest pop music albums of 2023 so far and I hope to see the recording industry acknowledge Niall and team’s creations sometime during award season. A
Tracks to Download or Stream: “Heaven,” “If You Leave Me,” “Meltdown,” “Never Grow Up,” & “Save My Life.”
“Magic Man [Carl Version]” by Dolly Parton & Ann Wilson
Dolly Parton’s first rock album, Rockstar, is shaping up to be one of 2023’s most highly anticipated records. The beloved country singer-songwriter’s first foray into the music genre is expected to feature rock’s heavy hitters and legends. The latest single off the album is a cover of Heart’s beloved 1975 classic: “Magic Man,” featuring the legendary Ann Wilson. “Magic Man [Carl’s Version]” is a beautiful cover that will satisfy fans of the two iconic vocalists. A
“All Things End” by Hozier
Hozier is expected to release his third full-length studio album, Unreal Unearth, on August 18. In a March 2023 Rolling Stone UK interview, Hozier revealed that Dante’s Inferno inspired this upcoming record when he read it during the COVID-19 lockdowns. “All Things End” is a haunting song that would remind millennials of the early 2000s R&B and pop singles that blasted in middle and high school lunchrooms. Including a choir near the single’s end was a perfect way to conclude the tune. A-
Artists to Watch:
Jake’s Take’s Artists to Watch is back! Here are the recording artists and bands that are ready to shake up the music industry!
“Face Like a Sunset” by Eighty Ninety
Brooklyn-based brothers Abner and Harper James created the indie pop music project Eighty Ninety and received praise from tastemakers such as Alternative Press and Billboard. Their latest single, “Face Like a Sunset,” is a beautiful song about falling in love. “Face Like a Sunset” is an amazing summer track from start to finish. B+
“Pie Jesu” by Malakai Bayoh
Britian’s Got Talent breakout star Malakai Bayoh won worldwide audiences with his beautiful angelic voice. Recently, he released his rendition of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Pie Jesu.” I am in awe of this young man’s vocal range, and all classical crossover music lovers will love his interpretation. A
“Hustle Hard” by Wowashwow featuring Heaping Teaspoon
Wowashwow and her band, Heaping Teaspoon, close out the last June 2023 edition of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews. I was blown away when I listened to “Hustle Hard,” a song she recorded for NPR’s Tiny Desk. Wowashwow and Heaping Teaspoon brought classic funk, rock, and rap to the 2020s, and I loved every minute of it! A+
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