By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
Welcome to the latest edition of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews! We have a lot of music to unpack, so let’s get started!
3.15.2020 by Childish Gambino
Last Sunday, Childish Gambino (actor Donald Glover) dropped a surprise album for the music world. The five-time Grammy-winning recording artist released his first studio album in four years. While going through the album notes, I found that the “This Is America” singer-rapper relied on two key collaborators to weave this album together: DJ Dahl and Ludwig Göransson. Both men helped Childish Gambino produce a roller coaster ride of an album. “19.10” would remind people of Prince, while “Algorhythm” could be the first “Get Lucky” of the 2020s. Also, keep an ear out for Ariana Grande, 21 Savage, and Gambino’s son, Legend Glover, who make cameos throughout the album. The only downside is that I would love to learn the song titles, but otherwise, it is a solid album. B+
Tracks to Download: “Algorhythm,” “Time,” “19.10,” & “42.26 (Feels Like Summer).”
Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa
It has been three years since Dua Lipa dropped her debut album, and she is on top of the pop music world. The two-time Grammy winner’s sophomore album builds upon her self-titled debut. A plethora of A-list songwriters and producers such as Andrew Watt, Ian Kirkpatrick, Julia Michaels, Koz, and the Monsters & the Strangerz all played a hand in helping Dua Lipa crafting this record. I believe that future pop music superstars should look at Future Nostalgia closely. I honestly think that this record and Dua Lipa will set the tone for this decade’s pop albums. A
Tracks to Download: “Don’t Stop Now,” “Physical,” “Levitating,” “Hallucinate,” & “Break My Heart.”
Disney Dreamin’ with Matthew Morrison by Matthew Morrison
Actor-singer Matthew Morrison dropped a massive surprise on the pop culture world. The American Horror Story and Glee actor decided to open the Disney music vault. Mr. Morrison and his arrangement team decided to tackle some of House of Mouse’s top anthems. I loved how he transformed “You’ve Got A Friend in Me” into a bluegrass jazz piece. Plus, “You’ll Be in My Heart” got a soft pop-rock transformation that would satisfy any 90s kids. Also, keep an ear out for Matthew Morrison’s fellow Hairspray alum, Shoshana Bean, who duets with him on “A Whole New World.” Disney Dreamin’ with Matthew Morrison is an excellent record for any Disney fans to own. B+
Tracks to Download: “Friend Like Me,” “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” “You’ll Be in My Heart,” & “A Whole New World.”
Calm by 5 Seconds of Summer
Like Childish Gambino, Australian pop-rock band 5 Seconds of Summer released their fourth studio album. Lead vocalist Luke Hemmings, lead guitarist Michael Clifford, bassist Calum Hood, and drummer Ashton Irwin brought together a plethora of songwriters and producers to help co-pen or produce their 12-track album. Collaborators ranged from Andrew Watt and Benny Blanco to fellow singer-songwriters Charlie Puth and Ryan Tedder. There are some bonified radio and streaming hits such as “No Shame,” “Teeth,” and “Wildflower.” However, I would advise the group not to try to blend additional music genres together. I thought I heard a bit of R&B in some of the songs. The last thing 5SOS needs is to go down the Maroon 5’s Red Pill Blues route because it ruined the “Sugar” band’s sound to me. Overall, Calm would satisfy its fan base and music fans. B
Tracks to Download: “No Shame,” “Teeth,” “Old Me,” & “Wildflower”
“Actions” by John Legend
John Legend is one of the busiest men in the music industry. In addition to appearing on The Voice USA, Billboard reported that the “If You’re Out There” singer-songwriter is hard at work making another studio album. One single that would probably be on the music superstar’s record is “Actions.” The song is the “All of Me” performer at his finest. Between his impeccable vocals to his superb lyrics and arrangements, “Actions” is one of Mr. Legend’s best tracks in years. A
“The Epic Hand Washing Parody” by Peter Hollens
One of my favorite people on the planet, Peter Hollens, has developed a hysterical and impeccable way to encourage people to stay healthy and avoid coronavirus once and for all. “The Epic Hand Washing Parody” brilliantly blends several songs together such as Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy,” Luis Fonsi & Justin Bieber’s “Despacito,” and Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” to encourage handwashing! I truly believe this is the perfect way to encourage people to keep healthy habits, while smiling and laughing along the way. Bravo, Peter! A+
“Love You More” by Steve Aoki featuring LAY & will.i.am
Steve Aoki released the latest single off of his sixth studio album: Neon Future IV. “Love You More” features rising star Lay Zhang and producer-rapper (and probably future music legend) will.i.am. The big standout is Lay’s superb vocal performance, which is stronger than some of his contemporaries. I believe that this track could perform strongly on EDM-based radio and streaming channels. B+
Artists to Watch
Jake’s Take’s Artists to Watch is back! Here are several artists that this platform believes could shake up the music industry.
Nicotine by Trevor Daniel
Houston, Texas native turned Los Angeles transplant Trevor Daniel is Interscope Records and Alamo Records’ latest discovery. The 21-year-old amassed a significant social media presence thanks to exposure on TikTok. The Billboard Magazine “Chartbreaker”’s debut album, Nicotine, showcases his bright future in the music industry. The 10-track debut also features sure-to-be streaming favorites such as “Things We Do for Love” and “Past Life,” a song co-produced by Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Finneas. I believe that music lovers and Generation Z would embrace Trevor Daniel’s superb sound. B+/A-
Tracks to Download: “Things We Do for Love,” “Nicotine,” “OMG,” & “Past Life.”
“If You Can” by Savannah Maddison
When I first heard “If You Can” from Nashville-based singer-songwriter Savannah Maddison, my mind immediately went to Taylor Swift from her Speak Now and Red eras. Just like the “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” singer-songwriter, Savannah has the unique ability to capture listeners’ interest from the first few notes. I believe that Savannah has all the necessary tools to make it far in the music industry. Hopefully, music aficionados and playlist creators will take note. A-
“Who We Are” by Vanessa Silberman
Rounding out this edition of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews is Vanessa Silberman. The Brooklyn native turned Los Angeles transplant is known far and wide in the music industry as the DIY Queen. Her first single of 2020, “Who We Are,” is a powerful pop-rock anthem that we need during this trying time. Between the boisterous guitar riffs and the superb lyrics, Vanessa Silberman’s “Who We Are” is a worthy addition to any radio chart or streaming service playlist. A
