By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
Welcome to the second October edition of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews! We got a lot of music to unpack, so let’s get this party started.
Girls Night Out by Babyface
12-time Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer Babyface dropped his latest solo studio album in seven years. Girls Night Out features the “End of the Road” songwriter and producer teaming up with some of R&B and hip-hop’s top Millennial and Generation Z hitmakers. Coco Jones, Ella Mai, Kehlani, Queen Naija, Tiana Major9, and Tink are some recording artists who recorded collaborations with Babyface. Meanwhile, Angie Martinez and LaLa Anthony opened the album with a 38-second dialogue. Girls Night Out does feature some potential classics such as Tink’s “Whatever,” Kehlani’s “Seamless,” and Ella Mai’s “Keeps on Fallin’.” The album also introduces listeners to the next generation of performers that are the future of R&B and hip-hop. B
Tracks to Download or Stream: “Seamless,” “Keeps On Fallin’,” “Game Over,” & “Whatever.”
Midnights (3AM Edition) by Taylor Swift
Whenever Taylor Swift drops an album, it becomes an event and a water cooler topic for social media. Midnights (3AM Edition) reunites the “Last Great American Dynasty” singer-songwriter with her Folklore and Evermore collaborator Jack Antonoff. The duo and returning collaborator Aaron Dessner welcomed newcomers Zoe Kravitz, Mark Spears, Jahaan Sweet, and William Bowery to the party. Also, “Snow on the Beach” marks the first time that Taylor Swift teamed up with torch song mistress Lana Del Rey. Midnights (3 AM Edition) continues to expand on the sound that Taylor has built for herself so far this decade. A
Tracks to Download or Stream: “Lavender Haze,” “Anti-Hero,” “Snow on the Beach,” “Midnight Rain,” “Bejeweled,” “The Great War,” & “Question…?”
Merry Christmas, Y’all by Thomas Rhett
Country music superstar Thomas Rhett dropped his first holiday project: Merry Christmas, Y’all. The four-song extended play features four holiday classics: “Winter Wonderland,” “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Have Yourself A Merry Christmas,” and “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas.” I was surprised by the extended play! Merry Christmas, Y’all showcases a different side of the “Look What God Gave Her” singer-songwriter. In the future, I hope that Thomas and his team will decide to release a full-length holiday album. Watch out, Brett Eldredge, as Thomas Rhett could be coming for the “Mister Christmas” title. B+
Tracks to Download or Stream: “Winter Wonderland,” “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” & “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas.”
Deck the Halls by Voices of Service
Jake’s Take friends and America’s Got Talent finalists Voices of Service dropped their first holiday project: Deck the Halls. In addition to holiday classics such as the title track and “Sleigh Balls,” the quartet (Ron Henry, Christal Rheams, Jason Hanna, and Caleb Green) co-wrote two original holiday tracks: “Santa Don’t Let Me Down” (with Johnny Black, Jon Waller, David “DQ” Quinones, Moe Loughran, and Jason Walker) and “At Christmas” (with Walker and Josh Lay). DQ, Johnny Black, and Jon Waller beautifully produced Deck the Halls, which let Voices of Service soar vocally and is the perfect soundtrack for various holiday get-togethers. A-
Tracks to Download or Stream: “Deck the Halls,” “Santa Don’t Let Me Down,” “Sleigh Ride,” “At Christmas,” & “Joy to the World.”
“Lift Me Up” by Rihanna
Rihanna released new music! Variety reported that the “Love on the Brain” singer-songwriter dropped her first solo single in six years! “Lift Me Up” will be part of the soundtrack to the highly anticipated Black Panther: Wakanda Forever film. Rihanna co-wrote the track with film director Ryan Coogler and composer Ludwig Göransson as a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman. As soon as Rihanna sang the song’s first lyrics, I got chills. “Lift Me Up” is a beautiful ballad and an incredible tribute to Chadwick and T’Challa. A+
Artists to Watch:
Jake’s Take’s Artists to Watch is back! Here are some artists that you need to keep your eyes on.
“Training That Works” by CarbonWorks
Jake’s Take is thrilled to premiere the Avant-garde rock group, CarbonWorks’ new music video: “Training that Works.” The band, led by guitarist and composer Neal Barnard, partnered with legendary graphic designer Dave Plunkert, whose artwork appeared in various museums and graced magazine covers, including The New Yorker. “Training That Works” is the first single off the group’s upcoming 2023 album: Vanishing Act. The song would remind listeners of Duran Duran, the Talking Heads, and the Working musical. “Training That Works” catchy chorus and guitar riffs, along with Modern Times-inspired music video, will make listeners think about their life in the workforce. B+
“What Would I Say” by Lloyiso
South African singer-songwriter Lloyiso dropped his latest single: “What I Would Say.” This powerful anthem gave me chills. The lyrics are superb, and the song’s production highlights his incredible vocals. No wonder Lloyiso is the first South African-signed artist for Republic Records! “What Would I Say” is fantastic, and I predict that 2023 will be a massive year for Lloyiso! A-
“GOODNIGHT” by Rhythm Tribe
Los Angeles-based Latin band Rhythm Tribe has been entertaining audiences for four generations! The latest incarnation features siblings Brisa (lead vocalist) and Mason Guzman-Sanchez (guitarist and vocalist), their father Thomas (bassist), and close family friend Esau Garcia (drummer). Their latest single, “GOODNIGHT,” is a hypnotic ballad that showcases their superb musical style and will introduce a new generation to Guaracha music. B+
“Nights Like This” by VIBI
VIBI wraps up this edition of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews. VIBI is the moniker of Niagara Falls, Canada native Valerie Borghesi. “Nights Like This” reminds me of an untouched Julia Michaels, Justin Tranter, and Cirkut song. Drummer Daniel Nicoletti’s great drums, bass, and VIBI’s EDM-ready vocals brought this song to life. I would love to see VIBI conquer the dance-pop world, as the music genre fits her like a glove. A
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