Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews (Week of July 12, 2019)

By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com

Welcome to the first July edition of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews!  Three superstars returned with new albums, while Kygo summons Whitney Houston to take us to “Higher Love.”  Plus, two of Jake’s Take’s favorite friends take us to Agrabah in this edition, while Beyonce and Sir Elton John debuted new music for The Lion King soundtrack.

We have a lot of music to unpack, so let’s get this party started!

No.6 Collaborations by Ed Sheeran

For Ed Sheeran’s latest studio album, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter summoned a plethora of music’s top talent for 15 unique collaborations. No.6 Collaborations allows the “Shape of You” performer to enter new musical genres with ease such as R&B, hip-hop, and hard rock with his music partners. Bruno Mars, Cardi B, Chance the Rapper, Chris Stapleton, Ella Mai, Eminem, Justin Bieber, and Khalid are among the all-star collaborators that are all sprinkled throughout the album. Also, superstar producers and songwriters Max Martin, Shellback, Benny Blanco, and Fred Gibson assisted with the album’s composition. There are a plethora of radio ready tracks and I believe that it sets up No.6 Collaborations very nicely for the American Music Awards and the Grammys. A-

Tracks to Download: “Beautiful People,” “Cross Me,” “I Don’t Care,” & “BLOW.”

Hotel Diablo by Machine Gun Kelly

2019 has been a significant year for Machine Gun Kelly. First, the rapper flexed his acting muscles when he portrayed Tommy Lee in the Motley Crüe Netflix biopic The Dirt.  Next, he dropped his fourth studio album: Hotel Diablo.  Machine Gun Kelly expresses the dark side of fame all throughout Hotel Diablo. All the tracks teleport listeners to his dark world as he openly addresses depression, fatherhood, and love for weed. Also, keep an ear out for Naomi Wild, Trippie Read, Travis Barker, and YUNGBLUD, who make cameos throughout the album. B+

Tracks to Download: “Glass House,” “Burning Memories,” “Floor 13,” & “I Think I’m OKAY.”

Joytime III by Marshmello

Over the past few years, DJ and producer Marshmello has become one of the top names in the EDM genre. Thanks to his epic collaborations with Anne-Marie, Bastille, Logic, and Selena Gomez, Marshmello continues to grow his artistry and attract new fans with each new piece of music he releases.  His third studio album, Joytime III, is a significant departure from his first two chapters. There are more collaborations than the first studio albums put together. However, while I applaud him for incorporating up-and-coming artists into his album, I wish that his team incorporated some of the A-list artists that he worked with into this piece. Other than that tiny mistake, Joytime III is a memorable listening experience. B–

Tracks to Download: “Sad Songs,” “Set Me Free,” & “Rescue Me.”

The Lion King (2019 soundtrack) by Various Artists

Next week, the highly anticipated live adaption of The Lion King will roar into theatres. To prepare moviegoers for this cinematic experience, Walt Disney Records released the film’s soundtrack.  In addition to the fan-favorite songs such as “Circle of Life,” “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” and “Hakuna Matata,” there are several morsels that fans would stream over and over again. Both Beyonce and Sir Elton John have outstanding original songs, “Spirit” and “Never Too Late,” respectively. Also, Lebo M covered “He Lives in You,” while Hans Zimmer refreshed his legendary film score. Longtime fans will be happy to hear how the new cast interpreted these iconic tracks and classic characters. A+

Tracks to Download: “Circle of Life/Nants’ Ingonyama,” “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King,” “Can You Feel The Love Tonight,” “Spirit,” “Never Too Late,” & “He Lives in You.”

“Dancing in the Street” by Angel City Chorale

It has been one year since Sue Fink, and the Angel City Chorale made their America’s Got Talent debut. The group released their phenomenal cover of Martha and the Vandellas’ immortal “Dancing in the Street.” The choir did not disappoint, and I would love for someone to send this to Berry Gordy, Martha Reeves, and the Marvin Gaye Estate. Bravo, Angel City Chorale! A

“Higher Love” by Kygo & Whitney Houston

DJ and music producer Kygo gave Whitney Houston’s fans a huge gift. Your EDM reported that Kygo remixed the “I Will Always Love You” singer’s iconic 1991 cover of Steve Winwood’s signature tune: “Higher Love.” With the help of Houston’s longtime producer, Narada Michael Walden, Kygo showcases Whitney Houston at her finest vocally and hopefully will introduce a new generation of fans to the legendary music icon. We miss you, Whitney! A+

“Speechless” by Peter Hollens

Peter Hollens has made fans’ dreams come true this year with his Disney covers! This time, he set his sight on Naomi Scott’s “Speechless,” a powerful original song that was featured in Aladdin’s live-action adaptation. Peter delivered a beautiful cover that would impress the tune’s songwriters, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Peter and his team did a phenomenal job arranging this song that would give listeners chills. Bravo, Peter! A

“A Whole New World” by Tristan Cole & Kalli Moon

Tristan Cole teamed up with Kalli Moon to cover Aladdin’s signature ballad: “A Whole New World.” In all honesty, I wished Hollywood Records incorporated this up-tempo version onto the film’s soundtrack instead of Zayn and Zhavia Ward’s boring duet. Both of their vocals and their vibrant arrangement would satisfy Aladdin fans. A-

Artists to Watch

Jake’s Take’s Artists to Watch is back with his take on up-and-coming recording artists that could dominate the music industry.

GOLDEN AGE THINKING by Wylder

Wylder released their second studio album, GOLDEN AGE THINKING. Based in Washington D.C, the band’s line-up includes guitarist and vocalist Will McCarry, guitarist and mandolinist Lonnie Southall, drummer Mike Pingley, and pianist and bassist Jackson Wright. GOLDEN AGE THINKING showcases a strong blend of both indie and cinematic rock.  Wylder does have the potential to build a solid fanbase like their music industry role models, Arcade Fire and Fleet Foxes. Wylder has all of its bases covered, but they need to put several of their songs in Elvis Duran, Lazlo, or Zac Sang’s inboxes. If they do that, Wylder will have the opportunity to be a force to be reckoned with in the industry. B/B+

Tracks to Download: “Fear,” “The Lake,” “Ready to Break,” & “If I Love You.”

“Move On” by AJ Mitchell

Singer-songwriter and Epic Records recording artist AJ Mitchell is continuing to celebrate his breakout year. “Move On” is a great pop and R&B track that showcases AJ’s bright future in the music industry. Hopefully, this single will be featured on Top 40 radio stations across the country in the future. B+

“Getty Woah” by Maya B

Capitol Records artist Maya B just dropped her latest single, “Getty Woah.” After listening to the track, it reminded me about the first time that I heard Ariana Grande’s “The Way.”  Already, Maya B has received high praise from Sir Elton John, DJ Khaled, and media influencer Zane Lowe. However, I believe “Getty Woah” might be the song that might transform her into a household name. A-

“Quayside” by Tom Goss

Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Tom Goss concludes this edition of “Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews.” “Quayside” is a dark and mysterious pop track that should be featured on global steaming services. The song’s production arrangement is impeccable and it transports to the listeners to Tom Goss’ world. A-

I do not own any of the music videos or clips that are featured in this article. They belong to the artists and their respective record labels.