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 get started.
Gaslighter by The Chicks
Gaslighter marks a new era for the band formerly known as the Dixie Chicks. Now known only as The Chicks, the trio (Natalie Maines, Emily Erwin, and Martie Erwin) dropped their first studio album in 14 years. The Chicks recruited super-producer Jack Antonoff (Lana Del Rey, Lorde, and Taylor Swift) to craft their new album. The quartet just became one of the music industry’s top collaborating teams. Each track has the potential to dominate several radio and streaming services playlists. I also believe that Gaslighter will set the standard for future country music albums. Bravo, the Chicks and Jack Antonoff, Gaslighter, is one of my favorite albums of 2020! A+
Tracks to Download: “Gaslighter,” “Sleep at Night,” “Texas Man,” “March March,” & “Julianna Calm Down.”
Brightest Blue by Ellie Goulding
It has been five years since we heard a full studio album from Ellie Goulding. Music fans got a treat when she released Brightest Blue as a Side A and EG.0 as a B-Side record. Brightest Blue features Ellie self-reflecting on her career so far. Meanwhile, EG.0 features collaborations from up-and-comers such as blackbear, Lauv, and Swae Lee. Despite some dull tracks on Brightest Blue, music lovers would be delighted to listen to the record. B/B+
Tracks to Download: “Power,” “How Deep is Too Deep,” “Love I’m Given,” & “Tides.”
Folklore by Taylor Swift
11 months ago, Taylor Swift began a new chapter in her career at Republic Records. Lover featured collaborations with Brendan Urie and the Chicks plus songs such as “The Man” and “The Archer,” that set streaming platforms and radio stations on fire. On Thursday, July 23, 2020, USA Today reported that the “Look What You’ve Made Me Do” singer-songwriter dropped a surprise album! Folklore features songs that were co-written by Taylor Swift and the impeccable duo of Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff. Folklore showcases that Taylor Swift will always be one of music’s top songwriters and cements her legacy as the millennial generation’s impeccable creators. A
Tracks to Download: “the 1,” “the last great American dynasty,” “mirrorball,” “this is me trying,” & “mad woman.”
“What’s Love Got to Do With It?” by Kygo and Tina Turner
Last summer, the world went wild when Kygo remixed Whitney Houston’s cover of “Higher Love.” Hoping to find the same success, Kygo decided to reinvent one of the Queen of Rock’s greatest songs. That’s right, Kygo breathed new life into Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do with It? As a massive Tina Turner fan, I believe Kygo kicked it right out of the park. I loved that he showcased Ms. Turner’s vocals at her prime, and the production was outstanding. Just like “Higher Love,” I hope that this remix introduces a new generation of fans to the “(Simply) The Best” singer. A
“Say Something” by Kylie Minogue
Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue has released a new single! The “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” performer dropped the first single off of her fifteenth studio album: Disco. The former Voice Australia and Voice UK coach co-wrote the song, “Say Something,” with Ash Howes, Jon Green, and Biff Stannard (the latter two also co-produced the track). While it marks a departure from the 2018 country-pop vibe of Golden, “Say Something” delivers the same dance groove that we have heard from “All the Lovers” and “Kiss Me Once.” B+
“Nobody’s Love” by Maroon 5
Honestly, Maroon 5 and I have had a rocky relationship since Red Pill Blues’ release. However, the band is slowly winning me back over starting with “Nobody’s Love.” The song reminds me of the band’s Love Somebody and V eras. Produced by Gian Stone, Noah Passovoy, and the Monsters and the Strangerz, “Nobody’s Love” does have the potential to dominate both the radio and streaming charts. I hope that Maroon 5’s upcoming album features more tunes such as “Nobody’s Love.” B
Head to the second page (at the bottom of the page) to read my Artists to Watch section!
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