R5’s sophomore outing “Sometime Last Night” would satisfy both longtime fans and pop rock music lovers. (Album cover property of Hollywood Records)
By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
Welcome to the latest edition of New Music Releases!
We have a lot of ground to cover this week…so let’s get the show on the road.
Sometime Last Night by R5
One of the hottest pop rock bands on the planet is R5. Made up of siblings Ross, Riker, Rocky and Rydel Lynch and longtime friend Ellington Ratliff, this quintet has been burning up the charts and fans’ hearts with their addictive melodies that is a hybrid of catchy bubblegum pop mixed in with a little pop punk. While the Lynches (particularly Rocky and Ross) and Ratliff deserve a huge pat-on-the-back for stepping up their production and songwriting game, fans also should appreciate and acknowledge Savan Kotecha, Kristian Lundin, Mitch Allen, Emanuel Kiriakou and Matt Wallace’s superb contributions to their sophomore album. As I listened to the album, I thought that this band should receive more radio airtime over overplayed artists such as One Direction and Taylor Swift. This quintet is not only extremely talented, but I have a strong feeling that their Sometime Last Night tour will be a summer highlight for their fans! Keep growing musically, R5, and I cannot wait to hear what this impeccable group comes up with next. A-
Tracks to Download: “Dark Side,” “Let’s Not Be Alone Tonight,” “Repeating Days” & “F.E.E.L.G.O.O.D.”
Dale by Pitbull
Mr. Worldwide has released his second Spanish-language album since 2010’s Armando. Dale, which is translated from Spanish as “Let’s Go,” blends hip-hop and Latino music together an interesting combination. Unfortunately, Pitbull let too many cooks in the kitchen. Dale has too many collaborations and it drowns out Pitbull’s creativity. While there are only a few quality tracks to download, Dale is a huge waste of time. D
Tracks to Download: “Baddest Girl in Town” & “Haciendo Ruido”
One of “Jake’s Take’s” favorite musical groups returned stronger than ever with their beautiful covers of some of the biggest songs from the Silver Screen and the Great White Way. (Album cover property of Syco Music & Sony Masterworks)
Act Two by Collabro
Collabro is one of my favorite groups that are currently rocking the music industry. A couple of months ago, the Britain’s Got Talent winners released their sophomore album perfectly titled Act Two in the United Kingdom. I, along with other Collabro US fans, have been waiting for the quintet to drop this album and the wait was worth of it. Each of the 10 tracks are not only equally brilliant covers, but they are also arranged with a powerful orchestra and the quintet’s astonishing vocal arrangements. While there are some surprising song choices: “I’ll Be There For You” and “I Won’t Give Up,” the guys showed their love for Les Miserables, Cats, We Will Rock You, The Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King. I just hope that Susan Boyle, Chris Mann and Sir Elton John listen respectfully to “I Dreamed A Dream,” “Memory,” “Music of the Night” and “Circle of Life,” because they would be extremely proud of this group’s covers! Congrats, Michael, Richard, Jamie, Matt and Thomas! Act Two is my Album of the Week! A+
Tracks to Download: “I Won’t Give Up,” “Memory,” “Who Wants to Live Forever,” “A Thousand Years,” “Music of the Night” & “Circle of Life”
Rock Family by Michael V. Doane
Two years ago, I met an interviewed a talented musician named Michael V. Doane. What I admire about Michael is his tenacity for music and his ability to stand out in the crowded music industry. There are some musicians that are in today’s current industry who do not show the passion or desire for longevity, but Michael’s spunky personality and infectious songs will not only instantly put a smile on the listener’s face, but also carve a space in their mind for a very longtime. In his latest EP, Rock Family, Michael put together a great set of tracks which will make listeners rock out anywhere no matter if you are by yourself at your apartment or in a crowded coffee shop. For all radio station personalities and directors who are reading this article, this EP is what you should be playing on your station’s playlist. A-
Tracks to Download: “Under the Sky,” “Ain’t It Just Like Love,” “U R My Family” & “After the Gold Rush”
One of the hottest singles from the “Southpaw” soundtrack is Eminem & Gwen Stefani’s “Kings Never Die.” (Album cover property of Interscope Records & Shady Records)
“Kings Never Die” by Eminem & Gwen Stefani
One of the most highly anticipated films that will be released this summer is sports drama Southpaw starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. The first single off of the boxing drama is “Kings Never Die” that focuses on rap icon Eminem and Voice coach Gwen Stefani. Slim Shady’s beats showcases why he remains one of the most respected rappers in the music industry and Gwen’s sultry and seductive vocal riffs on the chorus will send listeners in orbit! Congrats to both Eminem and Gwen….”Kings Never Die” is my Song of the Week! A+
“Runnin’” by Rachel London
EDM-Pop artists are a dime a dozen in today’s music market! For every Sia Furler, there’s an Ariana Grande who is trying too hard and is very controversial and does not produce quality material. For dance pop singer Rachel London, I would have to put her in Sia’s category. From the first measure of her latest single, “Runnin’,” Rachel commands her listeners’ attention and takes them on a long run in a forest that features superb lyrics, amazing production and strong vocals. If Rachel produces more amazing material like this, she could give a couple of A-list artists a run for their money. A
“Better” by Samm Henshaw
London-based soul singer Samm Henshaw has one crazy voice! His falsetto range is otherworldly and his pipes should be known not just in the United Kingdom, but also throughout the entire world. While Samm’s latest single, “Better,” primarily focuses on his falsetto, the London singer-songwriter also shows that he has a tender baritone range and is a sturdy songwriter. I expect great things from him in the future. B
Australian alternative rock duo Atlas Genius are poised to make their mark in the music industry with their latest single: “Stockholm.” (Photo property of Frank Maddocks)
“Stockholm” by Atlas Genius
If I were to give out an award for the Artist/Group Who Traveled the Most to Participate in an edition of New Music Releases, it would probably go to Keith and Michael of Atlas Genius. The Australia-based duo is developing a strong presence on social media with 31.6 Twitter followers and over 178,000 Facebook fans. The first single off of the band’s upcoming album, Inanimate Objects, is a breath of fresh air, which solidifies Atlas Genius’ hold on the alternative music market. I cannot wait to hear the rest of their upcoming album. A-
I do not own any of the clips that are featured in this article. They belong to the artists and their respective labels.
[…] Can not thank #JakesTake enough for the awesome #RockFamily write-up! Jake’s a big supporter of both indie & major label music so check it out H E R E. […]