By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
Welcome back to Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews! We got a lot of music to unpack, so let’s get this party started.
Southside by Sam Hunt
It has been six years since Sam Hunt dropped his debut album: Montevallo. On April 3, 2020, Sam Hunt dropped Southside. While I was impressed with the vast improvement from his bro-country debut, there were some issues that I had with Southside. Sam Hunt’s vocals remind me of Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger. Like the “Hero” and “Photograph” singer-songwriter, I can take bits and pieces of Sam’s vocals. Also, I felt that there were songs such as “Nothing Last Forever” and “That Ain’t Beautiful” that dragged the listeners’ interest level. C
Tracks to Download: “Hard to Forget,” “Kinfolks,” & “Downtown’s Dead.”
“Midnight” by Alesso featuring Liam Payne
Music producer Alesso teamed up with Liam Payne for a unique collaboration: “Midnight.” Both men recorded the song in isolation (Alesso in Los Angeles and the “Strip That Down” singer-songwriter in London). “Midnight” is a great up-tempo track that should lift everyone’s spirits as we are all inside due to the coronavirus pandemic. “Midnight” showcases both men at the top of the game with superb vocals from Liam and amazing production from Alesso. A-
“Back to Me” by Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan just dropped her first original song in 12 years. The Mean Girls and Among the Shadows actress’ “Back to Me” marks her return to the music world. Songwriters Alma, Chiara Hunter, and Mark Ralph crafted an irresistible piece of ear candy. Ralph, who also produced the track, did a phenomenal job crafting Lindsay Lohan, a superb comeback track. B+
“Stop!” by The Struts
The Struts are one of the best rock bands of my generation. Last Sunday, the quartet (vocalist Luke Spiller, guitarist Adam Slack, bassist Jed Elliott, and drummer Gethin Davies) covered fellow the Spice Girls’ iconic “Stop!” The quartet breathed new life into the 1997 single through the guitar riffs from both Adam and Jed. I guarantee that music lovers will have this cover on a loop. A
“Be a Light” by Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, and Keith Urban
For his 30th birthday, Thomas Rhett released a powerful original song that features some of country music’s top artists. People reported that the “Look What God Gave Her” singer-songwriter recruited Reba, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, and Keith Urban for the inspirational tune: “Be a Light.” While the song is not “We Are The World,” “Be a Light” offers a warm hug to its listeners. Plus, all proceeds from this song is expected to benefit the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, which helps musicians impacted by the coronavirus. A-
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