Welcome to the latest edition of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews! We got a lot of music to cover, so let’s get this party started.
Eleven Words by David Foster
Iconic music producer David Foster released his tenth studio album. Eleven Words highlights Mr. Foster’s impeccable piano playing and superb arrangement style. Listeners will immediately notice the absent are his usual superstar supporting cast members. While fans might have wanted vocal cameos from Andrea Bocelli, Fernando Varela, Pia Toscano, or wife Katharine McPhee Foster, Eleven Words transports listeners to their imaginative worlds. I believe that Eleven Words is a fantastic album that should be listened to at least several times during the coronavirus quarantine for reflective purposes. B+
Tracks to Download: “Everlasting,” “Eternity,” “Elegant,” & “Dreams.”
“Mamacita” by The Black Eyed Peas featuring Ozuna + J.Rey Soul
The Black Eyed Peas (will.i.am, ald.de.ap, and Taboo) are back! The hip-hop superstars recruited a new member to replace Fergie (J.Rey Soul) and invited Ozuma to join them in a Reggaeton meets Latin track called: “Mamacita.” This track is a fantastic piece of ear candy from start to finish. I could see this song featured on several music giants’ streaming playlists. I loved J.Rey Soul’s vocals, and the production level is impeccable. Well done, lady and gentlemen! A-
“I Dare You” by Kelly Clarkson
The Voice coach and daytime TV host released a new single: “I Dare You.” The new song features lyrics from longtime collaborators Jesse Shatkin (who also produced the track) and Natalie Hemby. This track is one of 2020’s best dance-pop songs to date. The lyrics are powerful, and I believe that the “Never Enough” singer could earn a few Grammys from this song. A+
“Tears in December” by Rence
Jake’s Take friend Rence released his latest single: “Tears in December.” The sound reminds me of a combination of elements of EDM meets pop-rock. The lyrics showcase Rence’s superb lyrics and his innate abilities to grab the listeners’ attention with fantastic production value. “Tears in December” also perfectly paints a picture to music lovers about the laments that the “Darkside’ singer-songwriter had about the past decade. Excellent job, Rence! B+/A-
“I’m Ready” by Sam Smith & Demi Lovato
Two of pop music’s powerful voices came together for an Olympics-sized collaboration. The duo co-penned the track with Peter Svensson, Savan Kotecha, and Ilya (who produced the song). “I’m Ready” showcases both the “Too Good at Goodbyes” and “Sorry Not Sorry” singers at the peak. The irresistible chorus, along with both Smith and Lovato’s solos, brought this song to compete in the overcrowded music industry. Hopefully, “I’m Ready” would be a top streaming track of the year. A-
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