Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews: Week of January 19, 2024

By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com

Welcome to the first Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar’s FIRST NEW MUSIC REVIEW of 2024!

We got a lot of music to unpack, so let’s start this party!

11:11 by Chris Brown

Chris Brown released his eleventh studio album, 11:11. The double album contains 22 songs. The R&B superstar showcases the magic that fans first discovered in the “Forever” performer throughout his first four albums and the grittiness that he showcased in his 2022 album Breezy. The first half of 11:11 features collaborations with Bryon Messia (“Nightmares”), Fridayy (“No One Else”), and Future (“That’s On You”), while the “Back to Love” entertainers ride the second part solo. Chris and his production team harnessed multiple music genres like R&B, Afrobeat, and dancehall with excellent results. B+ 

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Angel Numbers / Ten Toes,” “That’s On You, “Feel Something,” “No One Else,” & “Summer Too Hot.”

 

 

Pink Friday 2 by Nicki Minaj

14 years ago, Nicki Minaj released her debut studio album, Pink Friday. The album was filled with classic hits such as “Moment for Life” and “Super Bass.” The former American Idol judge recently dropped its highly anticipated sequel: Pink Friday 2. The record features an all-star group of writers and producers ranging from polarizing legends Sean Combs, Lil Wayne, and Dr. Luke to the newest generation of sensations, including Finneas, Lourdiz, and Tate Kobang. Pink Friday 2 also features many collaborators, including 50 Cent, Drake, Future, Keyshia Cole, and Monica. Pink Friday 2 will provide Barbz with hours of entertainment, and it is one of Nicki’s best albums of her career. A

Tracks to Download or Stream: “FTCU,” “Let Me Calm Down,” “RNB,” “Red Ruby Da Sleeze,” “Needle,” & “Everybody.”

 

On Top of the Covers (Live from The Sun Rose) by T-Pain 

I have been a fan of T-Pain’s non-technologically enhanced voice since he won The Masked Singer USA’s inaugural season. Recently, he dropped a live album that showcased T-Pain’s mastery of various music genres. Throughout the 22 tracks, fans can see T-Pain tackle Blue-eyed soul (“Stay with Me”), country (“Tennessee Whiskey”), rock (“American Woman” and “Don’t Stop Believin’”), and classic R&B (“A Change is Gonna Come”). One of the only things that I have dock points on is that there were some songs, such as “American Woman” and “I Don’t Want to Be,” that should have been longer. Despite that minor hindrance, On Top of the Covers (Live from the Sun Rose) is an excellent cover album. A- 

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Summertime (Live),” “That’s Life (Live),” “Don’t Stop Believin’ (Live),” “I Don’t Want to Be (Live),” “Tennessee Whiskey (Live),” & “Stay with Me (Live).”

Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 (Live at the Hollywood Bowl) by Willie Nelson & Various Artists

On April 30, 2023, Willie Nelson celebrated his 90th birthday at the Hollywood Bowl with a plethora of superstar guests. Most of the record features live performances from a diverse group of some of music’s top recording artists. They range from the next generation of superstars such as Billy Strings, Gary Clark, Jr., Leon Bridges, Margo Price, and Orville Peck and current chart toppers the Chicks, Chris Stapleton, the Lumineers, Miranda Lambert, Norah Jones, and Nelson’s son, Lukas Nelson (who sounds exactly like him) to some of the “Always on My Mind” singer-songwriter’s dearest colleagues such as Edie Brickell, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, Rosanne Cash, and Sir Tom Jones. The last tracks feature the 12-time Grammy-winning performer’s duets with George Strait, Keith Richards, Sheryl Crow, and Snoop Dogg. Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 celebrates the music legend’s legacy as a live performer and, most of all, a songwriter. We should all be lucky to live when Willie Nelson walked among us. A- 

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other,” “Seven Spanish Angels,” “I Can Get Off on You,” “Down Yonder,” “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground,” & “Still is Still Moving to Me.”

 

 

“Can’t Get Enough” by Jennifer Lopez 

It’s hard to believe that Jennifer Lopez’s third studio album, This is Me…Then, is celebrating its 22nd anniversary this year! Her ninth studio album will be its sequel, This is Me…Now. “Can’t Get Enough” is the first single off this record. Ms. Lopez collaborated with Jeffrey Gitelman, Atia Boggs, Andrew Neely, Angel Lopez, Alton Ellis, Dennis Coffey, Chahayed, Chauncey Hollis, and Christopher Dotson to write this track. “Can’t Get Enough” transports listeners to the Bronx and reminds millennials who went to middle and high school when the original album dropped. I can’t wait to hear the rest of the album. B 

 

 

“Never Enough (Loren’s Version)” by Loren Allred

Earlier this week, Loren Allred returned to NBC after 12 years to compete on America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League. Two years ago, Loren performed on Britain’s Got Talent and earned Amanda Holden’s Golden Buzzer for tackling the song that made her voice famous: “Never Enough” in the 2017 musical The Greatest Showman. Recently, she released her version of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s penned song. It is one of the best versions of the late 2010s iconic tune. Her velvet voice sent listeners on a superb emotional roller coaster ride that will be a part of countless playlists for years. Bravo, Loren! A+ 

 

Artists to Watch:

 

Jake’s Take’s Artists to Watch is Back! Here are some of the recording artists that are looking to shake up the music world!

 

So Says the Sound by Robbie Fitzsimmons 

Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, and pianist Robbie Fitzsimmons dropped his newest extended play, So Says the Sound. Throughout the six-track EP, Robbie and his team do a superb job keeping listeners enticed with an intriguing combination of splendid lyrics and hypnotic melodies. There is a spot in the music industry for Robbie’s artistry, and I believe that Robbie is on his way to being one of 2024’s breakout artists. B 

 Tracks to Download or Stream: “Making Castles,” “So Says the Sound,” “The Mountain That Turned Upside Down,” & “Powerful Man.”

 

 

Road to A by Travis Japan 

America’s Got Talent breakout music group Travis Japan released their debut album, Road to A. The group comprises Chaka, Umi, Shime, Noel, Shizu, Genta, and Machu. The J-Pop septet’s new album is from Capitol Records and Universal Japan and is extremely well produced. These slick, hypnotic songs have the potential to dominate radio and streaming playlists throughout 2024. I truly believe that Travis Japan has the potential to reach superstardom and be amongst the boyband pantheons. A+ 

Tracks to Download or Stream: “Just Dance,” “LEVEL UP,” “Okie Dokie,” “Still on a journey,” “My Dreamy Hollywood,” “Keep on Smiling,” & “Charging!”

 

 

 

“Unrequited Love Blues” by Moira & Claire + Logan Richard 

Three of Canada’s rising musical artists joined for an intriguing instrumental pop duet. TikTok sensations Moira and Claire teamed up with three-time Music PEI Award winner Logan Richard to release “Unrequited Love Blues.” Produced by Colin Buchanan, “Unrequited Love Blues” has a fantastic acoustic guitar arrangement that might satisfy listeners who think this was an unreleased collaboration between Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift. B+ 

 

 

“Murder on the Dancefloor” by Sophie Ellis-Bextor 

British singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor wraps up the first 2024 edition of Jake’s Take’s New Music Reviews! Saltburn, one of 2023’s most talked about films, incorporated Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s single “Murder on the Dancefloor” into its production. The catch is that ” Murder on the Dancefloor” was released in 2001. However, the song has found much social media success since Saltburn’s release! This was the first time I listened to “Murder on the Dancefloor,” and this EDM gem hypnotized me. I loved the combination of the disco beats and the rhythm guitar solo. Like Stranger Things did for Kate Bush and “Running Up That Hill,” I am glad that Saltburn allows Sophie Ellis-Bextor to be introduced to a new generation. A- 

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