Shwekey: Jewish Music Video

To promote his latest release, Shwekey has a music video for his title track " Cry No More".

Click here to read the review of this album.

Shwekey "Cry No More": Album Review

Here is my review on Yaakov Shwekey's latest release: Cry No More

Kadai

Song starts with a techno sound and moves into a hora/disco. This song is written by Yitzy Waldner and arranged by Yanky Briskman. Pros: Great driving  song with solid vocals performance. Cons: Arrangement is not bad but certainly not the most interesting. 

Grade: A-

Batuach Ani

Sax intro has that calming effect. This song is written by Elimelech Blumstein and Arranged by Yanky Briskman. This is a tune that gets better the more times you listen to it. Pros: Nice string arrangements

Cons: missing a great sax or guitar solo that might bring you tears. I just didn't get the goosebumps here.

Grade: B

Lo Yaavod

Written by Yossi Muller and Arranged by Jeff Horovich who also plays keys on this song.The song also features guitars by Metalish. I find this song the most interesting of the album and probably the least typical "Shwekey" tune, if you will. It's a slow to moderate rock tune. Pros: Great arrangements with different lyrics that haven't been sung  a million times. Nice guitar riffs. Cons: Guitar solos are just OK and I  would have enjoyed something a bit more impressive. The guitar part of the intro is kind of boring but that's just me.

Grade: A

Mi Bon Siach

Composed (backup vocals as well) by Yitzy Waldner with Arrangements by Moshe Laufer and additional Arrangements by Yanky Briskman. This ballad starts with a new age sound and moves into an arrangement filled with strings and acoustic guitar. Pros: Love the A part of this song and the B part has a nice ending.

Cons: As a ballad it's not all that different than previous ones. Strings get a bit boring after a while.

Grade: B

Hiney Anochi

Composed and Arranged by Moshe Laufer. This tune tune is heavy hitting Rock/Disco right out of the gate and has a nice drive to it. Pros: Very nice punchy horn arrangements. Cons: Not the most musically challenging tune but it's catchy.

Grade: B

Oleinu

Composed by Ezi Reissman and Arranged by Yanky Briskman. This ballad features strings , acoustic guitar and oboe (drums and bass of course). These arrangements are simple but nice (not exactly re-inventing the wheel). Pros: Part B is nice and the bridge has a nice but tame guitar solo. Nice choir vocals at the end of the song. Cons: a bit too predictable.

Grade: B

Rabi Nehorai

Composed by Yitzy Waldner and Elie Shwab with Arrangement by Ruvi Banet and Yanky Briskman. This song is solid from top to bottom and has all the right elements of a hit song:Great intro with guitars moving into a solid sax solo (Arkady?). Great newly sung lyrics with a great dynamic vocally and Shwekey really hits a home run with this song. They even added a bit of a sephardic element playing an Arabic styled bridge. This Disco/Hora is sure to get you dancing and should be a big hit on the wedding circuit. Pros: Great song, exciting arrangements and solos. Cons: Mix could have been a bit better perhaps a bit too much echo (I'm nit picking here?).

Grade: A+

Yisimcho

Composed by Yizchol Rosenthal and Arranged by Yisroel Lamm featuring child soloist  is Yaakov's son: Menachem Shwekey. This ballad is not as predictable as the others and the arrangement is classic Lamm. Pros: Nice vocal dynamic ( like that last note he hits at the end) and nice violin solo.Cons: Intro a bit corny but nice child solo doesn't really add that much to the song.

Grade: B+

Retzoneini

Composed by Pinky Weberand Arranged by Yanky Briskman. This is the frielach chassidish tune of the album and is sung in with yiddishe verte. Pros: Very lively Cons: Very Predictable.

Grade: B

Cry No More

Composed by Yitzy Waldener & Yaakov Shwekey with Lyrics by Ken Burgess & backup vocals from Yitzy Waldner. This is certainly one of the more sophisticated English songs you have probably heard thanks to Lyrics from Ken. The arrangements are also more contemporary than many. Pros: Strong vocal performances with great acoustic guitar and  piano arrangements. I enjoyed acoustic guitar solos Cons: None worth mentioning.

Grade: A

Shwekey: Cry No More Free Sample Mp3

Here is the album art for Shwekey's anticipated release entitled
"Cry No More".

Shwekey - New Album " Cry No More"

We've got a an early Purim present for you! Yochi Briskman presents an all new album from Yaakov Shwekey.  

The CD includes multiple arrangements from Yanky Briskman and arrangements by Moshe Laufer, Yisroel Lamm, Jeff Horvitch among others. This new album has some very exciting new ideas, fresh sounds and of course many surprises. The CD is titled "Cry No More", an English song composed by Yitzy Waldner, the full words of the title track are, Cry No More Yerushalayim.

In addition to the brand new album, for the first time ever, Yaakov will be releasing an original and official music video. The all new music video will debut shortly after the CD hits stores. 

The album is expected in Judaica and music stores around Sunday February 12th and will be distributed by Aderet music and available for download at MostlyMusic.com

You can pre order the CD here. 

http://www.mostlymusic.com/cry-no-more.html