Score: 64
Release Date: January 31, 2020
Genre: Pop, R&B
Similar Artists: Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry
Release Date: January 31, 2020
Genre: Pop, R&B
Similar Artists: Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry
Following her 2017 album Rainbow, in which Kesha traded her signature loud and unapologetic party bangers for a more mature country-rock sound, I entered High Road expecting something similar. However, as soon as the beat switch on the opening track “Tonight” hit, I was instantly transported back to the late 2000s, where neon colored electronic pop ran rampant. On “My Own Dance,” Kesha proudly declares that no one can tell her what kind of music to make, and indeed, she spends the LP bouncing across styles, from the empowered ballad “Shadow,” to the lighthearted “Potato Song.” In theory, the album is a brilliant culmination of all that Kesha has contributed to the pop music landscape over the past decade. In terms of execution, not so much.
The reason Animal, Cannibal, and Warrior were as beloved as they were during their time was not due to their lyricism, but how said lyrics were executed. Loud party anthems fall flat without the right instrumentation. And the beat in “BFF” sounds like the background music on the Mii Channel. Kesha’s attempts to return to her old style come off as confusing and incohesive. As for the other half of the songs, the Rainbow-like “let’s-sit-around-the-campfire-with-a-guitar” tunes, they are pretty forgettable, since, with a few exceptions, they lack the deep meaning behind the lyrics that the prior album had.
That being said, the album isn’t too bad. Its centerpiece is a reflective song called “Resentment,” featuring the legendary Brian Wilson. My only complaint about this song is that it isn’t longer. Some other enjoyable tracks are the nostalgic “Kinky,” the playful “Little Bit of Love,” and the introspective “Father Daughter Dance.” It is true that High Road is sonically messy, but the fun that Kesha had while making it can be felt through a listener’s speakers, which makes its shortcomings a bit more forgivable.
The reason Animal, Cannibal, and Warrior were as beloved as they were during their time was not due to their lyricism, but how said lyrics were executed. Loud party anthems fall flat without the right instrumentation. And the beat in “BFF” sounds like the background music on the Mii Channel. Kesha’s attempts to return to her old style come off as confusing and incohesive. As for the other half of the songs, the Rainbow-like “let’s-sit-around-the-campfire-with-a-guitar” tunes, they are pretty forgettable, since, with a few exceptions, they lack the deep meaning behind the lyrics that the prior album had.
That being said, the album isn’t too bad. Its centerpiece is a reflective song called “Resentment,” featuring the legendary Brian Wilson. My only complaint about this song is that it isn’t longer. Some other enjoyable tracks are the nostalgic “Kinky,” the playful “Little Bit of Love,” and the introspective “Father Daughter Dance.” It is true that High Road is sonically messy, but the fun that Kesha had while making it can be felt through a listener’s speakers, which makes its shortcomings a bit more forgivable.
- Molly Endyke | Guitar & Pen
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