Kesha released her fourth studio album High Road on Jan. 31.
Let me just start out by saying this album was not at all what I was expecting. I hadn’t listened to any of the previously released singles from this album, and I hadn’t done much researching over what to expect from the new album either. I’m very much the type to just listen to an album when it comes out without putting too much thought into it beforehand. Needless to say, I was very shocked when I began listening.
There were songs very reminiscent of her older music such as “Tik Tok” and “Timber.” It seems as if she is trying to revive her party girl reputation. I was hoping for more of an emotional and empowering album from her, somewhere along the lines with her 2017 album Rainbow which featured her song “Praying.” In the beginning of High Road I was met with the exact opposite.
I don’t disagree with Kesha returning to her previous style, but I had hoped for more of her newer style. After listening to the entirety of High Road, I was met with some of the newer, softer style, but the music of her past style was just not hitting the right chord with me.
The album opens with “Tonight,” which starts off soft but immediately turns into a typical 2009 Kesha song. Again, I don’t hate her for wanting to return to her old style, but this wasn’t even that. The chorus is actually pretty great, being a fun and feel-good type of going out song, but everything around the chorus is not so great.
“My Own Dance” is interesting. I first heard the song when I saw the music video, which I can say I am not a fan of. The song itself I do not like. The lyrics, however, are pretty good. They are empowering and full of self-love. The song’s meaning is very much take me as I am or leave. The chorus, though, sounds like something out of a commercial for the newest phone.
“Raising Hell” is a fun song about wanting to live life to the fullest. It is one of the better party-type songs on this album. I really enjoy listening to this song, and it reminds me of Kesha’s earlier music. This was one of the few songs that was successful in bringing back her past style.
Being the title track on the album I was expecting so much more from “High Road.” I enjoy the chorus. That’s about it. I wish that the rest of the song would have been as enjoyable as the chorus. “Honey” gives me the vibe of a Twenty One Pilots song. There are a lot of middle schoolesque insults in it, and it just leaves me with a bad feeling.
“Cowboy Blues” is pretty great. This is one is going to be added onto my playlist of calmer songs. Her voice in this song is sweet. All of the interjections in the song are actually kind of funny, and I love her description of overthinking a little encounter from years ago. It is so true, and I can definitely relate.
“Resentment” is also pretty great. This is the type of music I was expecting this album to be full of rather than the party music that it actually is. It is a very heartfelt song, and I really enjoy it. It reminds me a lot of those early 2000s pop-country crossovers.
I think that the highlight of this album is “Potato Song (Cuz I want To).” With lines like, “I’m so stressed out on the daily” and “Now I see growing up’s a game that I don’t want to play, I’m over adulthood,” how could it not be?
“Chasing Thunder” is what I was wanting out of this album. This is what I was expecting from this new album, and after going through all of the other songs I am so glad this was on here. It was a much needed break from the party music that the beginning of the album is filled with. It is a very upbeat song about having a free spirit, and I absolutely love it. This is one of the few that will be implemented into my playlists.
Overall, this album wasn’t my favorite, but there were some pretty good songs on it. I had really high expectations for this album, and they weren’t met.
