'High Road' Review: Kesha steps up her pop game with a solid mix of party and power ballads
American singer Kesha unveiled her highly-anticipated fourth studio album 'High Road' on January 31. It is produced by Jeff Bhasker, Ryan Lewis and the singer herself. The LP was announced on October 21, 2019, in a video trailer premiered by Rolling Stone. Bhasker is a Grammy-winning American record producer, songwriter, keyboardist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist who has worked with artists like Kanye West, Jay-Z and Mark Ronson. Lewis lists as a multi-talented artist; an American record producer, DJ, videographer, photographer, graphic designer, music video director, rapper and songwriter with a fair share of dipping his hands in multiple projects, but most commonly known for his collaborations with rapper Macklemore.
'High Road' follows three years after her third studio album 'Rainbow' and not only has Kesha exceeded herself in attitude, skill and musical finesse with the LP but it is also presented as a party gift box that explodes with confetti upon opening. Add this one to your party anthem playlist!
The first three songs of 'High Road' stand out as a trilogy of fun. Track 1 resounds as the party anthem highlight of the album, opening with the singer singing melodically for all the world to hear and eventually breaks down the dance floor with a cheeky dub hip-hop bounce of the chorus. The second song 'My Own Dance' carries attitude and nothing but, and could be a fashionable cheerleader song with its acoustic guitaring and percussion in parallel to the pumped-up beat. 'Raising Hell' the third song which features Big Freedia also carries anthem-esque tones but stands out with music that alternates between a variation in energetic styles (including the addition of a background choir) while Kesha turns the dance floor on its head with lyrics "Oh, if you couldn't tell. We can always find the trouble, we don't need no help. Singing oh, mama raised me well. But I don't wanna go to Heaven without raising hell".
Get a feel of 'Raising Hell' right here
Although, 'High Road' garbs a party package of pumped-up multi-layered musical offerings, the 2020 LP holds strong on its slower numbers as well (mustering both sentimental and explicit lyrics).
Track 14, 'Father Daughter Dance', plays on the melancholia of having an absent father. Lines like, "I'm never alone, but God, I'm so lonely", and "Somebody to help with the flat tire. Somebody to walk me down the aisle" and chorus ending with "In all my days, from my cradle to my grave. I'll never have a father daughter dance", leave one catching a glimpse into Kesha's darker, more personal moments.
The Hawaiian-infused 'Cowboy Blues' offers a playful swing at its core, opening with line, "Sing it with me, s**thead". Continuing is supporting spirit of all single ladies who may have missed their opportunity to meet their soulmate, she sings "Did I f**k my whole life up? Did I miss my one true love? Was he right in front of me at the dive bar? Was that you with the cowboy blues?"
Kesha is not exclusively an artist of fun-and-games but she has a fair share of songs to resonate with the serious tones as well. In October 2014, Kesha filed a civil suit against music producer Dr Luke for infliction of emotional distress, gender-based hate crimes and employment discrimination which eventually inspired the emotional song 'Praying'. The song opens with a painful soliloquy-type intro with the singer asking questions that many a troubled person may find themselves asking at times. "Am I dead? Or is this one of those dreams? Those horrible dreams that seem like they last forever?" she says. "If I am alive, why? Why? If there is a God or whatever, something, somewhere, why have I been abandoned by everyone and everything I've ever known? I've ever loved?"
After years of achieving large success and building up a dedicated fanbase, 'High Road' has reminded us that the American pop singer has a lot more to unleash on the world. 'High Road' comes highly recommended for all those seeking to keep the party going.
Kesha will embark on the 'High Road Tour' in 2020 in support of 'High Road'. The North American tour will kick off on April 23.