High Road
by Kesha
  • Record Label: RCA
  • Release Date: Jan 31, 2020
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 367 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 317 out of 367
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 367
  3. Negative: 25 out of 367
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  1. RK13
    Feb 2, 2020
    9
    This album is a great improvement from 'Rainbow' as we see Kesha return to her true "party-anthem" roots (referencing to Ke$ha). The theme of nonchalant joy is exuded from the opening track as the trajectory of the track quickly changes from an angelic solo from Kesha to outright bass drums and chaos. The best tracks are "My Own Dance", "Raising Hell", "Kinky" and "High Road".
  2. perrydelrey
    Feb 22, 2020
    9
    Esse álbum trouxe tudo que a música pop precisava, mas infelizmente as pessoas não deram o devido valor a ele.
  3. soundmate
    Apr 10, 2020
    9
    A cathartic storm of electrifying songwriting, remarkable production, and colourful personality. That's how would describe "High Road" the second album by Californian meant to be Nashvillian pop star Kesha. The singer has been able to put out a conscious record with genuine heart, soul and a mind of its own. Filled from beggining to end with everything from vibrant music, to hilariousA cathartic storm of electrifying songwriting, remarkable production, and colourful personality. That's how would describe "High Road" the second album by Californian meant to be Nashvillian pop star Kesha. The singer has been able to put out a conscious record with genuine heart, soul and a mind of its own. Filled from beggining to end with everything from vibrant music, to hilarious tongue-and-cheek quips, and genuinely uplifting and inspirational moments, the album is a timeless no age piece of musical art. The singer makes use of some technically impressive production in her newest record that overcomes compression in order to give its songs the volume and gravitas to elevate its lyrics and themes.
    The album really shows the maturity, versatility and undeniable creativity Kesha has since she decided to reconnect with the personality that was approached in her career beginnings, mixing it with the softer characterization of the Rainbow era. She has released a very confident, smooth-dancy record that offers you both songs to dance your ass out. Even though that is what Kesha's music is meant to be, "High Road" has time for everything: it has songs to dance away your anxieties wearing tons of gliiter on you and other ones to cry a river with your cowboy boots on and an acoustic guitar next to you and feeling nothing but melancholia for a lover or the countryside.
    In conclusion, Kesha has been able to complete her musical talent mixing the best of Kesha, the friendly countryside houseparty lover and Ke$ha, the craziest Los Angeles party animal to ever exist. Just choose your fighter; I choose both, I choose 'High Road'.    … Expand
  4. Muratka
    Jan 31, 2020
    9
    So good album!
    More iconic songs, but Raising Hell is bop and best!
    Thanks for this album!
  5. ericsuxx
    Jan 31, 2020
    9
    One of her best albums, rings right there with Rainbow. She shades her haters perfectly and has major tear jerkers like Cowboy Blues and Father Daughter Dance. Summer is the perfect summer jam and gives me 2013 vibes.
  6. Taylor_Santos20
    Jan 31, 2020
    9
    Esse álbum é Incrivelmente maravilhoso depois de tudo que ela passou ela volta com mais garra e força . ESTA DE PARABÉNS ESSA BELA OBRA.Músicas incríveis uma base de Pop com country
  7. chrissyk
    Feb 21, 2020
    9
    Mature yet still Kesha
    Grown but enough fun to still have a jig Proud of Kesha!
  8. 0LxJx
    May 29, 2020
    9
    A really good album , maybe not the Best but a really interesting collection of sounds with a good lyricism in every song
  9. Masterheart
    Sep 1, 2020
    9
    Aunque consideramos aún Rainbow su mejor álbum, siempre será muy satisfactorio escuchar a Kesha de nuevo en el Pop que la llevo a la cima desde inicios de la decada
  10. potasioxd
    Sep 1, 2020
    9
    high road es un buen viaje hacia las emociones fuertes. siento que este álbum es una mezcla de animal y algo de rainbow, y se siente tan bien. sus canciones no sobran ni faltan, no se siente como si hubiera relleno y eso lo hace genial y digno de escuchar. amé el álbum y siento que le daría un 10 si no fuera por algunas canciones que no me gustaron mucho u.u mis canciones favoritas sonhigh road es un buen viaje hacia las emociones fuertes. siento que este álbum es una mezcla de animal y algo de rainbow, y se siente tan bien. sus canciones no sobran ni faltan, no se siente como si hubiera relleno y eso lo hace genial y digno de escuchar. amé el álbum y siento que le daría un 10 si no fuera por algunas canciones que no me gustaron mucho u.u mis canciones favoritas son birthday suit, kinky, high road, raising hell, my own dance, the potato song y big bad wolf… Expand
  11. matthewmirliani
    Feb 3, 2020
    8
    High Road continues Kesha’s signature marriage of maximalist electro-pop with retro rock, surrealist rock, and heartland country-folk, while also expanding the boundaries of her sonic landscape: the fantastic Carly Rae Jepsen synth-pop of “Kinky”; the smooth 90’s throwback diss-track “Honey”; the sparkling dreampop of “BFF”; and the musical potpourri of the dizzying, Fergie-esque “BirthdayHigh Road continues Kesha’s signature marriage of maximalist electro-pop with retro rock, surrealist rock, and heartland country-folk, while also expanding the boundaries of her sonic landscape: the fantastic Carly Rae Jepsen synth-pop of “Kinky”; the smooth 90’s throwback diss-track “Honey”; the sparkling dreampop of “BFF”; and the musical potpourri of the dizzying, Fergie-esque “Birthday Suit.” The beginning of High Road can’t help but feel like a watered down version of its predecessors Warrior and Rainbow, but what the rest of the album proves (in its confidence and diversity of themes and musical choices) is that the sound and image Kesha has built is undeniably authentic, one that only she can pull off effortlessly. She’s entertaining, she’s raw, she’s honest, she’s funny, she’s insanely creative and talented, and she’s capable of making truly beautiful music (the magnificent “Shadow” and “Resentment” are shining examples of the power of her songwriting, vocals, and message of self-empowerment and self-reliance). Kesha is a pop star whose last two albums will certainly stand the test of time; she sounds like an artist who has finally found the voice she was looking for all this time.… Expand
  12. Menios
    Jan 31, 2020
    8
    Kesha is so good at writing songs about partying hard and having a great time while at the same time writing deep songs about life, existence, and identity. High Road is an excellent example of this, making this album one of her best, probably after Rainbow.
  13. JaggedLittlePil
    Aug 28, 2020
    8
    Kesha really rocked it again. Her albums always have that "f**k you, I'm living the moment and no one can stop me" vibe but everytime she manages to put this theme in a different way. And well, I like it. She found her style and she always makes it different but great and High Road is just this, living life well but first she wanted to raise hell.
  14. KenMarvin
    Feb 14, 2020
    8
    Another solid record from Kesha who stays true to new sound but still borrows elements from her past persona.
  15. giliardynery
    Feb 1, 2020
    8
    High Road trouxe de volta a velha diversão de Kesha, mas desta vez com um pouco mais de autenticidade. O álbum ainda mantém a nova identidade da cantora com as faixas Shadow, Resentment e Cowboy Blues, que são definitivamente as melhores músicas do álbum. Em suma, é um trabalho divertido e de boa qualidade.
  16. JeD_Anatomy35
    Feb 15, 2020
    8
    It just feels so fun and refreshing throughout. I love the nod to the Kesha with the dollar sign.
  17. Stephenisahoe
    Feb 2, 2020
    8
    Birthday Suit, Kinky sounded little off to me, not my favorite on the album. And Tonight and High Road are really good songs I wish those talking parts were different. And my faves are Raising hell, Shadow, Cowboy Blues, Resentment, Little Bit of Love, basically rest of the album. Over all really nice album
  18. Wael
    Feb 1, 2020
    7
    After coming back so strong with one of the best albums of 2017, "Rainbow", which dealt with themes of rebirth, letting go, and redemption, Kesha is back again, but this time, it's just to have a good time. With "High Road", she's obviously not trying to be avant-garde in any way, she's just throwing it all the way back to 2010 pop instead.

    On some tracks, it doesn't really work    After coming back so strong with one of the best albums of 2017, "Rainbow", which dealt with themes of rebirth, letting go, and redemption, Kesha is back again, but this time, it's just to have a good time. With "High Road", she's obviously not trying to be avant-garde in any way, she's just throwing it all the way back to 2010 pop instead.

    On some tracks, it doesn't really work ('Birthday Suit', a song that would've fit so perfectly on her debut record, "Animal", could've- no, should've- been cut from the final tracklisting). However, it works perfectly on other songs. 'Tonight' finds her belting her best vocals on the chorus, and then spitting her trashiest bars on the verses; the title-track, the cathartic 'High Road', is the same; 'Kinky' (which features none other than... Ke$ha) is so fun and catchy. She even drags a backstabbing best friend on the weird highlight 'Honey', and tells us about all the stuff she would do if she could do whatever she wants on 'Potato Song'.

    However, it is on her slower, country-esque, confessional songs that Kesha shines best. 'Shadow', 'Cowboy Blues', and 'Resentment' all fall into that category, and help her showcase her vocals in beautiful light. The latter finds her exploring the theme of, well... resentment, and how it's okay to let yourself feel the hate towards someone who treats you nothing but badly.

    Even though it may feel messy, and a little all over the place here and there, "High Road" sees Kesha back to her roots, where she belongs, whether be it on the dancefloor or her bedroom floor with a guitar. It is definitely not her most mature work to date, but it's a fun experience to go through. "Life is not all that serious", she says at a certain point, and we all could use that little piece of advice.    … Expand
  19. caraqualquer
    Jan 31, 2020
    7
    Amazing musics like: BFF and Father Daughter Dance, but others are bored to listen. 7.
  20. gabrielcipriano
    Feb 5, 2020
    7
    Kesha delivered a totally personal, dancing album where the ambience of these two aspects does not match most pop celebrities of her time. However she brought a perfect cohesion to everything she went through, and show that she is on top.
  21. Lajaleaa
    Mar 22, 2020
    7
    ( 73/100 )

    Kesha logró entrar fácilmente a la industria de la música gracias a la creatividad de sus producciones, lo pegajoso de sus letras y la facilidad con la que contagiaba un humor amigable. Aunque en "High Road" se queda en su zona segura y presenta un Pop muy poco innovador y trascendental, se siente muy cómoda y feliz haciendo su música aunque su popularidad será inmediata. Son    ( 73/100 )

    Kesha logró entrar fácilmente a la industria de la música gracias a la creatividad de sus producciones, lo pegajoso de sus letras y la facilidad con la que contagiaba un humor amigable. Aunque en "High Road" se queda en su zona segura y presenta un Pop muy poco innovador y trascendental, se siente muy cómoda y feliz haciendo su música aunque su popularidad será inmediata. Son John Hill, Drew Pearson y Stuart Crichton los productores quienes aportarán el materias más pegajoso, bailable y decente. Por más Pop reciclado y nada original hay mucha juventud que se podrá disfrutar fácilmente en el álbum.
    -
    Kesha achieved to get easily to the music industry thanks to the creativity of her producers, the stickiness of her lyrics and how easy she would spread her friendly humor to people. Even if in "High Road" stays in a secure place and presents a not very innovative and transcendental Pop, she feels very comfortable and happy singing doesn't matter its quick popularity. It's John Hill, Drew Pearson, and Stuart Crichton the producers who will bring the more danceable, sticky and decent music. Even if this Pop is recycled and not original at all, there is a lot of youth that can be enjoyed easily.    … Expand
  22. Nonoo
    Oct 30, 2020
    7
    Even if I still prefer 'Rainbow', 'High Road' was a really good ride! Kesha is stronger than ever and it seems like she took so much fun by doing this album, that's all that matters!
  23. XYA
    Feb 1, 2020
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. In her fourth studio album, Kesha tries to harness folk music with her old-school electroclash brand, occasionally succeeding.

    After having taken close attention to High Road's proposals the conclusion might see Kesha as a skilled masker: she is still looking for her own sound, but she is able to disguise her quest with an aura of flippant and perky sense of freedom that succeeds in being infectious towards whoever is listening. After all, this sense of unfocused gypsy/hippy approach might represent better than everything else, her actual matured mark. Neverthless, there is no discussion that some of the tracks on this album terribly suffer of a lack of compositional inspiration. Rainbow stays unbothered.

    Highlights: Resentment, Father Daughter Dance

    Partial scores:
    ASS (average songs score) = 6.8/10
    Overall composition = 5.6/10
    Overall production = 6.9/10
    Overall songwriting = 7.4/10
    Creativity = 7.3/10
    Cohesivity = 5.7/10

    The final score is obtained using the following formula:
    (ASS x 2 + composition x 2 + production x 2 + songwriting x 2 + creativity x 1 + cohesivity x 1)/100 =

    66.4/100

    High Road's final score falls within the category satisfactory albums.
    … Expand
  24. NickPatterSonx
    Feb 1, 2020
    7
    Songs about love myself amazing.................................. her come back
  25. smolheartbigpp
    Jul 25, 2020
    7
    Lyrics are full of humor and charisma. Ideas on this album may not be new but are used and executed greatly to make this album stand out. Great hooks and catchy songwriting. Instrumentally detailed.
  26. Alexw8
    Sep 29, 2020
    7
    Eu dou nota 7,5 por que o álbum é bom. Mas não é como Warrior, Animal + Cannibal. Ele não é um álbum Alegre e está mais para country. De 16 músicas eu gostei de 6. Principalmente Kinky com a própria Ke$ha e essa faixa me deixou muito alegre. Espero que o próximo álbum da Kesha seja como Ke$ha
  27. vitortfv
    Dec 5, 2020
    6
    Tonight - 7/10
    My Own Dance - 6,5/10
    Raising Hell (feat. Big Freedia) - 6,7/10 High Road - 6,5/10 Shadow - 7/10 Honey - 6,6/10 Cowboy Blues - 6/10 Resentment (feat. Brian Wilson & Sturgill Simpson) - 6,8/10 Little Bit of Love - 6,7/10 Birthday Suit - 5,4/10 Kinky (feat. Ke$ha) - 5,7/10 Potato Song (Cuz I Want To) - 5/10 Bff (feat. Wrabel) - 5,7/10 Father Daughter Dance -    Tonight - 7/10
    My Own Dance - 6,5/10
    Raising Hell (feat. Big Freedia) - 6,7/10
    High Road - 6,5/10
    Shadow - 7/10
    Honey - 6,6/10
    Cowboy Blues - 6/10
    Resentment (feat. Brian Wilson & Sturgill Simpson) - 6,8/10
    Little Bit of Love - 6,7/10
    Birthday Suit - 5,4/10
    Kinky (feat. Ke$ha) - 5,7/10
    Potato Song (Cuz I Want To) - 5/10
    Bff (feat. Wrabel) - 5,7/10
    Father Daughter Dance - 6,5/10
    Chasing Thunder - 7/10
    Summer - 7/10    … Expand
  28. sscott0829tw
    Feb 4, 2020
    6
    While this album do have some awesome moments like "Raising Hell","Resentment" and "Father Daughter Dance", Songs like that awful potato song and some lackluster tracks like the title track and Honey held this album back. Though the mix of seveal types of Kesha style isn't bad, she has some vocal moments just went too far. But it's still a good album.
  29. Michaeldermerr
    Jan 31, 2020
    6
    This album is classical Kesha but the songwriting was a bit pitiful and had high moments in some parts. I would say it’s cool to see Kesha back but nothing too special sadly
  30. JeremySpears
    Feb 27, 2020
    6
    I have no idea what Kesha's vision was for this album. I really have no idea. All I know is that it was a huge disappointment. Her first three albums were (trashy) dance pop gems and her fourth album "Rainbow" was completely different, slowed down and very deep and personal. Now she released this. A huge downgrade. This album has no real direction. There’s a little bit of everything andI have no idea what Kesha's vision was for this album. I really have no idea. All I know is that it was a huge disappointment. Her first three albums were (trashy) dance pop gems and her fourth album "Rainbow" was completely different, slowed down and very deep and personal. Now she released this. A huge downgrade. This album has no real direction. There’s a little bit of everything and the result is extremely messy. Of course this album does have it's good moments. "Kinky", "My Own Dance" and "Raising Hell" are fun dance pop songs that take you back to the days of her first three projects. Then there are the slow acoustic songs "Resentment" and "Cowboy Blues" which I really like. "Father Daughter Dance" is a VERY beautiful, emotional ballad. "Honey" is a cool mid-tempo track that has an R&B vibe to it. I still don’t know what I think about "The Potato Song (Cuz I Want To)". It’s one of the messy and weird songs but it’s actually pretty fun. Then there are songs like "Tonight", "High Road" and "Bff" which are just kind of boring as they go nowhere really. "Birthday Suit" is a terrible song that honestly sounds like one big joke. One of the worst songs of her career. The last two songs "Chasing Thunder" and "Summer" are good but nothing special. All in all "High Road" turned out to be just an okay album and like I said I have no idea what her vision was for this project. It's very very messy and her worst work to date. Still not a horrible album though. Favorite: Father Daughter Dance, My Own Dance, Resentment & Kinky… Expand
  31. MusicGuyMack
    Feb 16, 2020
    6
    Appropriately energetic and bombastic musically yet frustratingly banal lyrically more often than not, the record isn't without satisfying moments but falls flat in attempting to fuse the female empowerment themes of "Rainbow" with Kesha's late-2000s party girl persona.
  32. EdsonReview
    Jan 31, 2020
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. O álbum é mediano, pois tem uma certa desorganização sonora que incomoda ao ouvir... Acho que ela devia ter seguido a sonoridade da faixa 'Honey' que é impecável, a minha favorita. Mais perfeccionismo da próxima vez, Kesha!… Expand
  33. Blueshamrock
    Feb 4, 2020
    6
    All songs sound the same
  34. Agnes22
    Feb 2, 2020
    4
    while i’m happy for her successful comeback, this album did not manage to make me feel anything. yes i bopped along to some of the songs, but that was about it. it’s forgettable
  35. JordanLayton
    Apr 27, 2020
    4
    I can't tell if Kesha has regressed or if most of this is satire of the weekend-party-best-of-our-lives trash pop sub-genre. Between that and the flavors of country sprinkled throughout, the direction Kesha was aiming for in this project is completely unclear to me. Factoring in the 52 minute runtime on top of that, this seems like a bit of a streaming dollars cash grab.... I loved RainbowI can't tell if Kesha has regressed or if most of this is satire of the weekend-party-best-of-our-lives trash pop sub-genre. Between that and the flavors of country sprinkled throughout, the direction Kesha was aiming for in this project is completely unclear to me. Factoring in the 52 minute runtime on top of that, this seems like a bit of a streaming dollars cash grab.... I loved Rainbow and I enjoy moments on here, but mostly High Road is just underwhelming and confusing.… Expand
  36. connordalzin
    Dec 1, 2020
    4
    I'm a Kesha fan and this just doesn't do it for me. The mix between genuine songs and party anthems don't blend. She's trying too hard. Kinky is a bop, but that pretty much it.
  37. Lifeisbellablog
    Apr 19, 2020
    3
    I really didn't like this album. It was a real struggle for me to push through listening to it. There are two types of songs on this album: 1) upbeat, lighthearted, Tik-tok era Kesha and 2) slower, raw, "deep" Kesha. These Tik-tok era songs (as I call them) suffer from heavy autotune, shallow lyrics and clashing music. These songs sound very outdated, like they could be pulled right out ofI really didn't like this album. It was a real struggle for me to push through listening to it. There are two types of songs on this album: 1) upbeat, lighthearted, Tik-tok era Kesha and 2) slower, raw, "deep" Kesha. These Tik-tok era songs (as I call them) suffer from heavy autotune, shallow lyrics and clashing music. These songs sound very outdated, like they could be pulled right out of the year 2010, and feels very disappointing for Kesha to still be singing about these topics showing no growth (artistically or personally) over the past ten years. These songs feel like a major step back from the mature Kesha that I had heard so much about lately. The mature Kesha songs are at least an attempt at more serious songs but they feel like an amateur attempt at lyrical depth. The vocals aren't strong in these songs either. The music and vocals are the most important part for me in listening to songs/albums. I can overlook cheesy or shallow lyrics if there's a catchy tune under it all, but this album was just all around not it for me.

    Not only is there nothing special about this album, there's also no redeeming factors in any lyrical, vocal or musical aspects, in my opinion.    … Expand
  38. Dsros96
    Oct 8, 2020
    2
    I was really hyped for Kesha's comeback after the amazing Rainbow but this album is really bad. Nothing stands out, there are like 3 songs worth a listen and the rest aren't worth a relisten.
  39. levaver
    Jan 31, 2020
    1
    This album doesn’t show her musical growth and songs are really over dated. Maybe it’s good gift for fans but it’s not music that I would listen to. Sorry, animals.
  40. Skydog
    Aug 15, 2021
    0
    You know a follow up album is bad when you forgot it even released. Kesha fell apart with this album. Absolute garbage . I think my niece and nephew could record better quality music at 5.
  41. musicmaniac
    May 13, 2020
    0
    After a great album with "Rainbow" you'd think she'd stick with the rock/country vibes... but this album was just back to her garbage of the past that no one truly liked. It's a terrible album and anyone who says otherwise.. please branch out of the pop elements. It takes zero talent to write and produce a pop album.
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Awards & Rankings

25
#25 Most Discussed Album of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 19
  3. Negative: 1 out of 19
  1. The A.V. Club
    Feb 5, 2020
    83
    High Road works because of Kesha’s self-assurance and self-possession.
    Read full review
  2. The Line of Best Fit
    Feb 4, 2020
    90
    A celebration of lightness, of fun, and of growing, learning, healing, High Road confidently and comfortably reconciles the different sides of Kesha which previously felt separate.
    Read full review
  3. The Observer (UK)
    Feb 3, 2020
    80
    The genre-hopping leads to the odd stumble here and there, but overall the never boring, often excellent High Road finds Kesha returning to the party on her own terms.
    Read full review
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