Kane brown returns with his fourth studio album, "The High Road". A modern country album following Kane Brown as he continues on his journey through life, raising his children, and celebrating his relationship with his wife. The album is filled with upbeat, country dance tracks, while also having heartwarming moments. A perfect example of this is "Backseat Driver", one of my favourites on the album, a song about him taking a drive with his children and all the innocent questions they ask as they head down the road, which aids the overall album feel and shows Kane for the family man that he is. Another honourable mention is the closing track When You Forget a stunningly beautiful song to Kane's father, thanking him for all he has done for him and his family, definitely a tear-jerker for some.
Contrast this to "Miles on It", a collaboration with Marshmellow, which was released well over seven months before The High Road. This classic dance bop was a welcome surprise on the album. Nothing too special about the song, but certainly catchy.
Enjoyment of each song:
The High Road
I am – 9
Fiddle in the band – 10
Backseat Driver – 10
Miles on it – 10
Say I can – 8
3 – 9
Rescue – 9
Haunted – 8
Start a Fire – 8
Body Talk – 10
Gorgeous – 9
Beside Me – 8
I can feel it – 8
Things We Quit – 7
Back Around – 7
Stay – 8
Do Us Apart – 8
When You Forget – 10
Tracks nine to eleven are a great trilogy aimed towards Kane and his wife Katelyn, who also features on track ten. After these tracks, I am left thinking that these two are certainly made for one another. Karelyn's voice adds a different layer and contrast to Kane's deep country feel, just like in Thank God from Kane's 2022 album Different Man, where we were treated to another classic from this rising power couple. Some may classify Track Ten Body Talk as corny, but I see nothing wrong with the song.
I do feel the album doesn't need 18 songs to achieve what it is trying to do, but no real complaints about that, as the songs that may not be "Necessary" are still enjoyable. However, I certainly preferred the first half of the album to the final. Is this a groundbreaking album? No, but is it a memorable one? Yes, it will undoubtedly be on repeat for a long time to come.
Final comments
If you have been looking for a way to get into the country genre, then this is undoubtedly a good starting point, with its country feel, modern hooks, and beneficial collaborations. Kane Brown solidifies his position near the top of the country genre with an excellent album in The High Road.
8.3