The High Road, JoJo

While Taylor Swift has become known for re-recording her early albums to own her own work, JoJo did it first back in 2018 with her debut album and The High Road (I, of course, listened to the re-recorded version).

I remember checking out The High Road from my library after watching JoJo in Aquamarine and playing it on repeat in my first-ever walkman. This album has stood the test of time and has made it to me streaming it through Spotify and AirPods sixteen years after it released. So it's safe to say I'm a pretty big fan of this album.

The fact that JoJo first put out The High Road at 15 years old is jaw-dropping, not only because of her mature vocals but the quality of the album as a whole. It goes well beyond anything any Disney teen has ever released. It's R&B pop influences, sky high vocals, and range of musical sounds would be impressive for a well established artist, much less one barely of high school age.

Stand out tracks: "Too Little Too Late" "The High Road" "Note to God"

My favorites: "This Time" "Coming for You"

JoJo kicks off this album with two upbeat, hip-hoppy songs in "This Time" and "The Way You Do Me." JoJo really hits her stride with her biggest hit "Too Little Too Late" (which honestly continues to hit has hard as it did back in 2006) into title track "The High Road;" JoJo's vocals are killer across this album, but these two songs are her at her absolute best. The 2000s-R&B influences kick in in the middle of the album with "Anything," "Like That" and "Good Ol'"-- these are fun songs, but nothing all that special. I've been thoroughly obsessed with "Coming for You" since I was 8 years old and it remains gorgeously hopeful and pining at the same time. The album closes with pared-back, emotional "Note to God," which again puts JoJo's stunning vocal range on full display in a way that will give you chills (and again, she put this dynamic of a song out at fifteen? ).

JoJo's early music is undoubtedly an underrated gem of the early 2000s, and it gained new power with her re-releasing them in 2018. The High Road is an album of sassy, emotional R&B/pop brought to a whole new level with one of the most dynamic voices in the business.

AM I OBSESSED?

RATING:

FULLY OBSESSED

The 1975, The 1975

I vividly remember the waves that The 1975 made with their self titled 2013 album. In a time when social media was on the rise, this album and its songs were everywhere on platforms like Pinterest and Tumblr. The album aesthetic was cool and edgy, the music was easy to listen to, and as an album, The 1975 is near perfect.

I listened to this album back when it was first released a fair amount, but it's faded from my album library over time. Coming back to it reminded me of just how unique, grungy, catchy, and skipless The 1975 is.

Stand out tracks: "Chocolate" "Settle Down"

My favorites: "The City" "Pressure"

I could do a deep dive into every track on this album, but they're all so ridiculously good and cohesive and catchy that I would advise you to just give this album a listen yourself. "The City" catches your attention right away with it's commanding drums and boppy hook. "Chocolate," "Heart Out," and "Settle Down" are among the stars of tracks with get-stuck-in-your-head choruses, electronic influences, and irresistible guitars. Interludes like "An Encounter," "The 1975," and the beginning of "Menswear" divide this album almost into acts, which makes the listening experience all the more cinematic in a sense. The album closes with the pared down ballad "Is There Somebody Who Can Watch You," which mimics closing credits to this album and the story it tells across the whole piece of work.

No one was doing it quite like The 1975 in 2013, and I have yet to come across a band that has a sound quite like theirs. And with a 16-track debut album as good as The 1975, I'll be coming back for more from this band going forward.

AM I OBSESSED?

RATING:

FULLY OBSESSED

Kick, INXS

I really didn't know what I would be getting into with an 80s rock album, but Kick took me by surprise. I appreciate the heck out of a rock album that can be listened to as a sonically cohesive compilation. With this album, INXS has successfully taken the title of my second-favorite Australian rock band (you're still number one 5SOS).

The instrumentals on this album have more of a pop/electronic influence than many other rock albums, and the unique production somehow makes every song unexpected while working so easily together to unify the album. Combined with smoothly edgy vocals, the whole sound of this album is fresh, stylish, and smooth.

Stand-out tracks: "Need You Tonight" "Never Tear Us Apart"

My favorites: "New Sensation" "The Loved One"

"Mediate" is definitely a filler track, but it's needed to slow things down after the hard-hitting beginning of the album consisting of tracks like "Guns in the Sky" and "Need You Tonight." "The Loved One" is sort of an upbeat, rock ballad, which continues the effortlessly cool vibe exuded through every song on this album. I'm thoroughly obsessed with the unexpected, meaty production in the track "Never Tear Us Apart"-- the bass and saxophone alone on this song is absolutely exquisite. The album closer, "Tiny Daggers," is the most classic rock track, which is a perfect ending to an album that spins classic rock into something new.

For me, Kick is one of those rare, skipless albums. I know I've only dipped my toe in this album project, but I foresee Kick to land itself as one of my favorites.

AM I OBSESSED?

RATING:

FULLY OBSESSED