The Higher - It's Only Natural
Record Label: Epitaph Records
Release Date: June 23, 2009
I could probably attempt to open this review with an It's Only Natural pun, but I'm gonna stay on the safe side and stray from that path.
Now, for a little about the band's history. In October of 2003, this Las Vegas quartet released their first EP, titled Star Is Dead. A little over a year and a half later, on May 3, 2005, they released their first full-length, Histrionics, which was an amazing album. Eventually they signed on to Epitaph records and released their sophomore album, On Fire. Many fans of the usual Epitaph lineup (heavy punk rock) were very surprised that such a band could get signed onto this record label. To shock people even more, The Higher released It's Only Natural on June 23, 2009.
This brings me to the official start of my review. The album kicks off with "Try Again," which explodes with guitars, synths, and Seth Trotter's vanilla-soaked, soaring voice. The only real problem I have with this song is that it really sounds like something else I've heard before, but I just can't put my finger on it. Despite this, it's still a fairly solid opening track. The band goes on to talk about exploring "Other Options" which has kind of an 'N Sync vibe to it, complete with an obvious use of the drum machine along with the excessive use of the word "please" shortly followed by the word "baby." Keeping up with this vibe, the band talks about their love for their hometown with "Undertaker." This song definitely has "guilty pleasure" written all over it. I probably shouldn't like the fact that their boy band sound really sticks out in this song.
Keeping up with the "guilty pleasure" routine, the album then commences to the title track, and first single, "It's Only Natural." As the music video confirms, this song has High School Musical written all over it. Despite this miniscule flaw, this song is just so damn good and catchy that if anyone told me they hate this song, I would immediately think they're lying. Once again, it's a guilty pleasure. Following this, the album then shifts over to more of a rock sound, telling the "Story of a Man Obsessed." With some pretty flashy guitar work, fast pace, and not-so-prominent influence of electronic sounds, this song definitely stands out compared to the rest of the album. To put it simply, this song just rocks.
Shortly after this "rocking out," the album then shifts to a softer tone with "The (Runaway) Artist," a tune that Seth Trotter wrote as a young lad (at age 15) then adapted into a band tune. Although it can't compare to "Can Anyone Really Love Young" found in 2007's On Fire, it's still a pretty decent attempt at creating a slow song. The use of a female vocalist is a good touch, yet reminds me of All Time Low's "Remembering Sunday" just a bit too much. Directly after this attempt at a heart-wrenching slow jam, the second half of the album kicks off with "Play With Fire." This is truly the definition of a grower. Upon first listen, I couldn't stand it. By the third or fourth listen, I thought it was okay, and on seventh or eighth listen, I loved it. If I were to critique this album a while ago, I probably would've written about a page and a half about how much I couldn't stand this song. Now, I realize how unique and amazing it really is. The best part? It sounds like nothing else I've heard before. (Gasp! That's something rare in this genre!)
"Burn And Turn" is a fun song, yet it doesn't offer anything terribly original or impressive. I just get the sensation that this song is definitely a filler. Thankfully, the following track, "The Black Dress," more than makes up for the use of a filler song. This jazzy, rather slow song begins with a catchy synth riff, then explodes into an even catchier chorus. This is probably one of the best songs The Higher will ever write. Pop doesn't get much better than this. Following the dark funeral theme, the album then proceeds to talk about "Beautiful Coffins" and lighting them on fire so that "when you leave this place, you leave it up in flames." This song really shows why this band is sometimes referred to as "emo." Don't get me wrong, it's a really good song, but I just don't think a band like this should attempt to make a mark in the "emo" genre (if that even exists). At least Seth Trotter's vocals really stand out.
The album then goes on to follow the tradition of their previous album with a two-part track, "Scandalous." The first part of this song really shows their rock roots and seems like a nod to Panic! At the Disco (notice the use of the "!"). The second part, officially titled "The Long Con," also follows the tradition of On Fire with a purely acoustic song. Nothing in this entire two-parter really stands out or highlights any of The Higher's pop sensibilities. Closing the album is a cover of Ne-Yo's R&B song "Closer" with more of a pop/rock spin. To make this short and sweet, it sounds like what 2008's Punk Goes Crunk should've been.
All in all, this album definitely has "guilty pleasure" written all over it. Although it hardly resembles anything on Histrionics, it seems like The Higher have finally found the style they all enjoy playing. As mentioned many times, It's Only Natural has this whole 'N Sync or High School Musical vibe to it, but the good thing about The Higher is that they do it well. Playing their own instruments is always a plus.
Well just look at the other review of "It's Only Natural" on here. Along with that, the member ratings also show that I guess people just really don't like this album very much. Sad...
on fire was pop goodness. this is just pop boringness.
I love both albums, but I wouldn't really classify On Fire as pop. Sounds more like Alternative Rock with the exception of "Insurance?" and "DARE." Those two tracks definitely sound like pop.
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