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JoJo - The High Road Album Cover
Author's Rating
Vocals 8.5
Musicianship 6
Lyrics 5.25
Production 5.5
Creativity 3.75
Lasting Value 4.5
Reviewer Tilt 5
Final Verdict: 55%
Member Ratings
Vocals 2.92
Musicianship 2.42
Lyrics 2.08
Production 2.75
Creativity 2.58
Lasting Value 2.58
Reviewer Tilt 2.42
Average: 25%

JoJo - The High Road

Reviewed by: Greg Dona (01/03/07)
JoJo went platinum as a young artist with 2004’s self-titled effort. The rocketing stock of the young teen shocked the pop world, and many attributed her rise to novelty alone. However, a quick listen displayed layers of talent and an impeccable voice to accompany surprisingly good beats from upstart producers. 2006’s The High Road, however, fails to deliver.

In 2006 Timbaland showed that a capable producer possesses the ability to make a slamming single out of nothing. Thus one assumes accomplished artists such as Scott Storch and Swizz Beatz teamed with the vocally armed JoJo would yield undeniably infectious tunes or, at the very least, guilty pleasures aplenty. Unfortunately logic doesn’t always pan out in the music industry.

Opening track “This Time” presents a somewhat interesting beat at its very outset but early bland vocals and inappropriate cries of “whoop” dull the song instantly. JoJo sings well but uninterestingly; although impressive in its own right, her voice never commands the listener’s attention. That promising beat never develops into anything of value. Sadly, this proves not a fluke, but rather an indication of things to come throughout the rest of the shockingly trite record. “The Way You Do Me” flaunts abrasive blasts of unappealing noise that do little other than assist in keeping time. They fail even to instigate a simple head bob. It also features JoJo awkwardly crying lines such as “boy the way you do me, why you gotta be so good when you give it to me?” Only fifteen years old, Joanna (hopefully) doesn’t truly understand the words she’s assigned and therefore utilizes them ineffectively.

This album fails even to register as a one hit wonder. Its lead single, “Too Little Too Late” never engages the listener, pushes a marginally enjoyable background, and slides JoJo out of her comfort zone into unsure trembling territory.

Although Joanna boasts a gorgeous R&B and pop voice, she strains to match it with styles for too mature an audience. Songs like “Exceptional,” which ironically proves to be anything but, show JoJo striving to win over tame adult audiences. The adult-contemporary genre in general rarely produces anything of interest, and she brings nothing new to the table. JoJo utilizes the same used and abused backing and lyrics one hears every time one tunes into an adult-contemporary channel.

The most interesting point of the album comes on “Anything,” and it turns up not thanks to JoJo’s creativity but rather her producer’s decision to sample Toto’s “Africa.” Still, they fail to spice up their beat with it and the track, like many others on this album, falls flat on its face.

Pop produced many gems in 2006. Artists explored and engaged. JoJo’s The High Road was not one of the aforementioned gems because it did neither.
 
Displaying posts 1 - 15 of 36.
05:03 PM on 01/03/07
#2
Greg Dona
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Since she's only 15 I give her 0 hot points.
05:06 PM on 01/03/07
#3
DeuceZukes13
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what's the rating for the artwork?
05:09 PM on 01/03/07
#4
timbokiller
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Yeah JoJo=jailbait :/
05:16 PM on 01/03/07
#5
RandomHero1230
's bf is not his gf.
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I'd beat.
05:16 PM on 01/03/07
#6
sweetfootaction
Tatu > Tegan & Sara
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Kidz Bop next?
05:46 PM on 01/03/07
#7
Everiggs
<--------Hot
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She sucked in RV, too.
05:50 PM on 01/03/07
#8
xTJx
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i'd hit that.
06:02 PM on 01/03/07
#9
elvis2x
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I actually like the song Too Little Too Tate.
06:17 PM on 01/03/07
In Dolorosa
sex in c minor
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Come on, we all know Too Little Too Late is a phenomenal song!
06:29 PM on 01/03/07
DaveHallow
is APPLEcore
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Originally Posted by Greg DonaView This Post
Since she's only 15 I give her 0 hot points.

I'd still do her.
07:11 PM on 01/03/07
themostdeplete
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cmon dude, i'm all about having an open mind about reviews...but why would you review something that obviously sucks...AFTER the fact that 99% of this site does not give a fuck about jojo. it serves no purpose.
07:42 PM on 01/03/07
romantic rights
I've pretty much retired already.
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Originally Posted by themostdepleteView This Post
cmon dude, i'm all about having an open mind about reviews...but why would you review something that obviously sucks...AFTER the fact that 99% of this site does not give a fuck about jojo. it serves no purpose.

cause thats what he does.
07:56 PM on 01/03/07
EyesOfMadness
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I've been waiting for this review for AGES!
08:02 PM on 01/03/07
Greg Dona
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Originally Posted by themostdepleteView This Post
cmon dude, i'm all about having an open mind about reviews...but why would you review something that obviously sucks...AFTER the fact that 99% of this site does not give a fuck about jojo. it serves no purpose.
I review a lot of stuff that most people think is going to suck. Nobody seemed to mind me writing about the K-Fed album, and I'm pretty sure not a soul expected it to be anywhere near respectable. And who are you to say that entertaining the 1% that does care isn't a legitimate purpose to serve?

Know what really doesn't serve too much of a purpose? Complaining about my reviews. People ripped on me for my first ever review here (Chamillionaire), yet I still write about CDs like it. I'm not really gonna change what albums I review just because a few people complain if there's a chance that others enjoy seeing something covered that normally wouldn't be here. If you don't like it, then don't read it. It's extremely simple.
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