The High Road (Broken Bells song)

"The High Road" is a song by American alternative rock duo Broken Bells from their self-titled debut album (2010). Written by James Mercer and Danger Mouse, and produced by the latter, the song was released as the album's lead single on December 22, 2009.[1] On March 9, 2010, the song was the iTunes Single of the Week, where it was offered for free for one week.[1]

"The High Road"
Single by Broken Bells
from the album Broken Bells
ReleasedDecember 22, 2009 (2009-12-22)
RecordedMondo Studio (Los Angeles)
GenreIndietronica
Length3:52
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Danger Mouse
Broken Bells singles chronology
"The High Road"
(2009)		 "The Ghost Inside"
(2010)

Critical reception

"The High Road" was well received by music critics, who praised the lyrics and song's production. Heather Phares of AllMusic stated the song "melds slick electronic percussion and a searching, minor-key melody into something that echoes the duo's previous work without rehashing it."[2] Shingai of idobi Radio wrote that "'The High Road' serves as a great introduction [for the album], with soothing multi-layered vocals and beautiful lyrics weaving in and out of hypnotizing drum beats, synths and various other instruments."[3] PopMatters' Anthony Lombardi observed, "When Mercer and Burton are on point [...] it works, and works well: opener and lead single, 'The High Road', proves the perfect vantage point, its minor-key melody, noodly synths and clapping percussion providing an ample bed for the soaring, swelling chorus."[4]

Commercial performance

"The High Road" peaked at number ten on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, becoming the duo's highest-peaking single to date on the chart.[5] The single also made an appearance on Billboard's Hot Rock Songs where it peaked at number fifteen.[6] It reached number sixty on the Japan Hot 100 and number seventy-five on the Canadian Hot 100 in Canada,[7][8] where it was certified gold by Music Canada.[9]

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (2010) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[8] 75
Canada Rock (Billboard)[10] 22
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[7] 60
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[5] 10
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[6] 15
US Hot Singles Sales (Billboard)[11] 12

Year-end charts
Chart (2010) Position
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[12] 29
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[13] 47

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[9] Gold 40,000*

*sales figures based on certification alone

Joss Stone version
"The High Road"
Song by Joss Stone
from the album The Soul Sessions Vol. 2
ReleasedJuly 16, 2012 (2012-07-16)
GenreSoul
Length4:40
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • James Mercer
  • Brian Burton
Producer(s)

In 2012, English singer and songwriter Joss Stone covered the song for her sixth album, The Soul Sessions Vol. 2. A lyric video premiered on July 3, 2012,[14] while the official music video, directed by Brian Savelson, debuted on September 13.[15]

Development and production

Stone told Rolling Stone that while they were considering tracks for the album, Steve Greenberg played "The High Road" for her. "I thought it sounded good. I'd never heard the song before this and thought I'd give it a try, with a bit of a twist!"[14] In an interview with Billboard magazine, she said, "I think 'High Road' is quite a different one for me. It's still soul but it's got a darker tone to it, certainly in the beginning of the song."[16]

Critical reception

Stone's version received positive reviews from music critics, who compared it to her 2003 cover of The White Stripes' song "Fell in Love with a Girl". Christina Lee of Idolator opined that Stone "delivers a robust, impassioned take on the first-ever Broken Bells single".[17] Hal Horowitz of American Songwriter stated, "Like her revelatory reading of the White Stripes' 'Fell in Love with a Girl' from the first set, Stone brings her throaty R&B to the Broken Bells' 'The High Road' in one of this album's finest performances."[18]

The Observer's Hermione Hoby described the song as a "bombastic cover".[19] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic praised the choice and the song's production, writing that Stone "refashioned [the Broken Bells' song] to sound old, thereby occupying the same space as Joss' White Stripes 'Fell in Love with a Boy' cover did on the first Soul Sessions. This is the song to prove that Stone isn't living in the past but rather she's seeing the future through a retro prism that turns everything into something that feels classic."[20]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Soul Sessions Vol. 2.[21]

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References
  1. ""The High Road" by Broken Bells on MusicBrainz". MusicBrainz. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  2. Phares, Heather. "Broken Bells – Broken Bells". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  3. Shingai (March 10, 2010). "Album review: James Mercer, Danger Mouse are Broken Bells". idobi Radio. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  4. Lombardi, Anthony (March 23, 2010). "Broken Bells: Broken Bells". PopMatters. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  5. "Broken Bells – Chart history: Alternative Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on July 9, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  6. "Broken Bells Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  7. "Broken Bells Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  8. "Broken Bells – Chart history: Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  9. "Canadian single certifications – Broken Bells – High Road". Music Canada. November 8, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  10. "Broken Bells Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  11. "Broken Bells Chart History: Hot Singles Sales". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  12. "Alternative Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  13. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  14. Fuentes, Catherine (July 3, 2012). "Premiere: Joss Stone Covers Broken Bells' 'The High Road'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  15. "Vevo Premieres Joss Stone's New Music Video For "The High Road" (Broken Bells) From New LP 'The Soul Sessions Volume 2'" (Press release). Shore Fire Media. September 13, 2012. Archived from the original on February 5, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  16. Greenwald, David (July 3, 2012). "Joss Stone Covers Broken Bells' 'High Road': Listen". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  17. Lee, Christina (July 31, 2012). "Joss Stone's 'The Soul Sessions, Vol. 2': Album Review". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  18. Horowitz, Hal (July 23, 2012). "Joss Stone: The Soul Sessions Vol.2". American Songwriter. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  19. Hoby, Hermione (July 22, 2012). "Joss Stone: Soul Sessions Vol 2 – review". The Observer. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  20. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Soul Sessions, Vol. 2 – Joss Stone". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  21. The Soul Sessions Vol. 2 (CD liner notes). Joss Stone. S-Curve Records. 2012. 5053105347926.CS1 maint: others (link)
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