It's Only Natural For The Higher

The Higher are an interesting band. Thinly disguised as some sort of pop punk band, this group of four have their hearts deeply rooted in pop and hip hop production and their songs as a result reflect this heavy influence upon them. The band's album, It's Only Natural is a heady concoction of all these things scientifically pieced together so that they sound like the best of every musical world imaginable.

When you break it down, their bio says it all; if Justin Timberlake was a band he would be The Higher. That's a fantastically accurate statement as The Higher at times totally come off as a boy band with guitars. As if to prove it's point, It's Only Natural is slicker than an oil spill, has hooks that reel you in from every side, and is so radio ready it wouldn't surprise me to learn that the band are secretly a pack of Music Directors armed with some tunes. It's Only Naturalis loaded with R&B grooves, angsty lyrics, crunchy guitars, dance floor fillers, and just about everything else. It's not far from the truth to say that It's Only Natural is truly a record that's designed to please everyone by providing you with a bit of everything in the musical spectrum.

"It's Only Natural," is a perfect example of all this as the tune has a synth run that would make Jamiroquai blush, a chorus that Mr. Timberlake would die for, and production that glistens like gold. It's an exceptional example of just what this band is capable of doing and when they do it twelve times over it's simply stunning. It might be a bit over the top at the times and almost too pop for it's own good, but The Higher don't even try to hide the fact that this record is supposed to be a blast of pure pop perfection. It does exactly what it sets out to do and does it well. Don't believe me? Check out the super stylin' cover of Ne-Yo's, "Closer."

The Higher have taken their music even higher. Unashamedly in love with pop music this is a band unafraid to mix It's Only Natural all up into something that's slightly theatrical, slightly bigger than life, and altogether ridiculously catchy. They might not be Justin Timberlake, but if he's ever in a dark alley by himself and these guys show up, he should be worried...really worried. Pure pop hasn't sounded this good in a while.