Album Review: “Higher” by Chris Stapleton
When pressed, even the staunchest of country music lovers will probably admit that, yes, pop-country radio occasionally suffers from too much twang and really vapid lyrics. Yet writ-large, country is so expansive, so far-reaching and varied, that this stereotype does it an incredible disservice.
Even the Grammys, which tends to pigeonhole, includes in its 2024 “Country and American Roots” grouping the categories of American Roots, Americana, Bluegrass, Contemporary Blues, Traditional Blues, Folk, and Regional Roots. Add a few others, like Southern rock and soul, and you’ve got a swath of American musical history that’s a tragedy to dismiss.
And nobody represents that variety like Chris Stapleton.
The acclaimed singer-songwriter’s fifth solo album, “Higher,” was released on Nov. 10. The 54-minute, 14-song collection doubles down on Stapleton’s already precisely honed approach: simple but elegant melodies, superlative guitars and grooves, and a voice to weep for. Longtime fans will recognize the script they know and love; newcomers will discover a musical shapeshifter.
Produced by Stapleton, collaborator Dave Cobb, and Stapleton’s wife Morgane Stapleton, “Higher” is a record about love and loyalty in its many stages and forms. Morgane, a singer and songwriter herself, gets her first producing credit on the album, and we love to see it.
“What Am I Gonna Do” opens the album with Chris and Morgane’s soaring locked-in harmonies, expanding into the open-hearted “Trust” and the soul-inspired devotion “It Takes A Woman.” Their voices together run like a storyline through the album, exploring heartache, trepidation, desire, insecurity, fear, courage, and devotion. Straightforward lyrics like “Whenever I'm broken / Honey, you heal me / When I'm in the dark / You are the light” take on greater meaning knowing the Stapletons are married 17 years and are raising four children.
Lead single “White Horse” comes mid-album, revealing guitar hero Stapleton at his Southern rock best. The track is Grammy-nominated for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song (the album, recorded at Nashville’s RCA Studio A, will surely find nominations when it is eligible next year). He’s also nominated this year for Best Country Duo/Group Performance on his collaboration with Carly Pearce, “We Don’t Fight Anymore.”
“The Fire,” a mysterious Hotel California-like tune, has such potential to crescendo into a Stapleton roar of guitars and vocals – the name of the song is, after all, “The Fire” – but disappointingly, it never does. A very small disappointment, however, on such a tight and rich album.
The record closes with several country-leaning numbers, including the outlaw country track “Crosswind” and the ballad “Weight Of Your World.” Closing track Mountains Of My Mind strips back to a folk melody and acoustic guitar, with a nod to mental health struggles.
A few guests bring a fresh flavor to the album: Mirand Lambert co-wrote “What Am I Gonna Do” and Josh Turner wrote the steamy “Loving You On My Mind.” But Stapleton himself points out it’s his first album with no cover songs, which he says stretched him farther than usual. But, he says that everyone can find something they like here, whether it’s “hardcore traditional country,” “the R&B side,” or “the rock side.” And he’s right.
“I think there’s something on it for everybody, which is kind of always my goal,” he says.
Standout Track: Trust
Memorable Lyric: Don't worry, I'll be fine / But I still can't climb the mountains of my mind
Listen For: Swanky guitar solos on Loving You On My Mind