The High Road (Broken Bells song)
{{short description|2009 single}}
{{Infobox song
| name = The High Road
| cover = Broken Bells The High Road.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Broken Bells
| album = Broken Bells
| released = {{Start date|2009|12|22}}
| recorded = Mondo Studio (Los Angeles)
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Indietronica
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=52}}
| label = Columbia
| writer = {{hlist|James Mercer|Brian Burton}}
| producer = Danger Mouse
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = The Ghost Inside
| next_year = 2010
}}
"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.{{cite web |url=http://musicbrainz.org/release-group/c122e738-d3bb-4bb1-9196-601fde7cee43 |title="The High Road" by Broken Bells on MusicBrainz |publisher=MusicBrainz |accessdate=November 24, 2013}} On March 9, 2010, the song was the iTunes Single of the Week, where it was offered for free for one week. The music video for the song was directed by Sophie Muller.
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."{{cite web |last=Phares |first=Heather |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/broken-bells-mw0001959449 |title=Broken Bells – Broken Bells |publisher=AllMusic. All Media Network |accessdate=February 6, 2015}} 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."{{cite web |author=Shingai |url=http://idobi.com/news/2010/03/broken-bells-album-review/ |title=Album review: James Mercer, Danger Mouse are Broken Bells |publisher=idobi Radio |date=March 10, 2010 |accessdate=February 6, 2015}} 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."{{cite web |last=Lombardi |first=Anthony |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/122863-broken-bells-broken-bells/ |title=Broken Bells: Broken Bells |publisher=PopMatters |date=March 23, 2010 |accessdate=February 6, 2015}}
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. The single also made an appearance on Billboard{{'}}s Hot Rock Songs where it peaked at number fifteen. It reached number sixty on the Japan Hot 100 and number seventy-five on the Canadian Hot 100 in Canada, where it was certified gold by Music Canada.
Charts
=Weekly charts=
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2010)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Alternative Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/alternative-songs|title=Alternative Songs – Year-End 2010|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=September 6, 2018}}
| 29 |
| scope="row"| US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/hot-rock-songs|title=Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2010|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=September 6, 2018}}
| 47 |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Broken Bells|title=High Road|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2009|digital=true|certyear=2013|date=November 8, 2013|accessdate=February 6, 2015|refname="MC"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Broken Bells|title=High Road|relyear=2009|certyear=2021|accessdate=October 10, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}
Joss Stone version
{{Infobox song
| name = The High Road
| cover =
| alt =
| type =
| artist = Joss Stone
| album = The Soul Sessions Vol. 2
| released = {{Start date|2012|7|16}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Soul
| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=40}}
| label = {{hlist|S-Curve|Stone'd}}
| writer = {{hlist|James Mercer|Brian Burton}}
| producer = {{hlist|Steve Greenwell|Joss Stone|Steve Greenberg}}
}}
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,{{cite magazine |last=Fuentes |first=Catherine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/premiere-joss-stone-covers-broken-bells-the-high-road-20120703 |title=Premiere: Joss Stone Covers Broken Bells' 'The High Road' |magazine=Rolling Stone |publisher=Wenner Media |date=July 3, 2012 |accessdate=February 6, 2015}} while the official music video, directed by Brian Savelson, debuted on September 13.{{cite press release |url=http://archive.shorefire.com/index.php?a=pressrelease&o=6107 |title=Vevo Premieres Joss Stone's New Music Video For "The High Road" (Broken Bells) From New LP 'The Soul Sessions Volume 2' |agency=Shore Fire Media |date=September 13, 2012 |accessdate=February 6, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205072021/http://archive.shorefire.com/index.php?a=pressrelease&o=6107 |archivedate=February 5, 2015 }}
=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!" 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."{{cite magazine |last=Greenwald |first=David |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/482153/joss-stone-covers-broken-bells-high-road-listen |title=Joss Stone Covers Broken Bells' 'High Road': Listen |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |date=July 3, 2012 |accessdate=February 6, 2015}}
=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".{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Christina |url=http://www.idolator.com/6764732/joss-stone-the-soul-sessions-vol-2-album-review |title=Joss Stone's 'The Soul Sessions, Vol. 2': Album Review |publisher=Idolator. Spin Media |date=July 31, 2012 |accessdate=February 6, 2015}} 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."{{cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Hal |url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2012/07/joss-stone-the-soul-sessions-vol-2/ |title=Joss Stone: The Soul Sessions Vol.2 |work=American Songwriter |date=July 23, 2012 |accessdate=February 6, 2015}}
The Observer{{'}}s Hermione Hoby described the song as a "bombastic cover".{{cite web |last=Hoby |first=Hermione |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jul/22/joss-stone-soul-sessions-vol-2-review |title=Joss Stone: Soul Sessions Vol 2 – review |work=The Observer |publisher=Guardian Media Group |date=July 22, 2012 |accessdate=February 6, 2015}} 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."{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |authorlink=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-soul-sessions-vol-2-mw0002392823 |title=The Soul Sessions, Vol. 2 – Joss Stone |publisher=AllMusic. All Media Network |accessdate=February 6, 2015}}
=Personnel=
Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Soul Sessions Vol. 2.{{cite AV media notes |title=The Soul Sessions Vol. 2 |type=CD liner notes |others=Joss Stone |publisher=S-Curve Records |year=2012 |id=5053105347926}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
- Joss Stone – lead vocals, backing vocals, production
- Raymond Angry – B3, piano
- Chris Gehringer – mastering
- Steve Greenberg – production
- Steve Greenwell – engineering, mixing, production
- Pete Iannacone – bass
{{col-2}}
- Ernie Isley – guitars
- Lowell Reynolds – assistant engineering
- Tony Royster, Jr. – drums
- Ted Tuthill – assistant engineering
- Betty Wright – backing vocals
{{col-end}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Broken Bells}}
{{Joss Stone}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:High Road}}
Category:Columbia Records singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Danger Mouse (musician)