Track Listing

1. This Time
2. Way You Do Me
3. Too Little Too Late
4. High Road
5. Anything
6. Like That
7. Good Ol'
8. Coming for You
9. Let It Rain
10. Exceptional
11. How to Touch a Girl
12. Note to God

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #43463 in Music
• Released on: 2006-10-17
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.com
Back in 2004, when JoJo was 13 and seemed entirely too much like a character out of the parent-scaring movie Thirteen, nobody, not even her mom, could have guessed she had a disc as good as The High Road in her. What a difference a couple of years and a squadron of slicker-than-thou producers make. Beyond the addictive but not over-the-top radio hit "Too Little Too Late," The High Road is littered with pit stops both elegant (the dreamy-sweet ballad "Exceptional," the angsty, soulful "How to Touch a Girl," and the introspective "Note to God") and shoulder-shimmyingly fun (the sexy-funky R&B tease "This Time," produced by Scott Storch; the hip-hop heater "The Way You Do Me," done up with characteristic magic touches by Swiss Beatz; and the go-girl rock number "Comin' for You," whipped to a perfect-peaked froth by Soulshock). What makes these songs and others--particularly "Let It Rain," with its tick-tick-tick-tick beat--standouts is not raw artistry but careful, willful calibration. JoJo's vocals are full-throated, creamy, and increasingly Beyonce-like, but even when they veer in a Monica-reminiscent direction (check "Good Ol'"), they're given their due with wide-open beats and rhythms that feel less ratcheted-up than right in time. Expect The High Road to log a lot of travelers, none of them weary. There's not a pothole in sight. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews

The Leann Rimes of Pop/R&B
Listening to this album you'll have a hard time believing that the singer is not yet sixteen at the time of writing this, and that she already has a platinum album under her belt. The first album "Jojo" spawned the hit single "Leave (Get Out)" when she was a mere weenybopper of thirteen, and this year she's acted in two movies in addition to putting together her second album.

First single "Too Little Too Late" has been out for months, and has helped to create a lot of advance buzz for this album, which in my opinion delivers the goods big time. The single is about moving on after a failed relationship, and if you cast your mind back (some of us further than others) you can identify with the lyrics: "I was young / And in love / I gave you everything / But it wasn't enough"

The album begins with the R&B track "This Time", where she takes responsibility for a break-up, but isn't ready to give up as yet, and then she launches into a hip hop track "The Way You Do Me" which could easily fit right in on any Beyonce / Christina Aguilera / Pussycat Dolls / Danity Kane album. The title track is a great R&B ballad, and then comes my favorite track "Anything" which samples "Africa" by Toto in fine style. Since hearing this track for the first time, it hasn't left the player.

If you think she's done there, think again - and then listen to the Janet Jackson type track "Like That", the powerfully belted "Let It Rain", the outstanding ballads "Exceptional" and "How to Touch a Girl" and the R&B tracks "Good Ol'" and "Coming For You". The album closes on an inspirational note with "Note To God".

This is an exceptional sophomore album from a talented young artiste who still has limitless potential.


Amanda Richards

My apparently limited vocabulary...
...doesn't give me a word good enough to discribe this album.

So, I'll go with what I know.

Jojo's sophomore effort completely succeeds. There are no 'fillers' on this album. This of course, is solely my opinion and there are people who will definately disagree with this. All in all, this album is amazing and you should really give it at least a chance. You might end up loving it like I do.

1.) This Time- (17/20): After listening to the whole album, I've come to the conclusion that this is a rather bland opening to such an album. But it's still a good song, with great beats and nice vocals.

2.) The Way You Do Me- (17/20): Again, great 'swing' beats and it has such powerful energy in it, but...it just doesn't appeal to me as much as others. Most likely because I find it difficult to believe that a, what, 15 year old, could be singing this, but that's most likely me.

3.) Too Little, Too Late- (19/20): What else could get me hooked on this CD? Honestly, if I hadn't heard this song, I wouldn't have given this CD a thought, just because I wasn't too big a fan of her first CD, apart from the first single. It really is a wonderful song. Powerful voice, good emotion...it's all there. I would go on, but most of you have probably already heard it somewhere, anyway.

4.) High Road- (20/20): Inspirational, Strong, ... the list could go on. If there is a song that one should live by, this is it. The person she sings about (herself, I presume?) is what people should all be like. Instead of going for revenge, just let it go and take the 'high road'. Two thumbs up. Definately.

5.) Anything- (17/20): One of those, what I like to call, 'crusing' songs. It's good when you just want to chill or relax. And it's got a sample of the song 'Africa'. What more do you need?

6.) Like That- (17/20): It's very beautiful. Very. It kind of puts you in a trance...I guess what I'm trying to say that it's kind of indescribable.

7.) Good Ol- (18/20): Two words. Very addicting. Be prepared to hear it replaying in your head over and over. There. Warning done. Basically, another chill song. In my opinion, it's better than 'Anything' cause this one will make you want to get up and dance.

8.) Coming For You- (20/20): Wow. Wow. And wait for it...Wow. This is the first of the streak of five amazing songs. It's very poppy, no doubt. But that's not always a bad thing. The music...it's gorgeous, the emotion...it's raw, and the experience is something we all can relate to. Bravo.

9.) Let it Rain- (19/20): I feel bad for this song, because it's behind such an amazing song ('Coming For You'), but it still manages to hold it's own. The beats on this song are superior to all of them. It's sounds mysterious. Nice. Honestly, at first I thought this was going to be another break up song, but I'm glad to say that it's not. It's about finally giving in too love, and I think that's great.

10.) Exceptional- (20/20): You ever feel down? This is the song to listen too. It'll lift your spirits. It'll make you want to fly. It's 'exceptional'.

11.) How to Touch A Girl- (20/20) Ha. When I first heard the name of this song, I was just, like, Oh My Word. I really thought it was going to be some perverted song. But it's not, and it's more towards touching her mentally (being sweet...ect.). Thank goodness. It's really good, though, and guys, if you listen to what she has to say on it...yeahh.

12.) Note to God- (20/20): Up on par with 'High Road' for most powerful. It is a sad song, yet it makes me feel inspired. Hmm...Nonetheless, it's a perfect way to end the album.

Buy it. You won't regret it. Trust me.
But if you don't want to, you should at least download these songs:

Too Little, Too Late
High Road
Coming For You
Let it Rain
Exceptional
How to Touch a Girl
Note to God

&&&
if you just want to chill...
Good Ol

Thanks for your time!

My Favorite Fall 2006 CD
Teen singer JoJo arrived on the music scene in 2004 with her self-titled debut. The single spawned the TRL friendly hits "Leave (Get Out)" and "Baby It's You." In an industry where young singers sometimes turn out new albums every year, JoJo took her time working on her sophomore album. In between albums she made two movies RV and Aquamarine.

It was a risk, because in this fickle music industry, often out of site means out of mine. JoJo found no problem returning to the music spotlight. The first single from her sophomore album The High Road, "Too Little, Too Late," immediately became a favorite on MTV's TRL and on Itunes. The mid-tempo ballad also raced up the Billboard Chart.

So how does The High Road measure up to JoJo's debut album? Well JoJo sounds more mature. Twelve solid songs are included on the disc which is filled primarily with mid-tempo ballads with a few bangers. The Swizz Beats produced single "The Way You Do," is sure to be well loved. Other uptemp songs on the album include the "This Time," (which proves to be a kind of boring song to open up a great album), "Let It Rain," (which evokes memories of an Aaliyah or Missy Elliot song). "Let It Rain," has a track that makes you want to bounce. "Good Ol'" is also a bounce style uptempo track.

Overall, The High Road is filled with ballads. JoJo used a sample of the early 80's ToTo song "Africa," for the song "Anything." One of the best ballads on the album is the title track "The High Road." Other stand out songs include the first single "Too Little, Too Late," "Like That," and "How To Touch A Girl."

The High Road is a good album. But it's very mature. This being said, JoJo's core fans may feel that the album is a little too grown up for them. On another note, she may make more mature fans. This is definitely not an album you would expect from a teen singer. The High Road is a solid sophomore effort from JoJo. Although, she likes to consider herself a multi-genre artist, The High Road truly comes across as a modern R&B album. She is a young diva in training and she can easily be placed in the same league with Christina Aguilara, Toni Braxton, Brandy, Monica, and other well loved R&B singers.