Somewhere I’m Going: High Road

GRADE:  B

• Album – Somewhere I’m Going
  
• Artist – High Road
• Label – Custom
• Style – Country, Acoustic
• Release Date – 09/16/16
• Available For Digital Download? – Yes (Apple Music)
  

SYNOPSIS:

Today we take a look at the latest album from High Road; Somewhere I’m Going.  The album hit retail on September 16th, 2016.

High Road is a female group that relies solely on their vocals and the instruments each member play.  Somewhere I’m Going is the group’s third album that features acoustical country and bluegrass sounds.

The 2016 edition of High Road is composed of Sarah Davison (lead/alto vocals; piano), Kristen Bearfield (lead/harmony vocals; mandolin/banjo), Kinsey Kapfhammer (soprano/harmony vocals; acoustic guitar) and Lauren Conklin (fiddle).

HIGHLIGHTS:

• High Road is one of the few trackless groups in Southern Gospel music.  Their acoustical country/bluegrass sound will quickly endear itself to listeners.
• The stand out track on Somewhere I’m Going is the country vocal, “Love”. Kristen Bearfield takes the lead on a song that would do well at Southern Gospel radio.
• Group member Sarah Davison along with Kenna Turner West penned a hymn for the modern-day in “Christ My Hope, My Glory”.  Sarah along with Jason Crabb sing this power house number.  A must listen!
• The album’s title track is a song that could do well on mainstream country radio but the Gospel message in the song is evident.  I love the line in the song that says, ‘home is not just somewhere I am but somewhere I’m going’.
• Listeners are treated to very little in the way of up-tempo numbers.  The strongest is the bluegrass flavored, “Don’t It Feel Good”.
• Member Kristen Bearfield wrote and performs another stand out song, “His Hand On Me”.  This would be another strong contender for Southern Gospel radio single possibilities.
• Ben Isaacs can be commended for producing Somewhere I’m Going.
• Strongest songs included in order:  “Love”, “His Hand On Me”, “Christ My Hope, My Glory”, “Somewhere I’m Going”, “Don’t It Feel Good”, “Then On Sunday”, “Squirrel Hunter” and “We Are Broken”.

CRITIQUE:

• The album contain three song covers that tend to weigh the album down.  The weakest of the three is “I’d Rather Have Jesus”.  One of those that have been recorded more times than needed.
• I wish the pacing of the album gave listeners a couple more up-tempo numbers in place of the song covers.
• Weakest songs included in order:  “I’d Rather Have Jesus” and “Give Me Jesus”.

WRAP UP:

High Road stands above the crowded field of mediocre talent in Southern Gospel music.  Not only are they quality vocalists, but each play an instrument to produce a non-track performance for listeners.  In a year where women are dominating a man’s world, High Road is doing just that in a music industry dominated by men.

SONG/Featured Vocalist – Songwriter:  1. “Sweet By And By”/Sarah; Ensemble – Sanford Bennett, Joseph Webster  2. “Somewhere I’m Going“/Kinsey – Lee Black, Jerry Salley, Sue C Smith  3. “Love“/Kristen – Sarah Davison; Kinsey Kapfhammer  4. “Then On Sunday”/Sarah – Sarah Davison; Kinsey Kapfhammer  5. “We Are Broken”/Kristen – Sonya Isaacs, James Shamblin  6. “Shine”/Sarah; Kinsey – Sarah Davison, Kinsey Kapfhammer  7. “Squirrel Hunter”/Instrumental – Sarah Davison, Kristen Bearfield, Kinsey Kapfhammer  8. “I’d Rather Have Jesus“/Kristen; Kinsey – Rhea Miller, George Beverly Shea  9. “Don’t It Feel Good”/Sarah – Sarah Davison, Kinsey Kapfhammer  10. “His Hand On Me”/Kristen – Kristen Bearfield  11. “Christ My Hope, My Glory”/Sarah with Jason Crabb – Sarah Davison, Kenna Turner West  12. “Give Me Jesus”/Sarah; Ensemble – Fanny Crosby, L.O. Sanderson