Keith Urban is globally renowned for his distinctive blend of country, pop, and rock influences. Born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, Urban moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he rose to fame with his self-titled debut album in 1999. Over his career, he has released numerous multi-platinum albums, won multiple Grammy Awards, and earned a reputation as one of the genre's most innovative and skilled guitarists. Urban's dynamic live performances, heartfelt songwriting, and cross-genre appeal have solidified his place as one of country music's most enduring and influential figures.
After a couple of more experimental releases in ‘Graffiti U' and ‘The Speed of Now' which saw Urban pushing the boundaries of Country in more Pop-leaning areas he's returned to his roots on new album, ‘High' with a short, sharp and impactful set of Country songs dripping in rock guitars and drum-driven choruses that collude with each other to put a damn big smile on your face, evoking memories of his early ‘Days Go By' and ‘Somebody Like You' vibes.
Reflecting on the album, Urban declares, “In a world full of change, one thing has always stayed the same for me—my love for making music. There's something magical about it, an energy that draws me in. While I've never surfed, I imagine that writing a song, recording it in the studio, or bringing it to life on stage must feel a lot like catching the perfect wave. It's a state of pure flow—timeless, weightless, and utterly euphoric. It makes me feel high.”
‘High' is an undoubted triumphant return to form that blends Urban's signature country-rock style with a touch of nostalgia and emotional depth. The album kicks off with the anthemic ‘Straight Line,' a classic Urban track that channels the energy of his earlier hits, delivering a sense of freedom and love through catchy riffs and evocative lyrics. ‘Messed Up as Me' dives into darker territory, with Urban's impassioned vocals capturing the raw pain of heartbreak, while ‘Wildside' brings a lighter, uptempo vibe, showcasing his skill in crafting irresistibly catchy tunes. It's a poppy, lighter uptempo song about a girl with a hidden Wild side that builds to a catchy, snappy chorus built on a bed of driving drums and guitar and banjo riffs. There's a slight 80s leaning influence here, as there is across many of the tracks on this irresistible album, as Urban drives the song forward with verve and skill
The album continues to shine with standout tracks like ‘Chuck Taylors,' a nostalgic anthem steeped in driving guitars and 80s influences, and “Go Home W U,” a fun, mid-tempo duet with Lainey Wilson that perfectly captures the joy of living in the moment. The former is a powerful, evocative look at what nostalgia does to memory wrapped up in a huge drum-driven banger. With great tempo, great vocals and a banging melody from Urban the song barrels along towards an ‘are we gonna make it?’ ending that is simply stunning. ‘Go Home W U,' meanwhile finds Lainey Wilson handling the second verse as she sings about Urban being the MVP of fun! It’s not a particularly romantic song – more about two people having fun together and that comes across in the boozy lyrics and back and forth vocals between the two singers as it builds to a bluesy solo and a whole bunch of fun too.
Elsewhere, ‘Daytona' and ‘Love is Hard' add emotional depth, blending well-crafted imagery with Urban's powerful vocal delivery. ‘Daytona' finds Urban declaring ‘I haven’t seen the sun for days,’ in a clever, melodic song that sees him struggling to move on from an ocean view, Daytona and the girl that has gone. Dripping in well crafted imagery, it's reminiscent of songs of like ‘When Summer Comes Around’ and is a nostalgic, melodic mid-tempo song that demands to be sung along too. ‘Love is Hard,' meanwhile, is a raw, acoustic look at a relationship that has drifted apart. Tender beginnings that builds to a bigger, more explosive, emotional chorus that sees Urban declaring ‘I ain’t quittin’ on this clever, well structured song that takes a couple of surprising musical left turns that you don’t see coming
The reflective album closer, ‘Break the Chain' and the heartfelt ballad ‘Dodge in a Silverado' highlight Urban's ability to explore complex emotions while maintaining a connection with his audience. ‘Break the Chain' is an unusual and unique song largely played acoustically. Here we find Urban singing about making things right and it being ‘not too late to change.’ It's an intimate and interesting song about changing your mindset and fighting battles with your demons that closes this powerful, fun and evocative album down in some style without bringing down the vibe or the upbeat mood that Urban has created throughout the rest of the project.
Throughout ‘High' Urban balances upbeat, arena-ready tracks like ‘Laughing All the Way to the Drank' with more introspective moments, creating an album that feels both fresh and familiar. With its blend of catchy melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and Urban's undeniable guitar prowess ‘High' is a celebration of everything that makes Keith Urban one of country music's most enduring and beloved artists.
Tracklist: 1. Blue Sky 2. Straight Line 3. Messed Up As Me 4. Wildside 5. Go Home W U 6. Chuck Taylors 7. Daytona 8. Love is Hard 9. Heart Like a Hometown 10. Laughin' All the Way to the Drank 11. Dodge in a Silverado 12. Break the Chain Release Date: September 20th Record Label: UMG Nashville Buy ‘High' right here.
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