Album Review – Chris Stapleton’s “Higher”

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Chris Stapleton will be a Country Music Hall of Famer someday. And with the release of his latest album Higher, he ensures that he will help define at least a decade of the country music genre, even if his music isn’t especially “country.” As one of the most ubiquitous, well-recognized, and universally-beloved (or tolerable) performers and songwriters of our time, Stapleton’s legacy is secured and cemented.
It’s been said by others, and Saving Country Music would concur that Higher by Chris Stapleton is everything you expect from a Stapleton release. He doesn’t stray from the formula, because there is very little reason to. At 45 years of age and Stapleton selling out arenas seven minutes after tickets go on sale, the incentives to stray from the script are slim to none.
Though some love to say an album like this defies genre, what it doesn’t defy is the sound that Chris Stapleton has established for himself, which is a soulful voice and a Southern approach that sees his songs act as launching pads for soaring performances, while allowing ample opportunities for Stapleton to flex his guitar skills.
Just like his previous four solo albums, Stapleton records at RCA’s Studio ‘A’ with his backing band of J.T. Cure on bass, Derek Mixon on drums, and wife Morgane on background vocals as well as electronic keys and tambourine. Lee Pardini also adds some important piano and organ to the mix, and Paul Franklin’s pedal steel makes some welcomed appearances. Though it’s all produced by Dave Cobb once again, this time both Chris and Morgane are cited as co-producers.
One difference between Higher and the previous four albums is Stapleton is relying more on truly new material this time. The From A Room volumes both felt like Stapleton unloading previously-written songs from his catalog to keep the momentum of his blockbuster debut Traveller going. 2020’s Starting Over had some of that too, with a couple of recognizable covers as well.
Higher makes a concerted effort towards more fresh stuff, with the studio team of Stapleton, Mixon, Cure, and Cobb being given song credits on three separate tracks. Miranda Lambert co-wrote the opening song “What Am I Gonna Do,” and long time Stapleton co-writer Kendall Marvel gets a co-write with Tim James on “Loving You On My Mind.”

The song “White Horse” co-written with Dan Wilson preceded the album, and might be the greatest specimen of Chris Stapleton music ever released. Though naysayers will still claim it is pedestrian like all Stapleton songs, an open heart will feel this track raise the pulse and lift the spirit, with an elevated amount of composition and layering making it stand out from the rest of Stapleton’s catalog, driven home by a Southern rock attitude.
Aside from “South Dakota” that carries a bit of an bluesy and Outlaw aspect to it, Higher in many respects is an album of love songs and devotion, with “It Takes A Woman,” “The Fire,” “Think I’m In Love With You,” “Loving You On My Mind,” “White Horse,” and “Higher” creating the heart of the album’s message. The harmonies of Chris and Morgane tie these songs to their real-world inspirations. With now five children in the household, there’s a reason some of these songs take on a baby making vibe. The title track calls to mind Luther Vandross, only clothed in a more country aspect.
But these middle songs are also where this album drags a bit. Sometimes without the traditional verse/chorus setup—or a bridge to break up what becomes a rather monotonous listening experience—these songs just sort of drone along on revolving chords and a similar theme, making them easy to background in your attention span as opposed to compelling a more active involvement from the audience. Then again, this is what some people want from their music, including a lot of Stapleton fans.
This is definitely more of a groove album that a songwriter one. But then the final 1/3rd of the album shakes it up and becomes more singer/songwriter based, and more country. Steel guitar player Paul Franklin appears on tracks 11 to 13, and this is where more devout country listeners should point their ears. The final song “Mountains of My Mind” is Stapleton’s only solo-written song, and shows a deeper and more unresolved moment that we’re used to hearing from him.
Even with these textures though, Higher strains to win your undivided attention as a cohesive listen, even if the album feels cohesive to itself, and specific songs individually feel extraordinary. It’s also this same consistency that has ensconced Chris Stapleton as country music’s most reliable superstar, and unlike some of his counterparts in the mainstream, deservedly so.
It’s not exactly country, but it’s not really more at home in any other genre either. It may not be the music that most defines your life, but it’s music you don’t mind moving in and out of it. It’s Chris Stapleton, which means always on brand, always enjoyable, even if rarely exceptional. This is what you can expect from Higher.
7.6/10
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Purchase Higher from Amazon
November 13, 2023 @ 11:15 am
I think it is a great album the best one since Traveler. I think you are right, though. Too many slower songs in a row. I don’t think track sequencing would fix the problem. He should have put a couple more uptempo songs on instead or cut a few from the album.
November 14, 2023 @ 11:03 pm
This album, and Chris Stapleton in general, is elevated comfort food for your ears. Feels so right.
November 15, 2023 @ 7:41 am
My sentiments exactly. He’s my #2 choice for comfort food music. with John Hiatt being #1. My favorites tend to be his rocking songs and I always hope for more of them on his albums, but damned if I don’t end up loving each album.
November 15, 2023 @ 8:15 am
I enjoy his albums. I just think the pacing is a little off 9n this one. Great album though. He could sing about tak8ng a dump and it would be good, lol.
November 13, 2023 @ 11:17 am
Chris Stapleton has one of the great voices and writes a good song. He is always worth listening to and this is a good album with some great songs.
November 13, 2023 @ 11:40 am
The day he releases an album full of tracks like White Horse will be the day he gets a 10/10 from me.
November 13, 2023 @ 12:15 pm
Spot on review. It just sounds like another CS album. You heard one, you’ve heard them all. I can only take him in small doses.
November 13, 2023 @ 12:19 pm
I’m love with “The Fire”. I agree with others, I wish there were a few more up-tempo songs, but his voice is amazing no matter what he sings.
November 13, 2023 @ 1:15 pm
What in TARNATIONS
Tater scrub & monkey dandruff
They ain’t no fooling me with such tomfoolery
November 13, 2023 @ 1:21 pm
I wish he would go ahead and make the old school soul album he clearly wants to make (Think I’m in Love with You is a career highlight) or else reform the Jompson Brothers and give us an album full of songs like White Horse. Because the dirge-like, overly sappy ballads that make up the bulk of this album and too much of his last few albums is of no interest to me and I’m not sure they’re of interest to him either. But I guess somebody has to make the Michael Bolton fans happy now than he’s getting up there in years.
November 13, 2023 @ 1:22 pm
With no shade intended toward Stapleton’s obvious talents, I thought this album was a miss. It’s certainly not bad, but (at least on a first listen), none of the tracks really grabbed me. It’s a background music album.
November 14, 2023 @ 6:08 am
This album is…dare I say it…sexy.
It will knock down seven pins, all you gotta do is pick up the spare.
November 14, 2023 @ 6:57 am
Dare i say… Chris Stapleton is
Bringing
Sexy
Back
November 14, 2023 @ 10:52 pm
what kind of woman is turned on by chris stapleton music? a 300 pound barfly ?
November 16, 2023 @ 3:48 pm
Run up to the bar and ask your wife. Then ask another woman the first question.
November 19, 2023 @ 9:16 pm
This 150 LB. Mexican woman is!!
November 14, 2023 @ 8:50 am
I agree. Chris is great. Right now, I just can’t get into this album. It is boring compared to all the other recent releases. Too much music to check out right now. I can’t stop listening to Colby Accuff and Flatland Calvary new albums. I love Stapleton. I am sure I need to give it a few more spins.
November 13, 2023 @ 1:29 pm
White Horse is definitely one of those songs that you like even more in the context of the full album. It went from about an 8 to me to a 10 once I heard the record.
November 13, 2023 @ 1:43 pm
Everyone is raving about this album and I don’t get it. For me, it’s not memorable and most of the songs sound the same. They don’t say much lyrically and even the grooves are sleepy. I love Chris Stapleton so much, but this was disappointing. ‘The Bottom’ was the stand out for sure. I’ll keep giving it some spins to see if it grows on me like John Mayer’s Sob Rock did. Did a 180 on that one, so it’s possible!
November 13, 2023 @ 1:44 pm
Traveler changed my life but my favourite Stapleton is still with the SteelDrivers
November 13, 2023 @ 8:02 pm
No doubt! Speaking of the Steeldrivers, their new gospel album is awesome!
November 14, 2023 @ 8:54 am
Can You Run is an all-time jam.
And I still wish “What Are You Listening To?” had made an album!
November 17, 2023 @ 3:14 pm
Yes, I was thinking that this talk of CS being OK middle of the road country music doesn’t really account for his first two albums with the Steeldrivers, which were revolutionary in the bluegrass space. To have a singer like that, doing bluesy, rock-informed all-acoustic music was almost unheard of in bluegrass or acoustic music. Of course the Steeldrivers weren’t just CS: Tammy Roger’s fiddle is also unlike just about anybody else- she’s a monstrous talent. Without her, there’s no Steeldrivers at all.
I get why he wanted to expand his musical horizons, but something was lost when he did.
November 13, 2023 @ 2:00 pm
After giving this thing a few spins, I took 4 or 5 tunes I kinda liked and threw em in a little playlist to see if it sticks in the rotation. Obviously, White Horse is an A+ song, but the first time I heard Loving You On My Mind it immediately brought me back to the 70’s. Good on Kendall Marvel and Tim James; it’s just a beautiful song with a nice groove. A couple of others are ok so we’ll see.
November 13, 2023 @ 3:14 pm
Chris Stapleton, in many ways, is to country music what Dave Grohl is to rock music. Both are amiable, noncontroversial guys who play the commercial industry game despite a vague outward appearance to the contrary.
Both are popular across generations and demographics, finding great success doing the same thing over and over, milking a polished formula that most people think is “alright”, but mixing that with occasional moments of real genius and talent that remind you that they could easily do better.
It’s frustrating. That said, “White Horse” is damn catchy. It was stuck in my head all weekend, and it sounds good loud.
November 15, 2023 @ 8:45 am
Well said. Though I disagree with the “could easily do better” part. Moderately talented people with good commercial insight.
November 15, 2023 @ 2:40 pm
Grohl’s among the best rock drummers of all time, but a middling guitar player and songwriter. His best stuff is definitely restricted to his first couple albums, but that was like nine albums and nearly thirty years ago. I’ve actually met him and, at the very least, he’s an incredibly nice and unpretentious guy. He obviously cares a lot about his fans and the fan experience. In that way, I kinda regard him as a musical, if not, spiritual successor to Bruce Springsteen.
Stapleton is an excellent singer, good guitar player, and good songwriter in my opinion, but I can’t help but think he’s just coasting. I guess his priority is to keep a good thing going, touring the same arenas and amphitheaters with his wife and kids every year and recording the obligatory album with Dave Cobb every couple years. Hey, whatever works. I’m not going to knock that.
November 13, 2023 @ 4:04 pm
Eh, this album was too much of a sleep-induced listen for me personally.
Both “Starting Over” and the two sides of “From A Room” had their share of sleepy tracks too, but they also had a more narrow low-tempo/gentle mid-tempo to higher-tempo/barnburner ratio between the songs. With “Higher”, however, “White Horse” IS the most driving track on the album, with the next closest being “Crosswind” which even that isn’t all that propulsive.
And that would be understandable if the writing had more variety and wrinkles to it……………but it just doesn’t to me. Certainly not Dan + Shay-esque shlock, but still pretty nondescript and pedestrian love songs only slightly elevated by Chris and Morgane’s vocals. I guess I was hoping for more topical variety like we got before with “Scarecrow In The Garden”, “Death Row”, “Nashville, TN”, etc.
I just find it baffling that “White Horse” is a complete outlier on the album sonically, yet will become his highest-peaking Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist. What that tells me is that listener fatigue has set in with the heavy batting average of sleepy tracks and they actually want to hear more of Stapleton letting loose and unleashing more of that fire in his belly which we know he still has (especially evident by the fact he continues to play “Midnight Train To Memphis”, “Arkansas” and “Second One To Know” in his sets despite none of them being big hits for him).
I still have the utmost respect for Stapleton and he genuinely is a stand-up guy deserving of the accolades and a true leader in country music’s turn-around. I can acknowledge that and in the same breath admit “Higher” does little for me.
November 13, 2023 @ 4:38 pm
South Dakota is a great Outlaw song, if dare criticize it, why not develop more of a storyline with it. Flesh it out a bit. It’s got a fine overall vibe. Crosswind is spot on for me. A true truck driving song with prominent steel in the mix. I agree White Horse is a clear winner. Rocking Jompson Brothers sounding. Mountains of my Mind struck home with me, particularly after someone pointed out that it could easily apply to someone dealing with Alzheimers. I doubt that was what Chris had in mind, but as I’m watching my moms decline, it hits home…hard.
So, yeah, not a bad record, though I agree with everyone here who’s saying he’s determined to push the white boy soul vibe, as it seems to make him lots of $$$$. And yes Danielle, fully agree, The Steeldrivers era was by far the best, although he was touring in a van and sleeping in Econo Lodges and eating Taco Bell due to the reality that only about 100 people at the time knew who The Steeldrivers were. ( sad but true)
Now he’s the arena act. Of course. Makes the soccer moms swoon.
November 13, 2023 @ 7:12 pm
I agree “Mountains On My Mind” is the closest we get to something that breaks away from the interchangeable love songs on the album, and I’d say definitely the best song lyrically on the album. I wish its production had more texture to it, feel more weathered, but I certainly agree is one of its best tracks.
“South Dakota” is fine, but I’d argue it’s an inferior version of some of his previous “outlaw”-themed songs like “The Devil Named Music”, “Up To No Good Livin'”, “Midnight Train to Memphis”, “Devil Always Made Me Think Twice”, and obviously much of his SteelDrivers back catalog. Lyrically it’s pretty nondescript to me and you could title the song any other location or landmark and it wouldn’t make any difference. It sounds fine, but again I’d say an inferior version of the aforementioned songs.
I certainly get his appeal and I respect him a tremendous deal. I’m just not feeling this album overall. I do get what he’s doing, though, and can’t fault the guy for doubling, tripling, quadrupling down on the formula that has been a winning recipe for him since “Traveler”. I do still maintain that his earlier records were a bit more balanced sonically than this one.
November 13, 2023 @ 11:38 pm
Crosswind has a great groove. Reminds me of something that Jerry Reed would have released in the 70’s.
November 13, 2023 @ 4:16 pm
Chris Stapelton is a hit. No matter what he sings
November 13, 2023 @ 4:32 pm
“After Higher was released on November 10, Chris took to social media. He shared two photos, the first being the album’s cover art.
The second photo had two words in a black font against an orange background. It was a dedication to his wife.
It read, “For Morgane.”
November 13, 2023 @ 4:41 pm
I’ll take Chris Stapleton as country music’s biggest star every day of the week. This beats bro-country, boyfriend country, and is, in my opinion, the best mainstream “country” (which it is considered, and will be considered when Stapleton makes the HOF) in over two decades. A lot of the resurgence in traditional country we see today is a direct result of Chris Stapleton. I’m happy for the guy, I enjoy this album, and I hope it gets all of the attention that it can. Even though his music isn’t exactly country, the genre is better off because of Chris Stapleton.
November 13, 2023 @ 5:08 pm
If I don’t hear White Horse till 2025 it will probably too soon.
November 15, 2023 @ 10:43 am
Agreed. Love a lot of Stapleton but seriously do not understand all the ballyhoo over “White Horse.”
November 13, 2023 @ 5:54 pm
For a couple of years, there’s been a Stapleton backlash. Is it because he’s mega-successful? I don’t know. But I requested “Think I’m in Love With You” to a local radio show today. The DJ backed it with some Al Green. Pretty Sweet!
November 13, 2023 @ 5:57 pm
As Hank Jr. wrote and sang, “I’m just a blue’s man”, that’s what Chris seems to me. A blue’s man. A good one mind you, but a blue’s man.
November 13, 2023 @ 8:15 pm
Am I in the minority that thinks artists having several albums with similar sounds is not a horrible thing? I think this is his best album since Traveller. Other than the song “Nashville, TN” on his last album, the more traditional country sound has largely been missing from his albums except partially in the first From A Room album. This album also has more songs that I would skip than on any of his other albums, but in my opinion the inclusion of the steel guitar in more songs here has given me what I hoped to hear when it was released. If people keep pushing him to make a different sounding album, who knows, it may not be the “blues” album everyone wants him to record.
November 13, 2023 @ 8:55 pm
I think you summed up exactly how I feel about Chris Stapleton. His music is always solid and consistent for me but just never really… never really elicits a “WOW!” response.
The perceived “floor” of Stapleton’s music is higher than most in the industry, which I attribute in large part to his sustained success, but there’s just rarely standout tracks that I find myself really wanting to come back to as time passes ????????♂️
Hard to put into words but you did a good job with this review saying a lot of where I’m at with his music.
November 13, 2023 @ 10:58 pm
The groove on South Dakota is so good that calling it “outlaw” is almost an insult. That sub-genre label should have been retired decades ago or renamed Outlaw Pop.
November 14, 2023 @ 12:28 am
That’s actually a nice critique. What have the greats did? Keep on keeping on making great songs I their wheelhouse. Some hit, some don’t. I feel like Stapleton has earned this
November 14, 2023 @ 7:20 am
I’m hearing a consistent thread of complaints about too many slow or sleepy or sappy love ballads on this record (and some of his other records), at least in this forum. And I’ll just counter that all you have to do is look at the dedication on the back of the album — “For Morgane” — to understand why Chris Stapleton makes the musical choices that he does.
If there are better harmony vocals in the 21st century than Chris and Morgane Stapleton singing to each other, I’d like to know what they are. Listen to “It Takes a Woman” on this one. It’s freaking perfection. These two people adore each other and they’re locked in. And it’s beautiful to bear witness to.
Not to get too personal about this but at the beginning of last year, I lost my wife and best friend of 28 years to cancer. At the beginning of this year, I found the woman wasn’t going to let me stay lonely, the real deal. To find something that powerful once in a lifetime — even if it ends — is a blessing. To find it again feels like a miracle.
And Chris (and Morgane) Stapleton’s sappy love ballads are our music. Every day they are singing for us about us. If you listen to them in that context, they’re not sleepy at all. They’re a beautiful lived truth. I love watching any videos with the two of them because their devotion to each other — the eye contact — is so apparent. And that feeling of someone “getting” you — for my money anyhow — is maybe the only thing that makes being alive in this f’ed up world tolerable. Hearing that devotion expressed in their music is such a gift.
Now, there are cynics
With rusty knives
Trying to cut away the good in our lives
But I don’t care what they believe
With you I have everything I need
Yup.
November 14, 2023 @ 8:56 am
since we’re talking about chubby guys with big beards, are you ever gonna talk about Larry Fleets newest album? or has too much time gone by? or maybe I missed it?
November 14, 2023 @ 10:02 am
The amount of albums coming out is tough enough. Double albums make it double hard. But it’s on my radar and I might get a review up for it if I can.
November 14, 2023 @ 12:06 pm
FYI Larry did 1500 people here recently. I didn’t get there but I told my buddy who went to the sold out Shane Smith and The Saints show, and he says “Who’s Larry Fleet?”. I told him he’s a guy that could do that number with little or no airplay? I’m like Trig there’s so much out, and coming out I just don’t have it in me to sift through 21 songs any more, That’s not a knock on Larry or any other prolific artist, the whole more is better thing is just kind of turning me off….except you Joe Stamm…LOL
November 14, 2023 @ 11:00 am
Just crossover to r&b some of his music getting played on country radio is just as bad as bro country getting played even if it isn’t nearly as bad
November 14, 2023 @ 1:36 pm
I will always have a soft spot for Chris Stapleton. It was “Traveler” that got me to turn my ear towards more traditional sounding country and songs that had meaning. A Pandora channel for Stapleton was the first time I heard Childers–“Nose on the Grindstone”– and I googled him and was lead to the album review for “Purgatory” on this website, which has had a tab open on my computer every since. Chris Stapleton was also the first show my wife and I went to together when we were first dating.
All that said, I agree with most about this being a sleepy album, but it still blows away just about anything his mainstream contemporaries are putting out there. And with a voice like his, he could sing the phonebook and you could still have an enjoyable experience listening. I am still holding out hope that he will put out a full on traditional album in a similar vein to his days with The Steeldrivers.
November 14, 2023 @ 11:33 pm
I usually go straight to the music and then check the verbiage, but Chris Stapleton is such a known commodity that I am actually more interested in what Trigger had to say about him.
Stapleton’s music isn’t genre defying, unless you were expecting a different genre and your expectations were defied. I’m not saying that he’s churning bad music, but that shit ain’t country and it’s yet another brick in the wall of “to be successful country artist you must not be a country artist no more” which is constantly being erected in front of our eyes. And so it goes, “mainstream country” is a formulaic anthem rock being written by a cadre of songwriters for hire that turn the album’s credits into something akin to a movie production. It’s the kind of situation that made Jason Isbell look like an outlaw-country hero rather than the Springsteen wannabe that he is.
There’s some mighty talent underneath the mass of “professionally” written and produced songs that are added to the mixture of this arena rock delivery, but it feels as if everyone involved are either too occupied in honing the best drum break or guitar lick for maximum effect to notice, or are ashamed of the actual roots that fed this mighty oak of a production.
November 15, 2023 @ 2:33 am
…chris stapleton made a dedicated statement of love and gratitude to his wife morgane with this album. soul had to be the sound of choice. did he succeed with his main task? i think, very much so.the country stuff on top of it is very good too. not to mention that catchy rocker “wild horse”.
couldn’t help wonderiing, how sioux natives might feel when listening to “south dakota”.
November 15, 2023 @ 7:20 am
I’ve given this album a few listens and I like it. Have to agree with the review and some of the comments that there are a few too many slow songs. It’s not that the songs aren’t good, it’s more of a tempo thing when listening to the album as a whole. I Think a few thumpers like Arkansas, or a couple Honky Tonk songs would have made this a better album.
Overall it’s a good album, and I’m sure many of these songs will grow on me.
November 15, 2023 @ 10:44 am
Love a lot of Stapleton but seriously do not understand all the ballyhoo over “White Horse.”
November 16, 2023 @ 7:04 pm
Hey, if it makes people quit talking about “Wagon Wheel”…
November 15, 2023 @ 6:19 pm
Agree about White Horse. One of my singles of the year
November 16, 2023 @ 4:01 pm
Sure sounds like a dedication album to his wife. Thought that was obvious. Good for him. Not certain he cares about the talentless Keyboard Critics opinions.
November 22, 2023 @ 7:53 pm
Sorry but this album is sooo boring…