The High Road

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Teen's pleasant pop gets a little more sensual.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that JoJo's innuendo is a little more sensual and sophisticated than last time around. The spicier lyrics can be found on "The Way You Do Me." JoJo sings, "Boy the way you do me, the way you do me/why you gotta be so good when you give it to me?" Other songs are subtler. The artist, now a ripe-old 15, is coming into her own with a pleasant pop album and maturing vocal style.

  • Some positive messages about being -- and standing up for -- yourself.
  • Not applicable.
  • On "The Way You Do Me," JoJo sings, "Boy the way you do me, the way you do me/why you gotta be so good when you give it to me?" Other songs are subtler.

What's the story?

JoJo's impressive vocal performances on THE HIGH ROAD bounce along over pleasant, hook-filled, synthesizer-heavy instrumental tracks. Lyrics rarely leave the love arena. Most deal with the ups and downs of relationships from ambivalence and instructional flirtation ("How to Touch a Girl") to heartbreak and I'm-not-making-the-same-mistake-again anthems, as on "Too Little, Too Late" ("You say you dream of my face/but you don't like me, you just like the chase…It doesn't matter anyway/you know it's just too little too late"). Innuendo is just a bit sexier than her last CD: "Boy the way you do me, the way you do me/why you gotta be so good when you give it to me?" is typical, on "The Way You Do Me," an infectiously danceable confection. Gospel-tinged background vocals and a couple of nicely performed ballads add a pinch of soul.


Is it any good?

 

Most 15-year-olds are unable to communicate the complexities of romance with JoJo's degree of worldly sophistication -- but most 15-year olds don't have arsenals of professional songwriters and producers at their disposal. This might be worth remembering if JoJo's lyrics don't quite live in the world of the real teens in your household. Nestled among all the love stuff is the occasional "you can do it" empowerment. "You're exceptional the way you are -- don't need to change for nobody," sung over and over again on "Exceptional," may not be the most brilliant lyricism in the world -- but it is something most tweens need to hear way more often than they do.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about what it might be like to be a teenage pop star like JoJo. What would be the benefits? What would you have to give up? If this opportunity were handed to you, would you take it or turn it down, and why?


This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Teen, 14 years old
July 24, 2009
 
good, looking forward
this girl is totally cute, very pretty and an amazing singer. and if its all fake, well, shes got great producers. but the things she sings about arent for a younger audience than, uhm, 10 or 11. theres too much about guys and not enough of the good wholesome girl-you-rock stuff. im looking forward to her next album, all i want is everything, which by the title doesnt sound very good. and, hopefully since its been 3 whole years since anything musical form her has come out, im wondering what the deal is. but im excited. i hope it wont be explicit. :D

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Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 
GO JOJO!!
this is one of the best CD's ever!!! is a must for kids of all ages!

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Teen, 17 years old
April 9, 2008
 
q
This CD is so different from her first one, and there's no way I'll be buying it. No offense to her, it's her choice, but that "The Way You do Me" song is so...ew. She's only 15!

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Teen, 17 years old
April 9, 2008
 

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
I cringed when I bought this for my 11-year-old...
My 11-year-old girl got this CD for her birthday. I heard the lyrics, and they are a little to inapropriate for a 15-year-old to sing, let alone my daughter listen to it. I had to have a talk with my girl about this, so she understood!

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 

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Teen, 16 years old
April 9, 2008
 
Better than "JoJo", still not great
I liked this album much better that "JoJo". There were 3 songs I liked ("Too Little Too Late", "The High Road", and "Keep On Keepin' On") in this album as opposed to one in "JoJo". I don't think there was anything bad though.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
It's pretty good
Jojo's vocals are great on this album, I was kind of surprised however, to hear what some of the lyrics said, but I have it anyway.

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Teen, 16 years old
April 9, 2008
 
she roxx!
Jojo is a really cool music artist that I'm sure teens will enjoy. I luv her song 'It's just a little too late' it's a cool song and I think she should just keep up the good work. Go girl!

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Teen, 17 years old
April 9, 2008
 
this is ok 4 kids of any age there is a lot of stuff out there that is way worse than it

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This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Artist:Jojo
Release date:October 17, 2006
Label:Blackground Records
Genre:Pop
Parental advisory:Yes
Edited version available:Yes

This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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