Dear The Higher,
Where did it all go wrong? You started off so, so well. ‘Histrionics’ is a really fun record and even ‘On Fire’ is pretty good in places. In Seth Trotter you have a vocalist who has an excellent set of pipes and can match many of the emo-punk vocalists note for note. So who decided to write a sub-par pop-record that sounds as if you stole some of the songs from Maroon 5? And not even the good ones.
Why layer songs on ‘It’s Only Natural’ with so many fake sounding instruments and sounds it comes across like the whole thing was put together on a computer and meshed with Pro-Tools? Why take away all the catchy melodies of your old records and replace them with, well, nothing of note that’s even worth humming? Can you really try and tell me you haven’t mutated your sound to something that sounds like a boyband for a shot at the mad $$$ and not as a grown-up songwriting development?
As a fan of your earlier work I have to say I’ve given up on you The Higher. This record is terrible. It’s almost worse than terrible. It’s not even a good pop record! Hopefully one day you can come back with a record that your fans will like – I can’t think too many will support you after this one.
Yours,
Paul (an ex-fan)