Title: The High Road Artist: JoJo Release Date: 10/17/2006 Label: Blackground, Edel, Mercury UPCs: 602517058828, 0602517137691, 4029758747124, 402975874712, 060251713769 Genre: Rhythm & Blues Styles: Contemporary R&B, Teen Pop Moods: Brassy, Cheerful, Energetic, Fun, Bright, Rousing, Slick, Street-Smart, Stylish, Bitter, Brash, Confrontational, Dramatic, Earnest, Exuberant, Lively, Party/Celebratory, Sparkling Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 3 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. This Time
2. The Way You Do Me
3. Too Little Too Late
4. The High Road
5. Anything
6. Like That
7. Good Ol'
8. Coming for You
9. Let It Rain
10. Exceptional
11. How to Touch a Girl
12. Note to God

Year Type Label Catalog # 2006 CD Blackground 588 2006 CD Edel 2006 CD Mercury 1713769

The High Road [Bonus DVD] The High Road [Japan Bonus Tracks 2006] The High Road [UK Bonus Tracks] The High Road [US Bonus Tracks] The High Road [Japan Bonus Tracks 2007]

Released when she was just 13 years old, vocalist Jojo's 2004 eponymous debut was a bona fide hit album and garnered the young pop star a legion of equally youthful fans, as well as lead roles in two films, including the 2006 comedy RV alongside Robin Williams. To say that the release of her 2006 sophomore effort, The High Road, finds Jojo on the cusp of superstardom is a bit of an understatement. Featuring production and songs by such in demand hitmakers as Swizz Beatz, Soulshock, and Scott Storch -- the man who made Paris Hilton sound good -- it should come as little surprise that The High Road is a commercially oriented, radio-friendly contemporary pop-r&b album. What may be a surprise is that it is really, really good. These are well-written, catchy pop songs with a healthy dose of hip-hop rhythm that serve as solid launching pads for Jojo's superb vocal abilities. Coming off as a kind of urbanized Jennifer Aniston with the chops of Beyoncé, Jojo is an assured and likeable performer who can somehow embody the yin-yang persona of a suburban cheerleader slinging hip-hop attitude, as she does in the video for the ridiculously overwrought and utterly addictive lead-off single, "Too Little Too Late." It also helps that she's matured just enough so that her somewhat sexy persona makes a bit more sense now than it did in 2004, and she easily sells the cheeky and raw dance-funk of such tracks as "This Time" and "The Way You Do Me." However, it's the blissfully melodic ballads and mid-tempo anthems that make the biggest impression here. Cuts such as the gorgeous and dreamy "Like That" and "Anything," with its unexpectedly hip sampling of Toto's "Africa," make for gleefully enjoyable guilty pleasures. Similarly, "Good Ol'" is the best summer anthem ever to see release in the fall, and "'Comin' for You" smartly borrows some of Kelly Clarkson's rock energy. While Jojo may not be taking a career road less traveled, The High Road does make time for some surprising and memorable pit stops along the way. ~ Matt Collar, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alan Mason Assistant Engineer Alexa Ryan Wardrobe Barry Hankerson Executive Producer Beau Dozier Engineer, Producer Betsey Reyes Hair Stylist Bill Malina Engineer, Mixing Billy Steinberg Producer Bridget Benenate Vocal Arrangement Corey Williams Vocal Arrangement Dave Russell Vocal Engineer, Mixing, Engineer Diana Levesque Management Eric "Erk" Vargas Engineer Gene Grimaldi Mastering Genevieve Zaragoza Production Coordination George Holz Photography Jay Goin Assistant Engineer Jomo Hankerson Executive Producer Josh Alexander Producer, Engineer Josh Houghkirk Assistant Engineer Justin Trugman Producer Makeba Riddick Vocal Producer, Vocals (Background) Matthew Gerrard Vocal Arrangement, Strings, Producer, Percussion, Horn Matty Green Assistant Engineer Michael Woodrum Digital Editing Mikkel S. Eriksen Engineer, Musician Paul Foley Vocal Engineer, Engineer Peter Stengaard Producer Phil Tan Mixing Rich Keller Mixing Robert A. Arbittier Vocal Engineer Ryan Leslie Producer, Vocal Arrangement, Programming, Engineer, Musician Scott Somerville Assistant Engineer Scott Storch Producer Sean Garrett Producer Soulshock Arranger, Mixing, Producer, Musician Stacey "Swade" Wade Art Direction Swizz Beatz Producer Vincent Herbert Executive Producer, Producer, Vocal Producer