Now seven years since they first formed in 2002, and after some shuffling of band members, the Las Vegas-based band is back with their most radio-friendly album to date, It's Only Natural, out on Epitaph Records on June 23, 2009.
"We wrote the best songs that The Higher has ever written on this record. No matter what kind of music you listen to, you're going to find at least two songs that are your favorite," founding member and lead singer Seth Trotter says. "We have two songs the girls are going to love, two rock songs the guys who loved our old sound want, two R&B songs for those who liked our stuff like 'Insurance," two slow jams that people have been begging us to do for a long time, and two straight-up pop songs. It's like Noah's Ark on this record — there's two of everything!"
Not only is there something for everyone on this album, It's Only Natural also marks the band's first concept album, telling the story of what's been going on in The Higher's life. "It was written in the order it appears on the CD, starting with The Higher picking up the pieces of not having all the original members and going through betrayal, separation, and new beginnings, while also making the band thing happen, and moving forward," Trotter explains.
The album kicks off with two pop-rock tunes that reflect the sound early Higher fans know best with "Try Again" about separation, putting their best foot forward, and not dwelling on the past, and "Other Options" in which the band examines what they need to do in order to move forward. Those lead into the two most pop-friendly tracks, "Undertaker" about the band's roots and love for Las Vegas and the title track, "It's Only Natural," which addresses attraction and other 'natural' desires.
Next come the two most heart-wrenching tunes, the rock-based "Story of a Man Obsessed" about paranoia and obsession, and then the slow jam "The (Runaway) Artist," which Seth wrote on piano at the age 15, and adapted into a band tune, written from the point of view of a girl leaving town to follow her dreams.
"The first half of the record is about us realizing that things are falling apart," Trotter explains. "Then it goes on to make us realize we're going to be okay by ourselves."
The second half kicks off with the standout track, "Play with Fire," which Trotter calls their Michael Jackson's "Dirty Diana" of the album. The essence of the lyrics are about overconfident girls whose beauty is only matched by their unoriginality. Next up is their New Found Glory-style "Burn and Turn" about the coming and going of people and their vices, while not getting lost in the shuffle.
The song titles then hit a darker turn with the jazzy slow jam "The Black Dress" about picking a girl up at a funeral and mourning the loss in the only way that feels natural, and "Beautiful Coffins" is about the sad departure of an old friend and allowing them to dig their own grave. The album closes with a two-in-one track starting with "Scandalous" about a girl who's simply no good, and leading into "The Long Con" based off of an episode of the band's favorite show, Lost, in which two characters mutually screw each other over.
And to cap off the album, the band ends with a cover of Ne-Yo's R&B hit, "Closer." "Our band listens to a lot of R&B," Trotter says. "People who like rock may never listen to Ne-Yo, but the song is so undeniable that they might give our version a chance. Plus we like to mess around with covers and mix them up."
The Higher may not be the same band that they were on their last two albums, but they aren't ashamed to tell the story. "The album starts with the most natural way our band could have formed, to who we are now," Trotter says. Centeno adds, "This is our natural progression."
It's Only Natural that the band tells their story through the album. It's Only Natural that their music reflects their diverse mix of styles. It's Only Natural that the band is who they are today.
It's Only Natural, out on Epitaph Records on June 23, 2009.
The Higher announced their breakup in 2012
Scandalous
The Higher Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it's weighing on my mind
I'm pretty sure this happens all the time
All my desperation became my depression
Nowhere to go, nowhere to hide
Now that I know this happens all the time
I should've seen it in the way that you act
Behind my back
So scandalous
You're running around, all over town
I can't handle it
You're a dime I can't afford to lose
Cause I'm better off without you
Another victim
You're so vindictive
One more cadaver lying cold
Now that I'm sure this happens all the time
I should've seen it in the way that you act
You're scandalous
Behind my back
So scandalous
You're running around, all over town
I can't handle it
Licking your lips
You're scandalous
Ignorant bliss
So scandalous
You're making a scene, the gun isn't clean
I can't handle it
You're a dime I can't afford to lose
Cause I'm better off without you
You're just a nightlight hitting my blindside
Shining on more than you deserve
Now that I know this won't happen anymore
Oh no
The way that you act
You're scandalous
Behind my back
So scandalous
You're running around, all over town
I can't handle it
Licking your lips
You're scandalous
Ignorant bliss
So scandalous
You're making a scene, the gun isn't clean
I can't handle it
You're scandalous, so scandalous
Yeah, yeah, yeah, oh
You're scandalous, so scandalous
You're running around, all over town
I can't handle it
The lyrics of "Scandalous" by The Higher reflect the pain and hurt experienced by the singer, who has been cheated on by their partner. The song begins with the line "It was a lesson in indiscretion," suggesting that the singer has learned something about their partner's infidelity, and it's "weighing on my mind." Despite being hurt, the singer realizes that this kind of thing happens all the time, and their desperation has turned into depression, leaving them with nowhere to go and nowhere to hide.
The chorus, with the refrain "You're scandalous, behind my back, so scandalous," highlights the betrayal and deceit the singer is feeling. The partner is described as "running around, all over town," and the singer cannot handle it. They're aware of the partner's lies, indicated by the line "licking your lips," and the partner is described as being "ignorant bliss," not aware of the pain they're causing. The situation has escalated, and the singer is now at the point where they can't handle it anymore, and they know they're better off without their partner. The ending of the song reflects a sense of moving on, with the realization that the partner isn't worth the pain they're causing.
Line by Line Meaning
It was a lesson in indiscretion
It was a warning about being reckless and making poor choices
And it's weighing on my mind
I can't stop thinking about it
I'm pretty sure this happens all the time
I suspect that this is a common occurrence
All my desperation became my depression
My hopelessness turned into sadness
Nowhere to go, nowhere to hide
I have no escape from my situation
Now that I know this happens all the time
I have come to the realization that this is a frequent event
I should've seen it in the way that you act
I should've noticed your behavior as a red flag
You're scandalous
You are dishonest and deceitful
Behind my back
You are doing this without my knowledge or approval
So scandalous
You are causing a lot of damage with your actions
You're running around, all over town
You are being promiscuous and unfaithful
I can't handle it
I am unable to cope with the situation
Licking your lips
You are being suggestive and flirtatious
Ignorant bliss
You are unaware of the consequences of your actions
You're making a scene, the gun isn't clean
You are creating drama and complications that will have lasting effects
You're a dime I can't afford to lose
You are an attractive and valuable person to me that I can't let go of
Cause I'm better off without you
But ultimately, it's better for me to move on from this toxic situation
Another victim
I am not the only one to fall victim to your deceit
You're so vindictive
You are spiteful and malicious
One more cadaver lying cold
You have caused irreparable harm to another person
You're just a nightlight hitting my blindside
You were a surprise that caught me off guard
Shining on more than you deserve
You are receiving more attention than you should
Now that I know this won't happen anymore
I have finally freed myself from this cycle of deceit and hurt
You're scandalous, so scandalous
You are untrustworthy and dishonest
Yeah, yeah, yeah, oh
A vocalization expressing frustration or disbelief
You're running around, all over town
You are being unfaithful and disloyal
I can't handle it
I am unable to cope with the situation
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JASON ANTHONY CENTENO, DOUG MCCARTHY, ROBERT GENE RAGAN, SETH TROTTER, MIKE GREEN, SIMON WILCOX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind