On album number five (or four, depending on how you choose to classify the two-volume From a Room), Chris Stapleton has settled into a comfort zone predicated not on burly outlaw machismo but country-soul. Not that Higher doesnt have moments where Stapleton indulges in a bit of bluesy swagger: "White Horse," a lead single co-written with Dan Wilson, is an anthem designed for dusty backroads, while the swampy grind of "South Dakota" seems designed for the dead of night. Still, the heart of Higher resides in stark, intimate ballads and, especially, simmering soul numbers that rely as much on a supple groove as they do on Stapletons gruff testifying. Indeed, there are moments on the album where Stapleton is in danger of belaboring the point by leaning into his rasp a bit too hard; it feels like hes singing from the gut, not the heart. Still, those passages are balanced by his dexterous phrasing -- hes riding and playing with the rhythms, letting them build and burn. On the numbers that dont rely on an R&B backbeat, Stapleton can seem earnest and candid, particularly since he keeps returning to confessional themes loosely tied together by recovery motifs. Serious subjects all, but Higher doesnt feel heavy, largely thanks to the records pervasive warmth. Once again working with co-producer Dave Cobb, Stapleton also has his wife Morgane behind the boards in addition to singing harmony and playing keyboards, a tight, familial group of collaborators that gives Higher a relaxed, familiar feel that keeps things buoyant even in its darkest moments. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Rovi