High Valley recently released their fifth studio album, ‘Dear Life’. This album stays true to their country roots, as the predominant instrument on the entire album is a banjo. The banjo compliments each song differently and is sonically pleasing with each set of new lyrics. It features 11 new songs, which are soon to become favorites.
1) ‘She’s With Me’ – Written by Brad Rempel, Seth Mosley, and Ben Stennis.
Impression: The first track to this album starts off strong with a banjo opening and upbeat tempo. It’s about that girl you have in your life and you can’t believe that you actually get to call her yours. She’s completely amazing and you still get hung up on the fact that she’s with you due to how “out of my league” she is.
Favorite Lyrics: When my dreams are running out of road, and the world around me’s turning cold, anyone else would up and leave, but she’s with me…
2) ‘Dear Life’ – Written by Brad Rempel, Seth Mosley, and Ben Stennis.
Impression: This is the title track to the album and features a little bit of a slower tempo. In this track, High Valley writes a message to life. The song is asking life what is has to offer. They tell life that they are scared that it is going by so fast. They use a play on words in saying that they are holding on for “dear life.” Although it may seem like a depressing song, they’re beats and optimism in their voices make it less intense of a song.
Favorite Lyrics: You’re scaring me to death, I’m trying to catch my breath, don’t wanna let you go I’m hanging on for, dear life…
3) I Ain’t Changin’ – Written by Brad Rempel, Seth Mosley, and Jessi Alexander.
Impression: This song is about staying true to who you are. It portrays this message through yet another positive, uplifting tempo. It is telling you to never change despite where you go, who you meet, or how far you move away. You should stick to your roots and be who you are.
Favorite Lyrics: Yeah, what you see is what you get, no matter what they say, I ain’t changing…
4) Make You Mine – Written by Brad Rempel, Seth Mosley, and Ben Stennis.
Impression: This is the frequently played song on the radio that everyone knows all too well. With this beyond-catchy song, you can’t help but sing it every time you hear it. It talks about making that girl you have been eyeing all this time, finally yours. There is a strong banjo and guitar outro.
Favorite Lyrics: In my arms tonight, I can feel the beating of your heart, I’m gonna make you mine…
5) ‘Don’t Stop’ – Written by Brad Rempel, Seth Mosley, and Ben Stennis.
Impression: In this slower paced, yet encouraging song, the boys reach out to all people in a message that says to never stop dreaming your dreams, being who you are, or doing what you do. There will be people who criticize you and try to tear you down, but keep making your own spotlight and path. Everything else doesn’t matter.
Favorite Lyrics: Love it while you got it right here, right now…
6) ‘The Only’ – Written by Jon Nite, Ross Copperman, and Nicolle Gaylon.
Impression: Every guy out there has that one girl that they will always love no matter what and that girl will always have a special place in his heart. For some guys, this girl could still be present in his life. This song is about how a girl can impact your life by the way you’re reminded of her in everything you see/hear. She consumes your thoughts and she would never be like one of those late night calls, she will always be number one. Very relatable. This song is a personal favorite of mine on the album because of how relatable it is.
Favorite Lyrics: Always was, always gonna be, always gonna only be you…
7) ‘Roads We’ve Never Taken’ – Written by Brad Remel, Tom Douglas, and Jaren Johnston.
Impression: The seventh song has a banjo twang with a hard drum beat that you can tap along to. It’s a song for the people that have a dream of going out and traveling the roads they have never taken. They want to get out and explore the world. They only need the road and the scenery.
Favorite Lyrics: It’s called leaving for a reason, mistakes are made for makin’…
8) ‘I Be U Be’ – Written by Brad Rempel and Jenson Vaughan.
Impression: ‘I Be U Be’ is another song dedicated to “the girl” in your life. She is the half that makes you whole, or “the singer to his song.” Without her in his life, he would be incomplete. She balances out every quality he has with harmony. It has an upbeat catchy tempo that can be easily hummed along too.
Favorite Lyrics: You’re the only perfect part of me, without you my life is incomplete…
9) ‘Memory Makin’’ – Written by Brad Rempel, Seth Mosley, and Ben Stennis.
Impression: We make memories everyday with the people we love. They give us something to look back on and it has us wishing we could relive that moment or bottle it up forever. With the person you love, making memories is a part of the relationship and there’s nothing better than creating new things to look back on. ‘Memory Makin’’ is a song to describe just that.
Favorite Lyrics: Do you believe that there’s a “meant to be”?
10) ‘Soldier’ – Written by Brad Rempel and Jenson Vaughan.
Impression: To switch things up a little, this song has a bit of a pop tempo during the chorus, paired with banjos (of course). ‘Soldier’ talks about protecting and looking after a loved one or significant other. I think it can also be synonymous with a soldier protecting their country, as well.
Favorite Lyrics: Made a vow to keep you safe, i’ll take that promise to the grave, soldier…
11) ‘Young Forever’ – Written by Brad Rempel, Seth Mosley, and Ben Stennis.
Impression: The last song of the album is sure to be a summer anthem that you will sing at the top of your lungs with your friends by a campfire. It takes you right back to the high school days with all of your close friends when you thought that moment would never pass. The most relatable song on the album, for me personally. It’s a great song and can fill the listener with a lot of nostalgia. This song is also another favorite of mine on the album.
Favorite Lyrics: We make, we make the rules, break em’ when we want to, long as we’re together we’ll stay young forever…
If you haven’t already, go out and get High Valley’s newest album ‘Dear Life’. Get ready to hear these songs featured on summer 2017 playlists everywhere!
You can purchase High Valley’s ‘Dear Life‘ on iTunes here.