HumpHead Records HUMP174

Almost three years after its American release, Kip Moore’s impressive debut album finally gains a UK release to coincide with his Country2Country appearances, with no less than seven additional bonus tracks, making for a genuine value-for-money 18 track album. I’ve lived with the American Deluxe edition, a 14-track release, for a couple of years, so know this album inside out. When I initially listened to the album, mistakenly I considered Moore’s vocal timbre to be somewhat lacking in distinction, which in today’s super-saturated male dominated country market, could be deemed a major problem. But gradually he won me over with the sheer strength of his material (all songs are co-written by the singer), the inventive, roots-rock styled musical arrangements and his rough but expressive, soulful and haunted vocals.

His small-town Georgia upbringing informs his writing. The songs are honest, real. The music a compelling blend of heartland rock, country, and bluesy rock—a very tasty slice of Americana. In many respects this is a looking-back collection of coming-of-age songs as he reflects ruefully and humorously on the roller coaster of love and loss. The hypnotic Mary Was The Marrying Kind is the story of the one who got away. The heartbeat rhythm section is perfection. Whether reflecting on missing a loved one (Everything But You) or capturing the bare beauty of lovers in the rhythmic love song (Crazy One More Time), Kip Moore wears his heart on his sleeves.
He consistently shows a flair for adept lyrics, especially with ballads. Hey Pretty Girl boasts gritty Earle/Springsteen lyrics delivered with an appealingly soft drawl and ruggedly instrumental drive. Reckless (Still Growin’ Up) finds him blending southern swagger with a backwoods twist as he outlines his meandering journey from Georgia to Nashville. Then there’s the lightweight radio hits Somethin’ About A Truck and Beer Money, both of which are a cut above the usual ‘Bro-country’ fare that currently dominates American country radio playlists. Kip Moore’s roots-rock can lean toward soul or country or Springsteen, and it’s filled with yearning and promises as he creates a modern musical landscape rooted in the raw, yet nuanced strength of his words and performance.

www.humpheadcountry.com

January 2015