Album Review: Wild Ones by Kip Moore



Kip Moore found success with his debut album, 2012's Up All Night, reaching the top of the charts with three singles - including one of my all-time favourite modern-country tunes, 'Somethin' About A Truck' - but found it harder than he expected to complete follow-up. In fact, after a lukewarm response to a few singles released over the last few years - I should note that I really loved both 'Dirt Road' and 'Young Love', but I was clearly in the minority on that front - Moore did a Kenny Chesney and scrapped the original work, deciding to record a brand-new album.

Unlike Chesney, Moore didn't have the advantage of being able to take a year off of touring, so Wild Ones was written and recorded in the midst of a pretty hectic touring schedule. Safe to say, the move to start over was a good one, because Wild Ones is a heavy collection of working-class songs that bridge the gap between modern-country and old-school heartland rock. 

It's no surprise, then, that Moore lists artists like Bruce Springsteen and Bob Seger, perhaps the two best proponents of heartland rock that ever walked the earth, as idols. You can hear the influence of both men on Moore's album, but, crucially, he hasn't gone straight down the line in copying with The Boss and Bob have done. Moore has mastered their sound, attached it to his own lyrical composition, and the results are pleasing.

There's a temptation to toss Moore into the same boat as the Florida Georgia Line's and Luke Bryan's of the world, and I guess with the bro-country leaning 'Somethin' About A Truck', you can understand why some might, but Wild Ones comes in short on the pop-friendly hooks that were present in his first release, and long on meaningful lyrics. Moore's throaty voice brings a wonderful intensity to every song. His voice is celebrated, and there are thousands of people who swear that he's one of the best live performers in country.

The title track and 'Lipstick' are two of my favourites, and when Moore graduates to arenas - surely, not too long away now - they're going to be front and centre on the set-list. 'Girl of the Summer' and the heavy 'Come and Get It" are my picks, but there are few songs that aren't good here.

Moore has co-written every one of the thirteen songs on Wild Ones, with help from songwriters like Rodney Clawson and Brett James (who also has producer credit), and despite the fact that this was a Nashville production through and through, there are many moments when you'd swear you were listening to a rock album. Play Wild Ones for someone who doesn't know that they're listening to something from the country section of the iTunes Store and they'd never guess.

There will be detractors because of how Moore's sound leans towards rock rather than traditional country, but the music songs good, and that's all that should matter.