Kip Moore – Damn Love Review

Damn Love is the 6th album of the American Country superstar KIP MOORE. I am not too familiar with his earlier work, but in the past 15 years he has built up quite a career in the USA with his country crossover pop/rock, and upon looking at the early 80s frontcover of this new CD it seems that he adds a slight electronic 80s touch to his music via the use of a keyboard. The album was co-produced by him and Jaren Johnston (of the southern rockband THE CADILLAC THREE), and in total 13 songs are included. Kip wrote most of the songs with outside writers DAN COUCH and the aforementioned JAREN JOHNSTON, who also plays bass, drums and electric guitar.

 

I am quite impressed while listening to the album, although I have to say that the first couple of songs are pretty much typical radio-ready country crossover American pop/rocksongs like we have known it for over a couple of decades. The past few years original traditional country music has almost completely died, because Nashville prefers to rock a bit more. Just have a listen to the last studio album of other country hotshot JASON ALDEAN, and you will agree with me that this is closer to classic American Melodic Rock than Country Music. Anyway, Kip starts with a couple of country crossover midtempo pop/rocksongs that do sound nice, but not sensational. However, he is a great singer/songwriter with an amazing voice, and especially during the following calmer songs Neon Blue and The Guitar Slinger this can be heard very clearly. The Guitar Slinger is a superb semi country/southern rocksong that even sounds a bit like the late JIMI JAMISON (SURVIVOR) during his 70s TARGET days, and also LYNYRD SKYNYRD and BLACKBERRY SMOKE come to mind here! The song has a playing length of 6 minutes, so it is definitely one of the standout songs here. Heart On Fire follows, and although this radio-ready uptempo classic AORish poprocker has again the 80s influences, here it sounds damn catchy and actually quite modern, on par with acts like THE WAR ON DRUGS, THE KILLERS and THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM, although yours truly also hears similarities to classic 80s JIMMY BARNES, REFUGEE (remember them?), JOHN CAFFERTY and such. Another Night In Knoxville is another memorable semi-ballad, this time with a raw outlaw-country/southern touch, while Kip’s voice sounds absolutely amazing here!

 

Other highlights on the CD are the catchy 80s uptempo AOR/Poprocker Silver And Gold (a definite hit potential song that almost sounds exactly like a classic BRYAN ADAMS, RICK SPRINGFIELD tune!), Peace & Love (catchy 80s influenced midtempo poprocker), and closing track Micky’s Bar (powerful country/southern rock ish semi ballad). Although Kip is a country superstar, this album finds him challenging other genres, in particular 80s American Melodic Poprock/AOR and a tiny bit light Southern Rock. I think if you like 38 SPECIAL, DUKE JUPITER, DOC HOLIDAY or any of the aforementioned acts, then you should definitely check out this album as well, because it is really good. It might be a bit too poppy for the rockers among us, but nobody can deny that Kip has one of the greatest old school voices in country/rock at the moment, and the fact he is now also adding that American 80s pop/rock touch to his sound, it should give him credits enough to have a listen! As already mentioned, if you hear him sing a pop ballad like Sometimes She Stays, he sounds dangerously close to Jimi Jamison… Make sure not to miss this talented singer/songwriter

 

 

Written by: Gabor Kleinbloesem

Ratings: Gabor   9/10