I started this post a little differently originally, but deleted it and started over. Sadly you'll never know what the original begining had, sometimes I get carried away, write about things that should remain private, locked in a silly diary with a lock. I had one of those when I was in middle school. Got ruined because my family doesn't respect boundaries and they decided to read what I was writing. I don't know if there's anything that could scream private more than a diary. Ironically now, when I write a public blog none of them reads it. The fuck?
Either way, it's the 4th of July tomorrow. No, I don't care about American Independence day (y'all seen what happens if you type 4th of july into google?), what I care about is the fact that I was supposed to be in Bologna, Italy tomorrow at Sonic Park Fest. Ticking off one of my biggest dreams of the list. Seeing My Chemical Romance live. Something I dreamed about since 2005. Then they broke my heart by breaking up, now they're back together and I feel like the man upstairs saw me almost happy and decided to intervene with this fucking pandemic. Y'all music lovers feel my pain right? I swear no concerts feels like my therapist has died. Yes I'm aware that dates have been postponed to next year, but believe me that doesn't do much for me right now.
But instead of moping and crying into my FIFTH cup of coffee today, I'll write a quick review of an album that came out last Friday. Still hot from the press. It was a surprise in the mail for me, I didn't know it's coming, and a signed copy non the less. Literally full on sobbing. Y'all know how much I love this man…
I know bad pictures. It's mission impossible to take good pictures of a CD without the reflection, but you get the point. Also ALSO y'all should see the gorgeous smiley photo inside the booklet, but for that I'd have to take it out and smear his fingerprints that are most likely on it. Don't argue with the crazy fangirl right now. Hah. But really, gorgeous smile.
Alright, here's the deal, y'all know I'm a metal / rock child all the way. But also a total country girl and I enjoy this type of music so much. Don't be fooled though, not all artists. This one just happens to be my favourite. Well top five favourite. Not just his voice and music but also his kind nature. All in all a good man, great artist, amazing voice, beautiful lyrics, what more do you want?
OH MY GOD, can I just say I'm in love with this album? It's so perfect. Perfect, perfect, perfect. And I think he just may be the reason I finally go to the UK. Yes, yes I hear myself guys I do, but UK is the closest (as if it's close lol) that he tours to me. I mean everything is cancelled right now obviously (we should cancel life too ugh) but when things settle…it seems like a completely logical, rational decision and I can just see my family tearing my head off if I tell them I'm going to UK for a concert. Lol. Dad would understand I'm sure, but he'd tell me he's embarrassed that I'd go that far for anything that's not Rolling Stones. Well shit.
So the album has 13 songs all together and the first single came out in August titled ''She's mine'' and honestly you guys it was love at first play. Y'all seen the video? If not the link is HERE, go check it out. I'm so in love, it's simple, it's cute, it's fun and most importantly the song is so catchy and I just love it. Scared to check iTunes how many times was it played. Too many probably. Lol.
So the album opens with a song called ''Janie Blu''. Oh my god what a song! Like, his voice, all icicle and cotton candy, sand paper and cotton, leather and lace. You know what I mean? It's raspy, it's gritty, it's powerful and yet it's soft and it's gentle and it gives you the idea of his entire range and how he sounds live. Well how I imagine he sounds live, wasn't lucky enough to see if I'm right yet. But obviously I am. I just know. I have this hunch that Kip is a much better artist live than on the album. Sure album sounds amazing but all those growls, and grooves and things that make someone's voice special sorta get lost on a recording. There is nothing like listening to your favourite artists live as is, but sometimes things get lost in translation.
Second song is called ''Southpaw'' total outlaw anthem. Something I'd imagine myself whistling while running from the law. Yes, it wouldn't be the first time and if the last time it was Pitbull and Sheltons ''Get ready'' then Southpaw might be more on point. Guys! Imagine this song live! It's a Bon Jovi type stadium anthem. Well, better, since Jon's preforming standards these days are rather low. The song ''Southpaw'' feels like it's about that kinda life, you know, the outlaw life, there's a line ''wanted by the law and every woman''. But that's not what the song is about at all. He recently in an interview explained that this song talks more about his disgust with modernity than his desire to be a bad boy. He told the ''American Songwriter'';
''I get a little frustrated with the way I see society shaping up and the way everything’s become a little vanity-ridden. Social media to me has gotten out of hand. At times I just feel like I was born at the wrong time and I feel kind of isolated in those thoughts. And then it makes me feel like maybe I’m crusty and jaded. I’m not sure. I’m still trying to process the way I feel sometimes about the way I see everything going.'' (full interview HERE)
Can I just say I completely agree? I feel the same way about society, about social media, about these standards and ''normality'' being forced upon us and definatelly about being born in the wrong time and being isolated with my own thoughts. Not so much thoughts maybe as I am in this place. People are different than I am, and their ''normal'' isn't my ''normal''. It's rough. I get you Kip.
This album is a bit different because sure these are in a way love songs but not the whole rot your teeth sweet, like Bon Jovi will (please for the love of everything holy write something political Jon) but honest. They aren't looking trough heart shapped glasses but real songs, rugged. Love isn't always pretty and it's not always happy. The people in his songs are real people, flawed people. People who are trying to fit in in a place they don't feel they belong. People trying to find their place under the sun. He says that he's a private person and that the only real open and honest are his songs, which I think what the last song ''Payin' hard'' is about. Personal. Raw. Honest.
Don't you just love how country music can make you love the little things? The dirt roads, barefoot walking on the grass, the small towns, country life, skinny dipping in the lake, the sound a truck makes driving over the railroads, Friday nights, bonfires, something to sip on and not a care in the world, tailgate down watching the stars, no hurry, nothing but time to spend. Easy times, easy life. Gotta love that vibe. I miss it everyday. Living in the city. It aint easy. It's not a big city, but it's far from the free, open, country life I had when I was younger.
Right back to the album. It goes on with ''Fire and flame''. Another one to sing along to on a stadium. I wish. I love the line in this song ''When I was desperate and I lost my faith, I found an angel is a broken place''. And I love the voice he sings this in, that perfect raspy voice that literally gives me shivers and goosebumps all over my body.
The story goes on with the album title song ''Wild world''. Another nice one although with maybe a bit over used phrases. ''Mama said'' and ''life is short, some days are long''. Nothing wrong with that though and I love how he simply but straightforward makes a point with ''be proud of the blue around your collar''.
Next song is ''Red white blue jean American dream'' and oh my god I am obsessed. This is probably my new favourite song, which is super ironic because it's the only song on the album not written by Kip Moore. Lol. It was written by Jimi Beil, Barton Davies, Phillip Lammonds and Luke Dick, listing them here to thank them because I do love the song so much, and also for my family, if they ever venture here to know who to ''thank'' for being tortured with this song on reply. I love it so much did I say? Starts with a ''Well it's a great big world, with a lot of little things to see, so what you say, girl, do you wanna see 'em all with me?'' uh, yes! You don't even need to ask, anyday, anytime. On a serious note this is a fast pace, fun song, easy to listen, easy to sing along, easy to play real loud in a pickup while driving around with no destination. And I just love the chorus ''Well, Dylan went to New York, Cash went to Nashville, Mark Twain floated on the Mississippi queen. Daddy planted roots in Dixon county, mama's mama never left the front porch swing. We can climb the Eiffel tower in Paris Texas, Rock rock city in Tennessee, rollin' down the road, you and me just chasin' that red white blue jean American dream''. Perfection right there.
Next song, ''She's mine'' just seriously go watch the video. And that smile. Ugh the cutness is killing me. If you love Tom Petty and Heartbreakers (and I do obviously) then go listen to this song, you'll love it. Did I say my friend and I added a line to that song and filmed a ridiculous remake of the video, in which I may have danced in booty shorts on the hood of his ancient Mercedes? Good times. Shoulda been a pickup though, I keep telling him that. I aint a Merc girl, I'm a pickup, redneck hick all the way.
''Hey old lover'' that's about a booty call right? I mean ''hey old lover, won't you come on over? Heard you're in between boyfriends from your mother, I always thoguht we'd end up together'' okay maybe not just a booty call but more of a…I don't know a potential for a happy end. You know? When you're dating someone and things are perfect and then they don't work out but maybe years later you find eachother again, and try again and everything is perfect? I know I know…when did that ever happen? Well it did for Brantley Gilbert, but how many Brantley's are there? I guess it's rare, but isn't that exactly what makes it that much more special?
After old lovers there's ''Grow on you'' and if that's not the cutest song than I don't know what is. Okay it's a bit cocky not going to lie but oh my god so cute! The ''Like ivy up a hickory, down in muddy Mississippi, I'm puttin' down roots and I'ma gonna grow on you'', for the love of everything holy stop promising and just do it already, I'm still waiting. Lol. I guess he declared his love and his dedication to make things work to a girl who's not yet sold on him in this song. Or say not completely convinced yet (crazy or…?). Guitar parts in this one are just fun, the whole song is fun, edgy, more rock n roll vibe. It's just a cool song.
Then you got ''More than enough'' which is the perfect example of that leather and lace, icicle and cotton candy thing that I described ealier. It demands your attention from the first note because it's different. It's so soft, delicate, tender, soothing. It's the type of love song that any girl would want to hear. Someone pouring their heart out to them, promising forever, in better or worse, sickness and health, rich or poor, all those things people promise each other on their wedding day but forget about in a years time. Under the cold facade and the (as my friends love to say) serial killer glare I'm actually all gooey for romance and love songs (sorry but classic rockers going for love ballads? That shit makes a bitch hot under her collar). This song though ''If Uncle Sam goes and steals my money, I'm good with a spoonful of your sweet honey, and I'll be sittin' pretty and rich on love, love, love. If the rain won't stop and the sun don't shine, hit a tough spot, baby, we'll be fine, you in my arms is all I need, just a little bit of your love is more than enough for me''. Perfect isn't it? And isn't that what we all want? I don't need a big house, expensive cars, things that society makes us think we need, I just need that. My person. That one person who's there through good and bad and who's demons play well with mine. Don't get me wrong material things like a Harley outside are nice, but in the end of the day, nothing will make you as happy as wrapping your arms around someone you love and someone that loves you and makes you feel like home. Home is not a place after all, home is a person. Family, partner, children, people that love you, they make up a home not four walls.
''Sweet Virginia'' is another fun track. I wasn't sure when looking at the title does he mean a woman or the state. Lol kinda like that Nelly thing ''Hey lil' Porsha''. If that's about a car then I'm a pitbull. Hah. This is a cool song with this energetic, funky guitar rhytm which is just in perfect harmony with his sweet voice.
Next song is ''South'' which you know is more relatable. I live in the south of my part of the world. Well just on the begining of the southern part but still. People tend to behave more southern than most. In a bad way. Like the ones the meme's are about you know? This song had quite a few co-writers and just confirmes what he said in the interview I mentioned earlier. That he was born in the wrong era (me too carino me too) because it has this cool 80's vibe. Listening to it I could easily imagine it's a much older song than it is. And it has that heartbreak, pining, endless love feel to it that 80's love songs have ''my love will still be hangin' around, when the birds fly south''. The end of the summer illusion too which brings us back to his album ''Slowheart'' and the song ''Sunburn''. A lot of country songs sing about the end of summer really. I feel that on a deep personal level, to me too it feels almost like life is ending when the summer is over. I hate rain, I hate cold, god forbid snow. And lets not even get into the gray, murky, depressed weather.
Next before last is ''Crazy for you tonight'', which gets me like, fuck tonight, I'm crazy for you always. Hah, seriously, ignore the crazy fangirl, hopped up on caffeine and broken dreams of tomorrows cancelled concert and the fact that I'm writing a Kip Moore album review while Backstreet Boys play on the loop in the back. Don't judge, we all have our guilty pleasures and I can't focus with new music playing, I get too distracted listening to it, I forget to write. Which, as you see is a problem, I can barely keep on track while writing these. I keep getting carried away. I love ''Crazy for you tonight'' because I feel like it's a song I can relate to. I'm a little crazy too, people call me dangerous all the time, in a world of squares I am definatelly a circle that doesn't fit in so yes, I feel this song. The whole point of the song, being in love and ready to ignore all the doubters and haters, I get that too. I've been there, in love with someone for who the entire world told me is not right for me or I for him but fuck it, we were happy despite it all. ''you may think I'm a littly crazy, but I'm only crazy for you tonight''. Always.
Last song just might be the most important song. It's titled ''Payin' hard'' and like I said above that one most personal, most emotional, most honest song. Y'all heard ''Guitar man'' right? This is that same vibe. The song is the shortest one on the album, with just 2:48, while others (except Hey old lover) are all around 3 or 4 min. But we get it, shorter to get over it quicker. The song reflects his feelings, his doubts, fears if maybe he did some things he shouldn't have done. There are verses in it about lost love, his late father and the future. The future one is maybe a bit scary to be honest. But I love how he does a full circle and Janie is mentioned in this song again. It's poetic, starting the album with Janie and ending it. She's a real person too I hear. Not just an idea. His dad Stanley died in 2011 but I think this song is the first song where he let his emotions flow more obvious. I don't think he dealt with his pain in any other song. ''And now he's gone, the kind of gone that don't come back. I only see him now in dreams that I have, I gotta live with that, lose sleep with that, when I close my eyes I'll die with that''. Another one that hits home. I understand his loss. I've been there and I felt just what he feels.
The future part though, that one kinda scares me there's a line ''So long my friends, I guess this is my farewell, damn all these pennies swimming in my wishing well, told every single story that I have to tell, I'll live with that, sleep with that, make my peace and I'll die with that''. It's kinda…you know, it rubs you the wrong way, especially if you know that he's the person to not announce a retirement but just disappear. And though it's not on me of course, or any of us fans, I'd be extremely sad in a world without his music.
Either way, this album is nothing but perfection, don't let the whole ''country artist'' fool you though, Kip is a rocker and nothing but. This is nothing like Johnny Cash or Willie Nelson type country music. This is more a fuse of country and rock which goes more to the rock side than it does country. What stands out to me most is the moments on this album that give us little glimpses of a different Kip. The contrasts I talked about, sweet and edgy. Sugar and spice kinda thing. You know why I love him? Because I love Bruce Springsteen and Kip, and this album especially is a country rock version of Bruce Springsteen. All of it. The lyrics, the music, the vibe. All of it. I've seen him preform live on youtube (please God, make him tour somewhere closer than UK, I am literally begging) and I feel like he stands out from all those country stars just there. As a preformer. He's fun, his production is polished to perfection, musicians are all amazing and his voice just has no competition.
Maybe the songs are a bit too ''safe'' you know, familiar, like the old songs are, which personally for me is perfect, I love him just as he is, but I wonder what would happen if he'd explore different types or music as well. Or different sounds. Could be interesting. Though lets be honest, a singer that came on the scene singing about beer, girls and pickup trucks (basically every other country star then eh? Lol but still better than twerking and all that gross crap that makes you take birth control just to listen to, yuck) he obviously grew a lot, and really evolved, both musically and especially lyrically. This is not just another modern, country, rock album, it's a Kip Moore album and that's rather obvious in his style and sound, which is unique to him and him alone.
If you're looking for something different to listen to, something new, something fun and exciting, or you're just curious, give this one a listen, I'm certain you'll love it. Probably not as much as I do (obsessed I swear) but that's probably not possible anyways.
Alright, let me put the record back on from the start while I get ready. Another Friday, another protest, this time hopefully I can say ''I fought the law and I won'' not ''I fought the law and the law won''.
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