This Friday is a big moment for Kip Moore.
The Georgia native burst onto the scene back in 2012 with his debut album Up All Night and followed that up with a string of top to bottom phenomenal records, including Wild Ones and Slowheart, that earned him a cult-like following for the songwriting quality, gritty vocals, and raw, real life experience.
While it’s not new for him to take some time between projects, things have seemed to slow down over the past few years, due in part to the pandemic and in part to Kip evolving with the next phase of his life; no longer the young kid with a chip on his shoulder, but a country music veteran.
There’s no denying that Wild World, his most recent album from early 2020, had some great moments and still holds up as a quality, cohesive project to this day, but I think it’s also safe to say that it didn’t pack the same punch or create the same slow-burning love that his earlier ones did.
All that is to say Damn Love, his fifth studio album coming out this Friday, has the potential to take Kip on two paths.
Kip is one of the most consistent artists on the face of the planet with pretty much every song he’s ever put out being above average at minimum. But, I get the feeling that if this album doesn’t bring the heat, fans will start to put Kip in the category of artist who they still love and listen too, but believe their early work was their best.
On the other hand, if Kip comes out guns blazing and drops a powerful, complete album with depth, heart, and a feeling of authenticity, then he gets moved into a very select group of artists who continue to improve throughout their careers. Artists who don’t lose their footing in the spotlight, but use it as a high ground to take note of the world and all its complexities. It’s hard to do, but it’s how you become one of the few artists who go down as the best to have ever done it.
This Friday is a big, big moment for Kip Moore and if I was a betting man (which I am), I’m putting money on Kip joining that second group of artists who stamp their name on the genre in permanent ink.
Earlier today he posted a clip of “Sometimes She Stays,” track 9 from the album, on Instagram.
And check out he latest single released in the lead up, “Kinda Bar.”
