Kip Moore, Damn Love | Track Review 🎵

Country singer Kip Moore drops a relatable single in “Damn Love” that perfectly captures the varying actions and emotions incited by L-O-V-E.

“Got you fakin’ that smile / But you can’t let go of her hand.” Country singer 🎙 Kip Moore perfectly characterizes love,  the universal four-letter word which incites varying emotions on his single, 🎵 “Damn Love”.  “Damn Love” serves as the promo single and opener for Kip’s fifth studio album, also titled, 💿 Damn Love.  “Damn Love” was written by 🎼 ✍ Jason McNair, Jaren Johnson, and Jason Gant.  Johnson and Moore produce the love-centric joint. 

While the songwriting exceptionally captures the sheer chaos and elation that love can bring, maybe what’s more interesting is the sound of the record.  Initially, “Damn Love” does not sound like a country song.  That is more commonplace with the genre incorporating cues and musical influences from various styles, but initially listening, I questioned, when does the ‘country’ enter the picture.  Sure enough, we get those guitars which instill that country edge, not to mention those gritty, nuanced vocals of Kip Moore.  Something that always shined about Moore’s voice is the coarse nature – it is incredibly expressive.  Moore sounds strong throughout with the centerpiece, the chorus, being where his bread is most buttered:

“Oh, no you can’t tell it nothing

Oh, it’s that strong kind of something

For the bees, for the birds

No surprise, it’s a four letter word

It’ll heal, it’ll kill, it’ll hurt

I hope you’re tough

Damn love.”

Final Thoughts 💭

All in all, “Damn Love” is a solid promo single from Kip Moore.  Even if you’re not a country music enthusiast, you can relate to the message, and, you just might dig the sound of this record.  Sure, country purists might cry foul with the non-native country cues used at times, but ultimately, like many great country songs, it delivers a story that is well worth hearing.  “It’s the best and your worst friend / Keeps you hanging on to the end / It’ll sure mess you up / Yeah / Damn love.”

via GIPHY

🎙 Kip Moore • 💿 Damn Love • 🏷 UMG Recordings, Inc. / MCA Nashville  • 🗓 4.28.23

[📷: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; UMG Recordings, Inc. / MCA Nashville ; OpenClipart-Vectors, PIRO via Pixabay]