Album Review – Justin Moore’s “Kinda Don’t Care”
Who even knew it was possible for Justin Moore to sell out at this point in his career. It seemed like he had succumb so demonstrably to this distinction previously, there was nowhere to go but up. Yet despite being small in stature, apparently Justin More is big on disappointment, figuring out how to further confound core fans, while presenting a brand new set of gripes against him by long-time naysayers.
Justin Moore’s 2011 album Outlaws Like Me once held the dubious distinction of being considered Saving Country Music’s worst album in the history of country music. Florida Georgia Line came along later and knocked Justin off the pedestal with Anything Goes. But at least Outlaws Like Me was country. It was all the laundry list cliches that made listening to it unbearable. Yet not everybody came to that conclusion.
Though the complaints about Moore’s accent being fake have fueled criticisms for many years, and the songwriting has certainly left much to be desired, from the mainstream perspective, at least his voice and music sounded country. He was mainstream pop country’s pseudo traditionalist, if that makes sense. And hey, his 2013 record Off The Beaten Path did show some improvement.
And then we get this. Granted, Kinda Don’t Care is just kinda bad when you listen to it in totality. It’s not some horrifically terrible album when you compare it to some other efforts coming out of the mainstream at the moment. But Justin Moore does what all musical artists should refuse to do no matter what the cost—cross your core fans.
As strange as it may seem, Justin Moore was seen by many as the last cowboy with the courage to sound country. Which would now mean there is one fewer, or none. Many of the tracks of Kinda Don’t Care fit in with what we’ve come to expect from Justin Moore. But then there are these forays into Bro-Metual a la Thomas Rhett that if you’re a Redman-spitting, Lucchese-wearing roper in nut-huggers, your shaking your head in damn shame.
It’s a Rubicon that can’t be crossed, and Justin Moore just crossed it. Sure maybe you can have a song that sounds a little pop or maybe even starts off with an electronic dance beat. But songs like “Between You and Me,” “Goodbye Back,” and especially “Somebody Else Will,” take Justin Moore to the point of no return, leaving fans behind, and hoping that new ones will replace the ones who fall off.
But is Justin Moore really going to compete with Sam Hunt and Thomas Rhett on radio or anywhere else? He’s Justin Moore. His thick accent and unbending country nature is what his fans love about him.
“Let’s just be honest, it’s harder to get country music played on country radio,” Justin recently said to Rolling Stone. Well that’s refreshing if nothing else is. Finally a major label artist acknowledging that country radio today isn’t really country. But then watch him try to dance around the issue of how he once was known as the guy beating his fist on his chest about how he was too country for Nashville, but is now releasing froofie songs about hooking up in dance clubs and getting busy in cabs.
“I wanted to create something that was still me that wasn’t compromising what I really enjoy about country music but something that sounds modern. I was kind of nervous about that, because I don’t ever want to contradict myself from a music standpoint. I don’t want to disappoint my hardcore fan base that allowed me to have the opportunity to be sitting here right now making a fourth album.
But contradicting himself is exactly what Justin Moore does in Kinda Don’t Care. It doesn’t matter how many straight-laced country songs you release, a song like “Somebody Else Will” will leave such a bad taste in the mouth of core fans, they’ll never come back. But of course Justin Moore is a franchise, and mainstream country music franchises have no clue how to market records beyond releasing songs they think radio will play, and hoping that facilitates enough spins on Spotify to recoup the production costs. They’ve learned nothing from the success of Chris Stapleton and others, and don’t seem to be paying attention that the business model for American radio is 18 months from foreclosure.
And what was Kinda Don’t Care‘s lead single? “You Look Like I Need a Drink,” which is classic Justin Moore, and kinda not terrible. You better hope that “Between You and Me” and “Somebody Else Will” are blockbusters on radio, because something has to compensate pissing off those fans you put Justin here in the first place. And Kinda Don’t Care doesn’t have enough good songs to counterbalance the bad. But again, you can’t even look at it like that. To traditionalists, you can’t just be kinda country. That’s kind of like being kinda pregnant. You can’t cross the line of putting out a terrible, radio pandering pop song. And Justin Moore just did.
And beyond the bad pop selections on this record, you have terrible songs like Justin’s duet with Brantley Gilbert called “More Middle Fingers.” Of course this songs was cut with Mr. Attitude himself. All of Gilbert’s fans act like he gets a raw deal and not enough credit for songwriting, yet songs like “More Middle Fingers” are the ones that keep cropping up and catching your attention.
Kinda Don’t Care isn’t a bad album; it’s a kinda bad album. But it’s a terrible album for Justin Moore because he’s just turned his back on the people who believed in him as breath of fresh country music air in the mainstream, and the one who wouldn’t give up on them like everyone else has done.
Austin Lee
August 18, 2016 @ 8:35 am
Not gonna lie I was pretty pissed when I heard this record and still am. I know there have been many discrepancies here with Justin but he was always someone you could count on to at least have country music playing behind songs no matter what they were about. This is just embarrassing I have his signature on my most prized guitar. I’ve been burnt by Justin and Dierks with mediocre records this year from now on I’m gonna preview before I get em Friday morning.
MH
August 18, 2016 @ 8:58 am
That’s why it’s wise to get the legends to sign prized possessions.
Austin Lee
August 18, 2016 @ 3:42 pm
Yeah note taken. This was even before outlaws came out I had it with me and he was there. And no I’m still keeping it haha
Charlie
August 18, 2016 @ 9:11 am
Whattaya take fer it? $20??
*Revs up his sander*
Donny
August 18, 2016 @ 9:34 am
Kinda Don’t Care is a damn good song but the only good one on the album. Other than that, the album is brutal.
Kevin Davis
August 18, 2016 @ 2:59 pm
Justin was interviewed in Charlotte yesterday (b/c he was in town to promote the album), and he was asked about his favorite songs on the album. The first song he talked about was “Kinda Don’t Care,” which he described as “traditional.” And, indeed, it is traditional, relatively speaking. Even Justin knows what’s good, but he still sells his soul to the Nashville corporate devil.
seak05
August 18, 2016 @ 9:48 am
Justin Moore feels like Blake Shelton a decade ago. He’s had some decent success, and sounded sort of country, but then decided he wanted more success and needed to get more “modern”. I don’t think it’s going to work out as well for Justin though (for many reasons) as it did for Blake. I just eagerly anticipate the time when more commercial success = going more country..I sort of hope we’re approaching that point.
Acca Dacca
August 18, 2016 @ 3:51 pm
I think Blake’s descent into darkness was a little more recent than a decade ago. In 2007 he released Pure BS, which for my money is his best album and pretty damn good on its own merits, if perhaps not great. It was also still country — the final track on the album was even called “The Last Country Song” and featured John Anderson and George Jones. That wasn’t his sellout moment, it was the epitome of his quality and perhaps the final part of his original career trajectory. Around the time he cut “God Gave Me You” is when he was done with real country (notice he’s in a suit on the cover instead of his “country” clothes like on the Hillbilly Bone EP). Sure, his music got a lot stupider with “Hillbilly Bone” and “Kiss My Country Ass”, but the songs were still country, methinks, whereas everything he’s put out since really isn’t.
seak05
August 19, 2016 @ 6:32 am
I agree with you on Pure BS, it was a good album…and it didn’t sell. So then they re-released it with “Home” a pop song, which turned into a huge hit for Blake. I sort of feel like that’s when Blake’s music started to swing towards pop country, and it was roughly a decade ago (I guess technically 9 years ;p).
Acca Dacca
August 19, 2016 @ 2:52 pm
I’d forgotten about that song as it’s on the deluxe edition and I don’t think I’ve ever actually heard the original. You’re right, though, even if I think that “Home” is a far cry from “Boys ‘Round Here.” Plus, his version of the song isn’t bad at all, nor a sin of the highest order (in my opinion). Let’s not forget that Willie Nelson’s biggest selling album is Stardust.
Marky Mark
August 18, 2016 @ 6:42 pm
Blake Shelton has the look the ladies like, thus he can get away with crappy music. Justin Moore is a midget, I don’t think his looks will carry him the same way. …but then again, I have no idea what women like so why am I even talking?
Nate
August 18, 2016 @ 9:50 am
To be pretty honest, I’d always enjoyed Justin Moore’s music. He’d rarely release something substantial though he did have his moments with “If Heaven wasn’t So Far Away” and “One Dirt Road.” To me, he’s just been a fun mainstream artist to listen to with plenty of steel guitar and fiddle. There are some bright moments on this album. But like you said, Trigger, he’s never gonna compete with the bros like Thomas Rhett who take the r&b route. He’s a cowboy, and he had been authentic. But now he’s alienated his fans like me who were fine with his previous work. A little less substantial than we would have liked? Sure. But until now, you could count on his traditionalism to shine through. I still bought the album and enjoyed some of it, but I’m fairly disappointed with the new sound.
Trigger
August 18, 2016 @ 11:12 am
I never fully understood why people liked Justin Moore until I heard this record and how he went away from what many found appealing about him.
Nate
August 18, 2016 @ 12:40 pm
Yeah, I mean, he’s never been an artist that was gonna receive a lot of critical acclaim. And he shouldn’t be one that does. But it was nice to have someone on country radio who didn’t use drum loops, wore a cowboy hat, and spoke with a deep Southern drawl. Does that automatically mean he’s authentic? No. But that little bit of traditionalism was always nice. I’m a dedicated reader of this website, but I’ll admit that I probably listen to a little more mainstream country than most visitors to this website. Moore had seemed to carve out a nice little niche for himself in Nashville. He wasn’t a big star, but he clearly wants to gain more relevance with this album. But in all of the interviews I’ve seen with him, he just seems depressed about what he recorded. He’s said a couple times that he thinks this is the best album he’s released, but I have no doubts that he isn’t happy with the direction this album took. I mean, a recent article in Rolling Stone talked about how reluctant Moore was to even use drum loops at all. It took a lot of prodding to get him to put those loops on the record.
Trigger
August 18, 2016 @ 1:26 pm
It’s never a good sign when an artist is out front of a release explaining himself or apologizing.
Acca Dacca
August 18, 2016 @ 3:56 pm
I’m starting to think that maybe his record deal was being dangled in front of him with a “get in line or get out”-type of ultimatum. And with all of these previously reliable artists going Bro, surely he isn’t the only one. I’ve never much cared for Justin Moore one way or the other — some of his songs I kinda like, others I kinda don’t care — but I’ve never really hated him or his music. If anything I’m starting to feel a bit of pity for him after that “New Artist” ACM and now his big sellout moment that’s likely to crash and burn. Despite the cowboy hat and ridiculous accent, he’s a puppet just like 90% of his competition.
Al
August 18, 2016 @ 6:20 pm
When Justin first came out on the scene, my friends and I almost thought of him like a novelty act. This was around the time of electropop when parodies were very popular, the radio was filled with light bubblegum-y songs and LMFAO dominated the charts. Justin’s debut album, among others around 2010, read as country’s answer to this. His music wasn’t serious and with that accent and hat, he was almost a caricature of himself. I would say that in this sense, his initial appeal was almost akin to that of a popstar; he was just supposed to be fun. And obviously as we know, this steady train of “novelty” helped bring upon the mess we are still stuck in. But nonetheless, Justin was able to carve niche and he’d be smart if he stuck to it.
Scott S.
August 18, 2016 @ 10:19 am
I usually prefer to buy whole albums, but with artists like Justin I’ll just pluck the one or two good songs off iTunes and call it good. On this one I got Kinda Don’t Care and You Look Like I Need A Drink. Passed on the rest.
Trigger
August 18, 2016 @ 10:28 am
“You Look Like I Need A Drink” is not terrible and it’s doing well on radio. Why put all of that Metro-Bro fluff on this record?
Scott S.
August 18, 2016 @ 10:59 am
Good question since he’s obviously capable of making a good album by evidence of the good songs he has made.
Big Cat
August 18, 2016 @ 3:45 pm
Agree and makes you wonder how much longer before we see these guys only release singles
with streaming now, albums aren’t necessary for the pretenders
mcs
August 19, 2016 @ 8:43 am
In 2014, while accepting an award at one of the country awards shows (who knows which one…) I remember Eric Church saying something along the lines of “Albums matter more now than ever.” I already loved him, but even more so then. Albums are so important.
jessie with the long hair
August 18, 2016 @ 10:52 am
That’s J.T. Cornflaus playing telecaster guitar. He’s one of the best damn country and swing guitar players in Nashville. Played on a bunch of great Alan Jackson songs etc. I wonder what it’s like for the work-a-day picker to have to adapt to this on all the sessions? The other guitarist is Derek ?. He’s young and rose through the ranks fast because of his knack of shitty 70’s rock guitar during these last few years. Justin’s vocal sounds uninspired like he’s just getting through this.
Jake
August 18, 2016 @ 12:18 pm
Was really looking foreward to this album. Now I just wished I’d listened on spotify before I bought it. Damn near could of had the new cody jinks and cody Johnson albums for the same price. Plus I feel like a dumb ass.
Pete Marshall
August 18, 2016 @ 1:06 pm
I am glad I didn’t buy this cd yet and I would waste my money on this crap anyway!
Nadia Lockheart
August 18, 2016 @ 1:07 pm
What is ultimately the saddest part in all of this, is…………………dare I say this is actually a smidgen better than all three of his previous albums to date?
And that is not saying much whatsoever; because his first three albums were AWFUL. Between his insufferable forced twang to his vocal reflection, to the faux-edginess and swagger that has comprised the majority of his back catalog, to a complete lack of subtlety in his personality and the way he frames his songs from the chest-thumping ugliness of songs like “Guns” and “Old Back In The New School” to attempts to romanticize the “good girl saves bad guy” trope in songs like “That’s How I Know You Love Me” and “Point At You”, to the fact almost every single song of his outside of “Grandpa” and “Til’ My Last Day” sounds like a commercial for a certain brandname and, even when it doesn’t, it’s shamelessly commercials for bro-country itself………………..Moore has resembled the absolute worst of mainstream country/”country” radio up until the incursion of drum loops and EDM production. It is about the most anti-intellectual music I’ve come across in mainstream country I’ve EVER heard.
*
Now, don’t get me wrong: “Kinda Don’t Care” isn’t a good album either. I certainly am not recommending it.
But, to be honest……………..while some of the existing issues I’ve always had with Moore remain intact here, and there are indeed new issues that surface with regards to his shift in sound………………this album is nonetheless an overall improvement over his predecessors, and I’m going to try and explain why I think that.
*
Firstly, one of the biggest issues I’ve always had with Justin Moore is how obnoxiously anti-intellectual his music has come across in the past. I mean, aside from Thomas Rhett, I can’t think of anyone who outright insults your intelligence as a listener quite like he does. Even Brantley Gilbert has always tried harder than him. And when I say this, I’m not talking mere bro-country cliche insulting. It has usually been something much more obnoxious than rote bro-country cliches as emphasized by songs like “I’d Want It To Be Yours”, “Guns”, “Old Back In The New School”, “Field Fulla Hillbillies”, “Bait A Hook”, “Back That Thing Up” and so forth.
Here, the songwriting is dialed down to merely generic bro-country blandness. The faux-edginess that has long characterized his work is still clearly dripping all across this album, but this time around it isn’t as remotely brash and overwrought. The album opener “Robbin’ Trains” immediately reflects this. Damn right it’s riddled with dime-a-dozen outlaws-on-the-run simile cliches……………….but at the same time it doesn’t exactly hit you over the head either. It’s more in the vein of “Moonshine In The Trunk”. The production is more down to Earth here and doesn’t get me worked up in spite of the banalities.
Then you have a song like “Put Me In A Box” that obviously plays on the banalities of bro-country lust songs………………..but goes down a lot easier than previous attempts at the theme like “I Want It To Be Yours” in that it mainly just focuses on similes to how this woman’s seduction has taken hold of him as opposed to outright sexualizing her. The production is held back by Audio Wars, but even there it doesn’t get on my nerves.
That’s more or less the story of the songwriting for the most part on “Kinda Don’t Care”. You know it’s obviously the same Justin Moore formula down to a tee, but whereas before it was akin to finding rocks on a beach and choosing to keep them raw and unpolished, “Kinda Don’t Care” is akin to a rock tumbler on that existing formula. And while I understand why many others would take gave issue with that, I’d argue it actually works in Moore’s favor because I tend to be one who zeroes in on lyrics foremost when listening to music and how songs are framed and, with most of these songs avoiding the obnoxious trappings of his previous work, it makes for a listen that isn’t nearly as objectionable.
Now, there are still a few moments on this album that are exceptions to this new rule. The most glaring one is “More Middle Fingers”: his ill-fated duet with Brantley Gilbert. It’s one of those kind of ditties that tries way too hard to come across as clever and instead just smacks as gimmicky. Yeah, sorry, I can’t take anyone seriously who sings: “Let ’em fly in the sky, get ’em all up high in the air! Let ’em flip like you don’t give a rip, like your mama ain’t there.” Blake Shelton’s “I Still Got A Finger” wasn’t great either, but it was a more interesting and engaging take on the subject and listen than this.
Then there are others where the production completely gets in the way of whatever mood or tone the songwriting was intending to set. One of the worst examples is “Between You & Me”: an obvious sex song that nonetheless……………..well…………….doesn’t sound sexy at all with Moore’s hopelessly self-serious voice, stiff loud percussion and even some dubstep effects beginning with the second verse. It gets to the point where, by the bridge, you can’t help but wonder if it was a domestic abuse scene as opposed to something that was supposed to be libidinous. It just sounds unpleasant listening to.
Then there’s “Got It Good”: which reminds me of the worst of Keith Urban’s “Ripcord” between the staccato guitar loops, hip-hop glitches, obligatory “Whoa oh oh!” bridge and abuse of Auto-Tune. Really, Moore? You decided a partial stylistic sell-out via Randy Houser’s “Fired Up” wasn’t enough and so decided to cave in to peer pressure fully? Granted the lyrics are nothing cringe-worthy, but this sounds so shamelessly out of place not just in the context of his discography as a whole, but even “Kinda Don’t Care”. It sounds more like a featured contribution you would expect if busbee decided he wanted to take a stab at a solo career much like Timbaland and Mark Ronson have.
Besides the current single, there is one decent song on the deluxe edition that I want to single out as an honorable mention, and that is “Middle Class Money”. There’s just something out the comparatively intimate production and descriptive lyrics that makes this stand out on the set. It’s about as believable as Moore has ever sounded besides “Grandpa” and maybe “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away”.
*
Ultimately, “Kinda Don’t Care” inspires little confidence in Moore summoning the will and effort to ever compose a record that is thoroughly listenable, let alone enjoyable. And I can certainly see why many of his fans are regarding this as his absolute worst to date because of the blatant pandering to corporate radio in sound.
With me, I do prefer this (albeit slightly) over his preceding releases because, firstly, he at least has dispensed of most of his obnoxious tendencies. And, secondly, lets face it: Moore’s music has always felt like a caricature as opposed to something washed in the blood. So I’d argue that by doing the former while backed with his least country-sounding production to date, Moore is actually being more true to the corporate caricature he has always succumbed to. If your lyricism, themes and attitude had already sounded manufactured, might as well go all the way while you’re at it and have your choice of music and production reflect that too, am I right? And, hilariously enough, that actually makes this seem like Moore’s most authentic all-around release to date than when he tried to have it both ways.
I’m thinking a Decent to Strong 3 out of 10 for this. That might not be saying much, but hey: “Off The Beaten Path” and “Outlaws Like Me” both got 1/10 scores from me and his eponymous debut was a light 3/10.
Nate
August 18, 2016 @ 3:13 pm
I’m a little sick and tired of people criticizing his twang. You have every right to criticize him for his lyrics, sound, and attitude. And you fairly pointed out what you thought was wrong with him as an artist. But can’t we just accept that’s the way he talks and sings? He just has a strong accent. Always has. I’ve listened to him for years now, and he’s always had that strong drawl. It really isn’t forced. Accents are different for every person in this country, no matter where they’re from. I love Sturgill Simpson, but there are some people who have trouble understanding what he sings sometimes. Heck, my grandma was born in West Virginia but moved north 55 some years ago. Yet she still hasn’t lost that accent. Hank Sr. had a magnificent Southern accent. That was a big part of his vocal delivery. Are you willing to say that was forced? Like I said, you have every right to criticize a lot about him. I happen to disagree with some of it, but I’m not going to begrudge your right to have that opinion. But the accent thing is just a tired criticism that doesn’t really hold up when examined more closely.
Farmer71
August 18, 2016 @ 4:05 pm
Thank you Nate for saying this! Justin is from Arkansas and that is the way they talk. I think it’s fine to be critical of songs but how can you knock his accent.
Trigger
August 18, 2016 @ 4:27 pm
I tend to agree on the accent portion. After seeing countless interviews with Justin, I just think it’s the way he talks and sings. The reason it throws some people off is because there are many performers who put on an accent when they sing to try and sound country so people’s antenna are perked looking for it. And some are juts put off by a strong Southern accent.
Jake Krom
September 9, 2016 @ 5:05 am
Trigger I strongly recommend “A long way from home”, “Heaven ain’t that far away” or “Country Boy” those are some of his unreleased songs, all on YouTube. I think they are very good, album in my opinion was a huge let down.
Nadia Lockheart
August 19, 2016 @ 1:14 am
Perhaps I should clarify my initial point on his vocals as, in retrospect, his accent is not really the issue anyway. It’s actually more to do with his tone and how he tends to easily go off-key when going for higher notes often.
Especially in the past, what I never liked about Moore’s vocals is how perpetually self-serious he comes across. Especially when, more often than not, the songs themselves never called for it. That’s what made generic party songs not sound fun at all and, worse, made his more confrontational songs sound even more obnoxious and sneering when the writing and framing were already obnoxious enough.
That’s mainly where I was going but failed miserably in articulating when describing his vocals as having an exaggerated quality to them. But I agree it was unnecessary dragging an accent into it.
Paula
August 25, 2016 @ 7:12 pm
I never contribute to these things but this review is the most self-important piece of bull I have ever seen. Really? Are you an artist? Do you have any talent that you can lay out there for someone else to judge? I really don’t mean to get personal but you are degrading a guy that has put out music that I happen to truly enjoy. I love the edge from his earlier music, love the songs he has written, love the realness and passion he brings to country music. He is what he is and some of us truly love that voice, accent and his songs that make me laugh, want to dance or tug at my heart. You just spent how long sitting in front of a computer tearing apart a person while you try to impersonate someone who knows something about country music. Really? You come across as a person who is way to impressed with herself and likes to hear herself talk. Justin Moore is a real person who was putting himself out there until this album that obviously he was forced to do. Is it my favorite? No, but it has some good songs and I am loyal. I love listening to him sing for whatever reason and will continue to do so. I think loyal Justin Moore listeners will find something to enjoy here….I sure have and will make no apologies for it. If you don’t like it, don’t listen. Nadia, your mile long review doesn’t mean a thing but I hope you got it off your chest and now you can move on to ripping someone else.
Rob
August 18, 2016 @ 1:09 pm
I like “Kinda Don’t Care,” “You Look Like I Need A Drink,” and “When I Get Home” from the deluxe edition. That’s the ones that stood out to me. By the way Trigger, you probably already know this, but John Paul White from The Civil Wars has an album coming out tomorrow that may be worth checking out
Kevin Davis
August 18, 2016 @ 2:53 pm
Justin Moore held a free concert here in Charlotte last night, as he did in Nashville the night before — each advertised as an “album release party.” So I listened to the new album on Spotify, and I decided to stay home.
Jeremy
August 18, 2016 @ 5:15 pm
I just remember reading an interview with Justin awhile back where he basically said he loved traditional country, mainly 90’s country was mentioned, but he couldn’t make money singing it. Which just shows what is important to the guy. Not blaming a guy for wanting to make a living, but it read like he knew his tunes sucked, and it wasn’t what he liked, but the money was all that mattered
ElectricOutcast
August 18, 2016 @ 6:15 pm
And what’s going on right now? We got a young guy around my age (27 years old here) named William Michael Morgan coming out with his debut album this fall with a Top 20 debut single that was very 90’s Country in terms of it’s sound.
I’ll tell you this, if Justin Moore is trying to be an Outlaw, he sure sucks at it. Real Outlaw Singers break the rules and not give a shit what the stuffy suits think and that’s what he needs to think about doing.
Summer Jam
August 19, 2016 @ 1:13 am
I wish Sam Hunt would break out the steel guitar and fiddle for his next album. Mark my words, if he did it, everyone would follow suit. WMM is great, hope that song goes #1.
MH
August 19, 2016 @ 8:04 am
Sam Hunt may not know what a fiddle and steel guitar are.
Jason
August 19, 2016 @ 9:41 am
Dream on.
Justin casey
August 19, 2016 @ 10:01 am
Montevallo had steel in it it was just buried underneath the overproduced noise
Summer Jam
August 19, 2016 @ 12:04 pm
yeah in like two songs. leave the night on and single for the summer. LTNO is hard to hear it tho its sooo drowned out. the steel in SFTS sounds like a regular guitar if you dont listen hard.
ElectricOutcast
August 18, 2016 @ 6:08 pm
Yeah I’m gonna be glad that I saved up for “Midnight Motel” by Jack Ingram coming out next Friday.
Sangha
August 18, 2016 @ 7:14 pm
There’s not much on this album I like… Pass.
justin casey
August 18, 2016 @ 9:44 pm
just from hearing a few tracks i’ll pass
that you and me song sucks big time it’s a miracle that wasn’t the first single but i’m willing to bet it’ll get released next
daniele
August 19, 2016 @ 4:18 am
i like country music to be anti-intellectual….too manysigur ros wannabes already
BwareDWare94
August 19, 2016 @ 7:51 am
As an album, Kinda Don’t Care is as bad as its stupid title. I found a few songs worth liking, and I actually think “Somebody Else Will” is good for what it is, but as mentioned, it represents an abandonment of the people who were foolish enough to trust him in the first place.
As for his twang, real or not it represents how fake the guy is. I’m sorry, but if you have to tell me how country you are, you’re as country as a parking meter. Everything about Justin Moore is an annoying exaggeration. “More Middle Fingers” is so fucking bad, but it’s also hilarious with Moore’s hammed up twang trading lines with Brantley’s silly growl-vocals. As I put in my own review, it’s unintended comedy at its finest.
Bertox
August 19, 2016 @ 8:52 am
What does this guy want, a prize for being the prettiest turd in the Nashville cesspool? He’s about as outlaw as removing the tag from a mattress. Newsflash, bro: An accent and a cowboy hat does not make you country. It makes you ostentatious. Go try out for the Band Perry, that’s right about your cup of diet green tea
albert
August 19, 2016 @ 10:14 am
“It’s not some horrifically terrible album when you compare it to some other efforts coming out of the mainstream at the moment. ”
I think you should have a stamp made up with this written on it Trigger . It will save you a lot of time . Seems that this is the best that can be said about mainstream ‘ country’ radio anymore and most of us have said it a lot when we stumble upon an artist who , at least , doesn’t have us spitting up coffee and gagging on every other line .
“… and don’t seem to be paying attention that the business model for American radio is 18 months from foreclosure…”…….Promises , promises …..
Jen
August 19, 2016 @ 1:51 pm
I liked a ouple of songs on the album, but I’ll be damned if I remember which ones! The ones I didn’t like stood out more.
Zach
August 19, 2016 @ 7:06 pm
Thought that was Kenny chesney on the album cover tbh
Christian H
August 19, 2016 @ 8:53 pm
I honestly thought that Vevo video link was starting off with a commercial before the actual video kicks in, but that is the song. Ouch. The music sounds terrible. And then he tries to hit that higher vocal octave and the second terrible 80’s rock music chorus kicks in. Sorry, I’m just gonna skip the rest of the album.
Lindsey
August 20, 2016 @ 1:33 am
His presence in that video = “I hate this bullcrap…”
Brad
August 20, 2016 @ 8:28 am
reading all these comments about his album makes me think back to a time that we had him at our county fair… i had the opportunity to actually hang out with him side stage for about 20 minutes and just shoot the bull while the crew mopped up mud on the stage… Super cool, down to earth guy…. I’ll never forget it… when i asked him what it was like to be a singer for a living, he said to me, Brad, your my job is no different from anyone elses.. I’m paid to sing, you’re paid to play music… I thought that was a pretty good, down to earth statement from a fairly well known singer at the time. (small town usa had just went number one). He was on the Brad Paisley, H2O tour at the time, and they would be playing in Columbia the next night. It had rained it’s tale off all day… His manager, being from New York, actually asked us to put down plywood (2 sheets wide) from his bus all the way to the stage because he didn’t want “Justin to get his boots muddy”. His bus was parked off the track on concrete sum 900 feet away. Obviously we didn’t agree to that, so we found a tractor, his manager taped plastic baggies around justin’s boots, and the tractor drove him to the stage. Needless to say, Justin was pissed… he didn’t care about the mud, but when on tour, the manager is the boss… Justin told me, “here i am singing about outlaw ways and being country and i have to were f*ckin baggies on my boots” “these people are gonng laugh me off the stage” I said all that little back story to say this, Yes, the new album is not the best i’ve ever seen from him, hands down, but, we all need to remember these guys sign contracts for major labels… No matter what they say, they don’t call the shots. They do as they’re told, or corporate Nashville will see to it that they become a nobody… How many artist have we seen that truly try to do things their way and actually make it? Few and far between. (Ex. Trent Tomlinson) Great songwriter and likes to do things his way, Nashville won’t hardly touch him anymore. In closing, Justin’s album is no different than someone telling coworkers they are gonna stand up to the boss and tell him where to shove it, only to become a yes man and go back to cleaning toilets. If justin were asked how he truly feels about the album, he’d probably say, “it ain’t me, woo pig” or some sh*t like that… But as long as those checks are cashing from the bosses, he’s gonna continue to take healthy sh*ts on a plate and say its the best fried chicken he’s ever made…
Coty
August 21, 2016 @ 3:44 am
He’s always been a sellout corporate guy. When I saw him (as an opening act) he had an entire ode to the NRA (who sponsors him) and sang a ten minute LIKE A ROCK ode (Chevrolet sponsored him). I don’t really care about genre names, I just like authenticity in my music, and Justin Moore is essentially the opposite of that.
Dirk
August 21, 2016 @ 3:23 pm
It was an ok album. Not the worst to come out this year not the best either. It is enjoyable. Not as enjoyable as watching all the hens in the room getting their panties all bound up over an album chances are non of the hens would have bought anyways…
Will
August 22, 2016 @ 8:44 am
Are you surprised that a guy that stars in this commercial would release an album like the one reviewed above? Painful to watch this thing about every 10 ten minutes during Olympics coverage here in Arkansas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nccWuAXQytA
Trigger
August 22, 2016 @ 8:50 am
Small market, locally-produced commercials are almost as bad as small market, locally-produced news broadcasts.
You should see some of the ones Dale Watson has done.
Long Dong Donny
August 24, 2016 @ 8:42 pm
My boy Justin knocked it out of the park. I “Kinda Don’t Care” what the cocksucker who goes by Trigger thinks.
Salty1991
January 3, 2017 @ 6:33 pm
I’ve always liked Justin’s music I’m a big fan and always will be but when I heard this new album I was bummed out!!!!!! Justin I know your better than this I hope you don’t continue down this path God bless buddy