16. March 2025
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Media Review

Kip Moore – Solitary Tracks

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Kip Moore - Solitary Tracks

Kip Moore - Solitary Tracks
5

Rating

 5.0/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Great set of songs
  • Lovely storytelling
  • Very personal style

23 tracks – Kip Moore’s new album Solitary Tracks is a truly massive listen. Luckily, I had a chance his sixth album, which has been released on 28th February 2025, beforehand. Here is my review.

 

Kip Moore – About The Artist

Kip Christian Moore was born on 1st April 1980 in Tifton in Georgia. He moved to Nashville in 2004, where he is also based nowadays. The country and country rock artist spent eight years there before his first record deal. While his debut single Mary Was the Marrying Kind (2011), he already had a big hit in the same year. Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck topped the US-American and Canadian country charts and overall received four platinum records in the USA and Australia. The corresponding 2012 debut album Up All Night also received a platinum record in his home country. I featured Kip Moore’s fourth album Wild World (2020) and his show in Cologne in May 2023.

 

Kip Moore – Solitary Tracks – Track by Track

The 23 track (double) album lasts 85 minutes. It is split into four sections.

Side A:
1. High Hopes

The album starts with High Hopes. It is a great track to get into his sound in 2025. The song has a nice rocking style, without denying its country music heart. Undeniably, I have to think of Bruce Springsteen while listening to the song – even though Kip Moore’s voice is having a different character.

2. Solitary Tracks

The title track of this epic release is the second song of the double record. Solitary Tracks slower song with a nice dramatic touch. The blending of country and rock elements stays, even though this song has a more intense experience, some parts are even a bit of cheeky and lead to a very interesting listen.

3. Pretty Horses

The album is slowing down for Pretty Horses, which has a touch of a ballad. The present violin is adding a lovely touch to this very introspective, but energetic listen. The first three songs of the album are definitely promising and demand for more.

4. Livin’ Side

Kip Moore does not need to be loud to impress. A song which beautifully underlines this is Livin’ Side. Just a few chords and some backing instruments are necessary. The magic emerges from the artist’s voice and the story told. You calm down and simply enjoy.

5. Around You

If you have a Nashville album with 23 tracks nowadays, you typically know a lot of songs already. They have been released as singles already. Kip Moore and his Solitary Tracks go a different way. Around You is the first song of the album, which has been featured beforehand – and there are just six of them. The song reminds of the opener High Hopes, but has its very own style. The present rhythm leads to a nice speed. Moore’s vocals feel angry and leave a personal touch. Lovely one.

6. Half Full Cup

Is the cup Half Full or half empty? Kip Moore goes for the more optimistic choice. The song has a similar style like the predecessor. However, there is not even a small thought of being bored, the song spreads a lot of energy towards the end of the first section of the album.

Side B:
1. Bad Spot

Bad Spot opens the b-side of the first record of the album (if you buy it on vinyl, at least). The song has been one of my favorites during the promotion campaign of Solitary Tracks – and I still really love listening to him when he states But I’m in a better place, kinda like a call drop I lost you in a bad spot.

2. Straight Line Boots

Music Row quotes Kip Moore with I’m never going to cheat by just trying to write what I think people want to hear, or hold onto a sound that worked for me. Songs like this one reflect that in a beautiful way. You feel that Straight Line Boots is a straight and personal write. I’m a better man when I’m with you – who would not love to hear that? Great song, which also has a lovely guitar song.

3. Rivers Don’t Run

I’m still emotionalized by Straight Line Boots – but this album is full of highlights. I also really love listening to the ninth track of the album overall, Rivers Don’t Run. The song is a four minute listen which strikes with a beautiful instrumental setting and a great chorus. There are not that many instruments involved, but the song has a really hymnic touch.

4. Burn

Burn is going for a finer sound again. It is very hard not being too repetitive in this review. The four minute track is a really great and intense listen again. One of these songs which feel even better on headphones, when the raspy voice of the US-American artist leads to an even more intense listen.

5. Like Ya Stole It

Just coming with a strumming acoustic guitar and Kip Moore’s voice at the beginning, Like Ya Stole It comes with campfire romance feelings at its beginning. There is a wider arrangement with howling guitars later, but they don’t change that intimate setting too much.

6. Southern Son

Southern Son marks half time of the album – at least it is the end of Side B of Solitary Tracks. If you indeed take a (short) break here, Kip Moore is giving you a very personal, reflecting song beforehand. I’m a Southern son, no matter where I run. Lovely listen, I especially love the first time he is using that chorus in here.

Side C:
1. Learning As I Go

After this great listen, Side C of the album starts with this October 2024 single release. If you have missed the publication: the song is a blast and another highlight listen with increasing energy. Great write.

Well, I’m learning as I go
I’m learning how to be
I’m learning how when I break it down
There’s little that I need
Say sorry man when you need to and
Keep a pocket full of hope
I’m still a gun, but I’ve settled some
I’m learning as I go 

2. Alley Cat

Alley Cat opens with a groovy bass line and thus introduces a new sound to the album. After having listening to thirteen tracks already, it feels unnecessary to state that this blues-rock style is mastered by Kip Moore as well. A really cool listen, which adds a lot to the whole album.

3. Live Here To Work

Side C of the album comes with three previously released tracks – Live Here To Work is one of them. This time, there is a lot of rock’n’roll in the soul of the song. Fuck that, I don’t live here to work. Don’t we all have that feeling? The song still has a bit of the blues flavor of the song before – and is also an interesting song for more traditional country music listeners with a rocking heart.

4. Love & War

Love & War starts with a rather tootling melody, but then crashes into the mind of the listener with powerful riffs. These 3:12 minutes again define a really catching, unique sound on Solitary Tracks.

5. Flowers In December

Flowers In December has been released in November 2024. Kip Moore is going for a more intimate setting again. The song comes with a lovely sound, based on a beautiful melody. The personal storytelling feels especially striking.

In a way, some things get harder to remember
The trees will lose their leaves in November
Would you even tell me if you ever
Think about the flowers in December?

6. Forever Is A Lie

The title Forever Is A Lie does not sound like a really optimistic twist at the end of Side C. Indeed, the song is rather calm one, majorly driven by the guitar and the piano. The story is indeed about the beginning of a breakup. Some sad reality in here.

Side D:

1. Wildfire

The overall nineteenth song Wildfire is the last Solitary Tracks one, which has been released beforehand. It has been a b-side release of Flowers In December and opens the last section of the album. I’m your west coast baby come and burn me down to the ground like California – this one is neither about climate change or any natural catastrophes, but an amazing love song.

2. Tough Enough

After these two intense listens, the strumming guitars of Tough Enough suggest an easier listen from the very beginning. Baby, I’m tough enough, baby I’m rough enough – a song with a bit of a kitschy touch, but full of beautiful emotions.

3. Good Things Never Last

Short, but good? Good Things Never Last in fact lasts less than three minutes. Kip Moore and his band surprise by adding a mixture of funk and rock in here. There are still strong country vibes as well, which ensure that the song gets one of the most present songs of the whole release.

4. Take What You Can Get

With Take What You Can Get, the album has reached its penultimate song already. The song has a stronger rock attitude again, but also has some more quiet parts in the stanzas, which beautifully focus on the artist’s voice. You take what you can get sometimes… A really nice beauty.

5. Only Me

This epic work by Kip Moore closes with Only Me. At the beginning of the chorus, he asks Hey, is there anyone out there?. It would be an absolute shame if you stopped listening to this record. Its chucker-out is another real treat.

 

Kip Moore – Solitary Tracks – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Kip Moore – Solitary Tracks – My View

The hardest task about reviewing Solitary Tracks is not listening to 23 songs, but to pick a favorite. Kip Moore released an amazing, epic work full of well-written songs. A definite must-listen, not only for rock and country fans.

Favorite Song: Good Things Never Last

 

The Flyctory.com Club of Excellence

There are not too many reviews (of any kind) which make it to a 5.0 on Flyctory. Praise the best ones:

 

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