Wild Ones
A graffiti-like neon drawing of a man raising his right arm. The album name and artist's name appear below him, colored in yellow and white respectively.
Studio album by
Kip Moore
ReleasedAugust 21, 2015 (2015-08-21)
Genre
Length47:32
LabelMCA Nashville
Producer
Kip Moore chronology
Up All Night
(2012)		 Wild Ones
(2015)		 Slowheart
(2017)
Singles from Wild Ones
  1. "I'm to Blame"
    Released: February 2, 2015
  2. "Running for You"
    Released: October 12, 2015

Wild Ones is the second studio album by American country music artist Kip Moore, released on August 21, 2015, via MCA Nashville. Following the success of his 2012 debut effort Up All Night, Moore reteamed with producer Brett James and brought in Chris DeStefano to work on new material for his next country album, crafting a more organic hard rock sound that supports the personal stories told throughout the thirteen tracks he co-wrote. Reviews for the record were positive, with critics praising Moore for incorporating rock elements throughout the track listing. Wild Ones debuted at numbers two and four on the Top Country Albums and Billboard 200 charts, respectively. It spawned two singles: "I'm to Blame" and "Running for You". To promote the album, Moore performed on talk shows and headlined tours across North America.

Background and development

Moore released his debut studio album Up All Night on April 24, 2012. It garnered favorable reviews from critics, who praised the vocal delivery and lyrical storytelling.[3][4] To promote the album, Moore spent the rest of 2012 and 2013 touring across the United States.[5][6] Moore expressed excitement about preparing his sophomore effort, saying if the debut album was a "very nostalgic, looking back – type record", this would be "sonically and lyrically" intense and focus on the present.[7] In November 2013, Moore released "Young Love", the leadoff single that underperformed on the Billboard Country charts.[8][9][10] In April 2014, he announced that he delayed the album's May release until the summer, and released its next single "Dirt Road".[11][12] After "Dirt Road" stalled on the radio and the album's expected fall release was pushed back into 2015, Moore scrapped it entirely to write and record a collection of new material.[13] In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Moore said that the overall sound of the album was more organic after several soundchecks creating different grooves and having the band play various parts of the songs.[14] He also co-wrote all thirteen tracks on the record.[15] Wild Ones was released on August 21, 2015, by MCA Nashville.[14][16]

Music and lyrics

The opening title track was described by Jon Freeman of Nash Country Weekly as "a simmering hymn about partying all night long."[17] The song utilizes a "U2-ish synth" as a bassline for the drum-based percussion, banjos and hand claps throughout the arrangement.[2] Magic" is described as a "soul-rock scorcher" that has Moore receive an unexplainable feeling he wants to hold onto, something he came up with because of his distrust of the fairy tale love songs on the radio.[18] Roughstock's Matt Bjorke found the song overall to be "loud and lovely" because of its "anthemic, open-armed chorus".[19] "That Was Us" is about the "small-town Saturday nights" that encapsulated Moore's teenage years in Georgia.[19] "Lipstick" is a tribute to the road song, with Moore listing off his favorite cities he and his band like to perform at.[20] The overall sound of the track utilizes a "Springsteen-esque riff" and some "pseudo-prototypical Mumfordian" shouts.[2] "What Ya Got On Tonight" revolves around a man away from his girlfriend, pleading for a picture showing her outfit to keep him under control.[17] "I'm to Blame" is a "mini-biography" about Moore willing to be the better man and admit the mistakes he's made in his past.[21][22] "Running for You" is a "breakup anthem" about a relationship that's run its course but they wish each other well.[23] Moore had originally written the track for his debut album Up All Night but cut it from the final track listing and scrapped the original version.[24] The inspiration for the song came from two previous relationships Moore was in: one that treated him fairly and the other that didn't. He had also went against his team's wishes of letting other big name country singers record the track.[24] The album closer, "Comeback Kid", is about the underdog that exists in every person.[19]

Singles and promotion

The album's first single, "I'm to Blame", was released on February 2, 2015.[25] It peaked at numbers 20 and 24 on both the Billboard Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts, respectively.[10][26] It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the US on June 3, 2021.[27] An accompanying music video was directed by Peter Zavadil and premiered in April 2015.[28] The second and final single, "Running for You", was released on October 12, 2015.[29] It peaked at numbers 13 and 25 on both the Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts, respectively.[10][26] A music video for the single, directed by P. J. Brown, premiered in February 2016.[30] While not released as a single, the album's title track managed to reach numbers 37 and 85 on both the Hot Country Songs and Canadian Hot 100 charts respectively.[31][32]

On January 12, 2015, Moore was announced as an opening act alongside Maddie & Tae and Canaan Smith for Dierks Bentley on his Sounds of Summer Tour, starting on June 5 in Raleigh's Walnut Creek Amphitheatre and ending on September 12 in Bonner Springs' Cricket Wireless Amphitheater.[33][34][35] On August 5 of that year, Moore announced a 20-city North American tour to support Wild Ones ahead of its release, beginning at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and ending at Richmond, Virginia.[36] On September 16, he performed "Come and Get It" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.[37] On December 2, Moore announced a second leg of his tour for 2016, starting in Milwaukee and finishing in Anaheim, California.[38] On February 22 of that year, he performed "Running for You" on The Talk.[39][40] On June 20, Moore announced the Me and My Kind Tour, which took place in the fall of 2016. Moore was joined by special guest Jon Pardi.[41] On August 24, he performed the album's title track on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[42][43]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic72/100[44]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[45]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[46]
Nash Country WeeklyB+[17]
PopMatters[2]

Wild Ones received mostly positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 72 out of 100, which indicates "generally favorable reviews" based on 4 reviews.[44]

AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine surmised that "[If] Kip's songs aren't as hook-heavy or as sticky as his idols, it is nevertheless admirable that he's completely revamped his sound so he doesn't feel like anybody else in contemporary country -- not his bro country peers, not Church, not a red dirt refugee or macho rocker. He's effectively evoked the feel and aesthetic of mid-'80s heartland rock, and if that doesn't necessarily make him a wild one, it does make him a rebel of sorts."[45] Jon Freeman of Nash Country Weekly said, "The result feels a little something like those beloved '80s movies in spirit and aesthetic."[17] Entertainment Weekly's Madison Vain commented on Moore's musical aspirations: "His follow-up has bigger ambitions: Wild Ones is Springsteen-style rock that reaches for the stadium's nosebleeds. Moore hasn't ditched his country roots entirely, but it's the burn-the-barn-down stompers like "Come and Get It" that stick."[46] Jonathan Frahm of PopMatters suggested that "[I]f you're looking for something to break totally out of the rock-ready bro country mold, Wild Ones most certainly isn't your bag. If you're looking for something catchy, and somewhat more relatable than other offerings within the same expanse, than you've found just what you've needed."[2] Jeffrey B. Remz of Country Standard Time also gave note of the album's overall sound being more rock heavy and encouraging crowd participation, and Moore's musicianship taking cues from Church, Springsteen ("Complicated", "I'm to Blame") and John Mellencamp ("Comeback Kid"), concluding that he "doesn't exactly go wild in stretching out, but with a voice that's real and songs that suit him well, the wait was the hardest part."[47]

Entertainment Weekly ranked Wild Ones number five on their list of the 10 Best Country Albums of 2015. The magazine's writer Madison Vain said that Moore's "allegiance to classic rock" throughout the album may have hurt him than help him, noting that even accessible anthems like "Lipstick" and "Come and Get It" carry "too much heft for airplay EP's", but concluded that: "In the end, he may have written his own best defense on the swampy kiss-off "That's Alright With Me" when he growls, "Call me country, call me hippie/A wild cat from Dixie And if you do or don't like what you see/That's alright with me." It's more than alright, it rocks."[48] Rolling Stone ranked it number six on their list of the 40 Best Country Albums of 2015. The magazine's writer Linda Ryan said that Moore's raspy delivery of "blue-collar heartland rock" calls back to Mellencamp's "Jack and Diane" when telling stories about "young rabble-rousers" not caring who judges them. She concluded that: "By the time he wraps up the record with the moody "Comeback Kid," he's tapped into the teenage rebel inside his listeners, reassuring underdogs that there's always a second chance."[1] In 2017, Billboard contributor Chuck Dauphin placed two tracks from the album on his top 10 list of Moore's best songs: "Running for You" at number two and "I'm to Blame" at number six.[49]

Commercial performance

Wild Ones debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and number two on the Top Country Albums chart with 40,000 equivalent album units; it sold 35,000 copies in its first week, with the remainder of its unit total reflecting the album's streaming activity and track sales.[50][51] On the Billboard 200, it left the top 100 the week of October 3, 2015 and stayed on the chart for four weeks.[52][53] As of July 2016, the album has sold 88,600 copies in the US.[54] In Canada, it debuted and peaked at number five on the Canadian Albums chart for the week of September 12.[55]

Track listing

Wild Ones track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Wild Ones"
3:24
2."Come and Get It"
  • Moore
  • James
  • Manny Medina
4:57
3."Girl of the Summer"
3:59
4."Magic"
  • Moore
  • Westin Davis
  • Luke Dick
3:38
5."That Was Us"
  • Moore
  • Davis
  • Dan Couch
4:01
6."Lipstick"
  • Moore
  • Justin Weaver
  • David Frasier
  • Davis
4:20
7."What Ya Got On Tonight"
  • Moore
  • Verges
  • Daly
3:02
8."Heart's Desire"
  • Moore
  • Couch
  • Adam Browder
  • Erich Wigdahl
4:23
9."Complicated"
3:04
10."I'm to Blame"
  • Moore
  • Weaver
  • Davis
2:17
11."That's Alright with Me"
  • Moore
  • Couch
  • Dick
3:38
12."Running for You"
  • Moore
  • Verges
  • Daly
3:35
13."Comeback Kid"
3:14
Total length:47:32
Deluxe Edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."What I Do"
3:28
15."Backseat"
3:22
16."Burn the Whole World Down"
  • James
  • Moore
4:03

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[56]

Vocals
Production
Instruments
Imagery

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for Wild Ones
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
United States August 21, 2015
  • CD
  • digital download
 MCA Nashville [61]

References

  1. 1 2 Rolling Stone Staff (December 8, 2015). "40 Best Country Albums of 2015". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 13, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Frahm, Jonathan (August 20, 2015). "Kip Moore: Wild Ones". PopMatters. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  3. ↑ Peacock, Bobby (April 20, 2012). "Album Review: Kip Moore - Up All Night". Roughstock. Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  4. ↑ Nicholson, Jessica (April 23, 2012). "Up All Night by Kip Moore". Nash Country Weekly. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  5. ↑ Conaway, Alanna (January 25, 2012). "Billy Currington Reveals Headlining Tour Dates for 2012". Taste of Country. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  6. ↑ Conaway, Alanna (November 30, 2012). "Brantley Gilbert Extends Hell on Wheels Tour Into 2012, Adds Kip Moore to Lineup". Taste of Country. Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  7. ↑ Dauphin, Chuck (August 27, 2013). "Kip Moore Begins Work on 'Intense' Second Album". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Kip Moore, 'Young Love' [Listen]". Taste of Country. November 12, 2013. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  9. ↑ Thompson, Gayle (December 7, 2014). "Kip Moore Says Changes Have Made Sophomore Album 'Stronger'". The Boot. Archived from the original on October 10, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 "Kip Moore – Chart History: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  11. ↑ Allers, Hannahlee (April 11, 2014). "Kip Moore Pushes Back Album Release Date". The Boot. Archived from the original on March 20, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  12. ↑ Thompson, Gayle (April 16, 2014). "Kip Moore Releases New Single From Sophomore Album". The Boot. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  13. ↑ Murray, Nick (June 30, 2015). "Kip Moore Admits Scrapping Entire Album for New Songs". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  14. 1 2 Vain, Madison (May 29, 2015). "Kip Moore previews new album, Wild Ones, chats life on the road and why he'll never make the same album twice". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 25, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  15. ↑ Thompson, Gayle (June 1, 2015). "Kip Moore Says 'Wild Ones' Will Be 'More Organic' Than Freshman Album". The Boot. Archived from the original on October 10, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  16. ↑ Reuter, Annie (May 29, 2015). "Kip Moore Announces Sophomore Album 'Wild Ones'". Radio.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Freeman, Jon (July 22, 2015). "Wild Ones by Kip Moore". Nash Country Weekly. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  18. ↑ Vain, Madison (August 12, 2015). "Kip Moore shares 'Magic' off new album". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  19. 1 2 3 Bjorke, Matt (May 29, 2015). "Kip Moore "Wild Ones" Tracklist & Cover Art". Roughstock. Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  20. ↑ Whitaker, Sterling (May 29, 2015). "Kip Moore Reveals Details for Sophomore Album, 'Wild Ones'". Taste of Country. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Kip Moore, 'I'm to Blame' [Listen]". Taste of Country. January 13, 2015. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  22. ↑ Kip Moore (February 3, 2015). "Kip Moore - Story Behind "I'm To Blame"". YouTube. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  23. ↑ Carr, Courtney (October 15, 2015). "Kip Moore Selects 'Running for You' as Next Single [Listen]". The Boot. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  24. 1 2 Dukes, Billy (February 22, 2016). "Lyrics Uncovered: Kip Moore, 'Running for You'". Taste of Country. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  25. ↑ Parton, Chris (February 3, 2015). "New Single: Kip Moore's "I'm to Blame"". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  26. 1 2 "Kip Moore – Chart History: Country Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  27. ↑ "American single certifications – Kip Moore – I'm to Blame". Recording Industry Association of America.
  28. ↑ Vinson, Christina (April 8, 2015). "Kip Moore Reveals New 'I'm to Blame' Music Video". The Boot. Archived from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  29. ↑ Carr, Courtney (October 15, 2015). "Kip Moore Selects 'Running for You' as Next Single [Listen]". The Boot. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  30. ↑ Leahey, Andrew (February 12, 2016). "Watch Kip Moore's Cinematic 'Running for You' Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Hot Country Songs: September 12, 2015". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Canadian Hot 100: August 22, 2015". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  33. ↑ Skates, Sarah (January 13, 2015). "Dierks Bentley Announces Tour, Recruits Tourmates For Polar Plunge". MusicRow. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Tour Dates". dierks.com. Archived from the original on February 16, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Tour Dates". dierks.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  36. ↑ Hostelley, Laura (August 5, 2015). "Kip Moore Hitting the Road on 'Wild' Tour". Taste of Country. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  37. ↑ Hudak, Joseph (September 17, 2015). "See Kip Moore's Breakout 'Come and Get It' Performance on 'Kimmel'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  38. ↑ Freeman, Jon (December 2, 2015). "Kip Moore Extends Wild Ones Tour into 2016". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  39. ↑ "Tune In: Kip Performs On "The Talk" On Monday - 2/22". kipmoore.net. February 19, 2016. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  40. ↑ Freeman, Jon (February 23, 2016). "See Kip Moore's Stripped-Down 'Running for You' on 'The Talk'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  41. ↑ Freeman, Jon (June 20, 2016). "Kip Moore Plans Me and My Kind Fall Tour". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  42. ↑ "Tune In: Kip Moore Performs On "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" Tomorrow". kipmoore.net. August 23, 2016. Archived from the original on March 19, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  43. ↑ Parton, Chris (August 25, 2016). "See Kip Moore Sing Anthemic 'Wild Ones' on 'Colbert'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  44. 1 2 "Critic Reviews for Wild Ones by Kip Moore". Metacritic. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  45. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Wild Ones - Kip Moore". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 17, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  46. 1 2 Vain, Madison (August 13, 2015). "'Wild Ones' by Kip Moore". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 29, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  47. ↑ Remz, Jeffrey B. "Kip Moore - Wild Ones". Country Standard Time. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  48. ↑ EW Staff (December 17, 2015). "The 10 Best Country Albums of 2015". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  49. ↑ Dauphin, Chuck (September 27, 2017). "Kip Moore's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  50. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (August 30, 2015). "Disturbed Scores Fifth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  51. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (August 31, 2015). "Country Albums Chart Report for August 31, 2015". Roughstock. Archived from the original on September 11, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  52. ↑ "Billboard 200: October 3, 2015". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  53. 1 2 "Kip Moore Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  54. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (July 26, 2016). "Top 10 Country Albums Chart: July 25, 2016". Roughstock. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  55. ↑ "Canadian Albums: September 12, 2015". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  56. ↑ Wild Ones (liner notes). Kip Moore. MCA Nashville. 2015. 0019941-02.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  57. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Kip Moore – Wild Ones". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  58. ↑ "Kip Moore Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  59. ↑ "Kip Moore Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  60. ↑ "Top Country Albums: 2015 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  61. ↑ Scott, Jason (May 29, 2015). "Kip Moore's 'Wild Ones' LP set for August 21 release". AXS. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
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