The9513.com
Karlie Justus
Jason Aldean should be afraid - very, very afraid.
On Justin Moore’s self-titled debut album, the Poyen, Arkansas (Population: 272) native effectively out Jason Aldeans Aldean himself, pulling off his brand of twangy, down-on-the-farm roots and rock influences with a country authenticity more capably than any other country up-and-comer at the moment.
Moore, who co-wrote nine of the album’s 10 songs, has organically dialed into a market of musical fans with backgrounds very similar to his own, racking up more than 200,000 song downloads before the record even went on sale. On top of that, barring radio censorship of the album’s matter-of-fact offering "I Could Kick Your Ass," each and every song is 100% radio ready.
These numbers can be attributed to the consistency of the two singles that preceded the album, "Back That Thing Up," an innuendo-laden look at life on the farm, and "Small Town USA," a genuine—if not inoffensive and devoid of creativity—look at small-town life. Fortunately and unfortunately, depending on whether or not you fall into Moore’s main demographic, the rest of the songs on Justin Moore are exactly like these lead-off singles.
Moore works his way through the same song about five different times, with little of the album’s material deviating from his (admittedly well-crafted and performed) country boy routine. This works best when Moore uses his outstanding vocal ability to offer insight into exactly what kind of country boy he is, beyond the clichés that play starring roles in the five million other "I’m Country" country songs that exist.
The most engaging moments on the record’s best tracks rely on important details that obviously matter to Moore, whether it’s guns (when he recounts a favorite present in the touching "Grandpa"), girls (his voice swells convincingly on "Like There’s No Tomorrow") or attempted musical glory (The comical "Hank It" scores the best lyrical line with "There was a smoking little blond sitting next to me…She must’ve been late and missed my show/But when you play at 7:00 that’s the way it goes"). These moments are real, and it shows.
Conversely, when Moore abuses those authentic qualities and shouts about his love of all things country just a little too loud, things start to derail. The cacophonous "Backwoods" suffers this fate, between its aggressive mash-up of gun racks, buck knives, hunting and hollers and "Work hard/Play hard/Hold my baby tight" mantra. It’s the exact same song as "Small Town USA," only with a jarring guitar solo. "Good Ole American Way" takes a hard line lyrical approach that also comes on a bit strong, complete with a Jimmy Hendrix-esque "Star Spangled Banner" jam at the end: "Don’t believe in politically correct/If you want a piece of me you better have a set/A rifle and a four-wheel drive is all I need."
Between the animal sounds and farm references, Justin Moore could sonically give the Old McDonald Greatest Hits album a run for its money, and doesn’t provide many glimpses of artistic versatility. On top of those things, however, it is also a solid debut effort from an artist who knows himself, knows his way of life and, perhaps most importantly, knows his fans.
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Examiner.com
Jessie Cornet
Fans have been waiting for newcomer Justin Moore's CD for quite some time. In fact, it took several song releases before the CD itself was released on August 11th from Valory Music. It is evident from listening to Moore's newest release, he has been influenced by Hank Jr and being out in the backwoods. He has lived his dream by opening up for Hank, as well as Jamey Johnson.Fans will know the Arkansas native best from his "Small Town USA" song that has climbed up the charts, relating to the way of life in the towns that dot America. This is the same guy who sang the Randy Houser tune, "Back That Thang Up" that received very little airplay. His newest release "Hank It" has been released with new merchandise featuring the phrase on women's underwear.
"Backwoods" is a rocking tune that is somewhat parallel to Craig Morgan's "Bonfire," but Justin makes it his own. One thing is that the CD itself is consistent from each track. It is perfect for the good ole country boy or girl living life and needing a soundtrack to crank up during a field party. Justin will be taking the field party on the road with many in-store performances.
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Billboard.biz
Ken Tucker
On his debut single, "Small Town USA," country singer Justin Moore praised dirt roads, beer, Saturday nights and Sunday mornings. Fans of that song will love his new self-titled album, which is loaded with references to .44s, the preacher's daughter and working hard. Not much new ground is broken here, but that works in Moore's favor. Like Luke Bryan's 2007 debut, which championed pickup trucks and salt-cured ham, Moore's music speaks to the truck-driving, beer-drinking country core. "Hank It" is a homage to Hank Williams Jr., while "Back That Thing Up" upholds the tradition of "John Deere Green" or "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy." By writing what he knows best, Moore—who counts Williams and Lynyrd Skynyrd among his influences—may well tap into an audience that appreciates some Southern rock with their country.
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WKBO
Rising country music star Justin Moore makes a stop in Bowling Green as part of his whistle stop tour.
Fans got a chance to meet and greet Moore and get autographs and pictures today.
Justin's self-titled debut album was just released yesterday. His single, "Small Town USA" is currently a Top Ten hit on country radio, and his album is the second-most downloaded country album on I-Tunes right now, second only to George Strait.
Moore is being called country music's "breakout artist" of the summer.
He'll return to Bowling Green September 12th to headline Balloons, Tunes, and Barbecue at the Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport.
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The News And Observer
Jack Bernhardt
From Poyen Ark., population 272, country newcomer Justin Moore describes his music as a blend of Alabama and Lynyrd Skynyrd. It's an apt description of the Deep South-Southern Rock sound on his self-titled Valory Music debut.
Lyrically, the album is a tedious combination of self-centered declarations, lightweight ethnography and tough-guy bombast. At his best, Moore sings intimately about the small-town life he lived and loved before following his dreams to Nashville. In his current single, "Small Town USA," he sings,
Moore writes knowingly about hunting, fishing, family, dating in the backwoods, and family values (the latter two often contradict one another), and his full-throttle vocals leave no doubt that he believes in what he sings. "Backwoods" paints a picture of a "Rifle in a gun rack hanging in the back glass/Buck knife on my belt, ain't no land for sale 'round here."
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Listen Up
Justin Moore Justin Moore Valory Music Co. Native Arkansan Justin Moore writes and sings what he knows - about growin’ up in the country (the rousing "How I Got This Way," the bluesy "Backwoods"), lovin’ his family ("You were the same man Sunday morning you were Saturday night," he sings on the tender "Grandpa"), home ("The Only Place That I Call Home") and gettin’ a little rowdy (the double-entendre-loaded "Back That Thing Up," the only song he didn’t co-write).
The evocative "Small Town USA" is his breakthrough hit, a slice of real hometown life that has reached the country Top 10. The debut of this man born in tiny Poyen in Grant County is sure to draw some comparisons to Hank Williams Jr. ("Hank It" is about the singer) for his energetic contemporary Southern rock and his forceful, strong country voice. But Moore’s songs have a more universal quality that reflects common experiences, memories and yearnings. His embrace of the everyday is heartfelt and personal and taps memories that span generations.
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The Tampa Tribune
Jeff Houck
Far from being a country poser, new recording artist Justin Moore grew up in Poyen, Ark., population 272.
Predictably, Moore’s songs sell him as defender of "Small Town U.S.A." from overalls, tractors, and hay bales to bluetick hounds, gun racks and Invocations of Hank Williams Jr., the over the top clichés come fast.
Thankfully, the authenticity of life experience in his co-written lyrics keep things from going too David Allen Coe-ish, but the only way his songs could get more rednecky is if he actually seceded from the union.
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Music News
Chuck Dauphin
You have to really hand it to Scott Borchetta. Over the past couple of years, the Music Row veteran has built both Big Machine and The Valory Music Group into major players on the scene, and he has done it the right way---keeping it about the music. While Taylor Swift, and high-profile signings like Trisha Yearwood and Reba McEntire have garnered several headlines along the way, he also has signed some top-level talent that isn’t so commercially obvious---names like Sunny Sweeney, longtime Texas favorite Jack Ingram, and Justin Moore.
Moore, a native of Razorback Country in Arkansas, has enjoyed a couple of hits so far at radio----"Back That Thing Up," and the current hit "Small Town USA," and has become a fan favorite thus far. His music goes against the mainstream because he is traditional Country…and proud of it, as the first two radio releases illustrate.
Vocally, Moore reminds me of a slightly twangier Blake Shelton, especially on "How I Got To Be This Way," which kicks off the disc. He stays true to his rural roots on the up-tempo "Backwoods," which is one of the more fun tracks from the disc, and tips the musical hat to one of his biggest influences, Hank Williams, Jr., on the fun "Hank It."
At the same time, he also knows how to wrap his voice around a ballad, as he does on the tender "Like There’s No Tomorrow" and "The Only Place I Call Home." His emotional tribute to his grandfather, "Grandpa," scores as well.
All in all, Moore has released a debut that is varied in its’ musical leanings, and scores based on his ability to do so. After all, anyone who can segue from the afore-mentioned "Tomorrow" into the politically incorrect "Good Ole American Way," you just gotta love….right?
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The Reviews
Ken Tucker
On his debut single, "Small Town USA," country singer Justin Moore praised dirt roads, beer, Saturday nights and Sunday mornings. Fans of that song will love his new self-titled album, which is loaded with references to .44s, the preacher's daughter and working hard. Not much new ground is broken here, but that works in Moore's favor. Like Luke Bryan's 2007 debut, which championed pickup trucks and salt-cured ham, Moore's music speaks to the truck-driving, beer-drinking country core. "Hank It" is a homage to Hank Williams Jr., while "Back That Thing Up" upholds the tradition of "John Deere Green" or "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy." By writing what he knows best, Moore—who counts Williams and Lynyrd Skynyrd among his influences—may well tap into an audience that appreciates some Southern rock with their country.
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USA Today
Mansfield
This small-town Arkansas boy raised on Hank Williams Jr. and David Allan Coe will let you know up front what he believes. And he believes he's getting hit from both sides, by the rich guy who wants his girl and the poor foreigner who wants his job. He covers the standard stuff — heartland values, grandfathers, a pair of sweetly packed cutoffs —but when he sings about feeding hogs and getting kicked in the face by a horse, you'd best believe him.
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Country Standard Time
Jeffery B. Remz
There are a lot of male singers out there today in country covering the same turf - Jason Aldean, Randy Houser and now Justin Moore among others. Their music may be steeped in country at some level, but the direction that they follow is far more rooted in rock.
Arkansas native Moore has a few quality songs among the 10, but he never succeeds in carving out his o
Moore falls victim to the host of other would be country poseurs who try to invoke the names of the forefathers in the belief that merely saying the same is good enough for inclusion in the same breath. When Moore sings "Hank It," he is playing rock with a bit of a country vibe, but chances are quite strong that Hank would not have done it this way. David Allan Coe's name is cited in the hit single, title track. Moore bears nothing to the music of the rugged Coe. However, the mention of Sweet Home Alabama sounds way more on target. He also covers the same tried-and-true pleas for the little man (Good Ole American Way) with the jingoist line "I still believe in the good old American way," but folks like Alan Jackson have done it way more effectively. Moore follows that up with I Could Kick Your Ass apparently showing his tough side.
The production by Moore's mentor, Jeremy Stover, sounds a bit too clean and perfect, doing little to separate himself from his compadres. The big sound predominates time and again along with a big voiced delivery. A little more subtlety on both counts (rapping on Back That Thing Up doesn't quite do it) would have gone a long way to making this a more idiosyncratic set of music.
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The Bryan Times
You just know with songs like Hank It and I Could Kick Your Ass, this is just a good old boy playing good old boy music. You might know Justin from his hit Small Town USA, which is included on this album. My pick is Like There's No Tomorrow, with bona fide sultry lyrics.
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The Cleveland Leader
We're seeing seeing more country artists reach deep into the old vaults and tweak the formula a bit to make it into one interesting brew and Justin Moore is one of those people with his debut self-titled album. This recording starts with "How I Got To Be This Way" as it’s a romping country rock jam full of big guitars and twang as it’s a cool opener that will surely rev you up. Next was this disc’s first single, "Small Town U.S.A." which has this laid back style with Moore’s subtle lyrical style as it defines what Southern life really is.
"Backwoods" brings it back to that honky tonk swagger with Justin’s booming baritone as it's matched well with his hot as hell rhythm section picking loud and proud getting you to rock and play air guitar yelling this one out from your car window. "Good Ole American Way" continued on a slightly similar story that "Small Town U.S.A." brought us; yet it had more up tempo beats and shinier harmonies sparking a big old smile as you listen closely.
"I Could Kick Your Ass" reminds us of something out of the late ‘60s or ‘70s when country music was less pop and more western with its smoky moods and tough words slinged with some ivory magic that makes this cut so traditional and obtains some modernity as well. "Grandpa" is probably the slowest song on here as it’s a sentimentally poignant ballad honoring his grandfather. "Hank It" smoothly finishes it off with a homage to Hank Williams, Jr. with some great blues chords and feel good vocals that puts this baby to rest quite well. Looks like Justin Moore learned what country music is supposed to sound like and we hope to hear more of the same from him in the future.
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The City Paper
Musical mergers between country and southern rock are a new thing, but Justin Moore’s take on that blend is both extremely personal and expertly conceived.
His debut has both traditional pieces with poignant messages ("How I Got To Be This Way," "Backwoods," "The Only Place I Call Home") and more humorous, irreverent and rowdy numbers like "Back That Thing Up," the lead single that generated enormous online interest weeks before the disc’s Aug. 11 release date.
But the song that’s gotten Moore widespread attention throughout the country world is "Small Town USA," a song that zoomed into the iTunes Top 10 almost immediately, and remains one of its hottest numbers among any performer.
