Justin Moore: ‘This Is My Dirt’ – Album Review

Justin Moore shares brand new album This Is My Dirt, officially out now, October 11th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.

Since the earliest days of his career, Justin Moore has been one of country music’s most modern traditional stars. With his deep voice and unwavering dedication to country music as a genre, the Valory Music Co. artist is one of the genre’s most dependable yet under-the-radar superstars.

Produced by longtime collaborators Jeremy Stover, Scott Borchetta, and Paul DiGiovanni, This Is My Dirt features a dozen new tracks, including collaborations with Randy Houser, Blake Shelton, and Dierks Bentley. Additionally, the twelve new songs were all co-written by Moore, pairing him with the likes of Randy Montana, Will Bundy, Casey Beathard, Chase McGill, and more.

For the first time in his recording career, the Arkansas native enlisted his full touring band to play on the record instead of studio musicians, adding a depth and camaraderie to the recordings. From the traditional-leaning anthemic opening notes of the album’s title track to the closing melodies of “You Know It’s Coming,” This Is My DIrt allows Moore to do what he does best.

Collaborations are at the forefront of the LP, with Moore and Houser musing about simpler times on “The Worst.” For the pair, it’s a reflection on growing up with less and learning from it, realizing that it’s key to value whatever you have. Likewise, “Time’s Ticking” with Dierks Bentley is a notable take on embracing the moment you’re in as opposed to rushing through life. “Put a little slow in your roll,” They warn. “Or you’re gonna miss it.”

Moore’s duet with Blake Shelton is a more by-the-book appreciation of country music’s favorite beverage, “Beer Ain’t One.” On the rousing track, they trade playful verses about all of the problems in their lives, and the fact that beer is the only surefire cure. “I got 99 problems but a beer ain’t one,” They muse, voices and styles perfectly complementing each other.

Moore remains true to his roots on songs like “This Is My Dirt,” “Put a Boot In It,” and “Love, Your Hometown.” While “Boot” is a swinging uptempo about the authenticity of real country music, the album’s title track tells the tale of a piece of land that is way more than just dirt, but instead a piece of familial legacy.

“This is my dirt, these are my fields // Where I harvest what I plant // That little pond, I catch bluegill // I built that barn with my two hands // Where I raise my babies, a piece of me // Nah, this ain’t just a piece of land // The money’d be great, but I can’t part ways with a life that works // You can’t put a green bag dollar on what it’s worth // This is my dirt”

“Love, Your Hometown” is Moore and country music at its finest, a love letter from a hometown to those who have left it to serve in the military. While two of the genre’s biggest tropes are small towns and military songs, Moore offers a fresh take here. 

“And there ain’t one day that you don’t Cross my mind like a southern breeze // And I’ll be right here // Waiting on you to come back to me // And I hope you know you damn sure make us proud // Love, your hometown”

Moore experiments lyrically on songs like “Redneck Love” and “F Word,” both of which show a more playful side of his personality. On the tongue-in-cheek “Redneck,” he celebrates a love that may not be the most traditional, but is perfect as is. Meanwhile, “F Word” is a unique love song about a word that doesn’t often have a place in country music. Hint: It’s not THAT “F word,” but instead, “forever.”

“Never Left Me” is a more traditional hometown song, an anthemic ode to the place that raised him, while “Glad to Be Here” is a mid tempo celebration of counting one’s blessings. “The Getting By” may be the most unique song on the album for Moore, allowing him to stretch himself both musically and vocally. On the swinging midtempo laced with slide guitars, Moore’s voice is lush and airy as he deals with the aftermath of a heartbreak, lamenting, “Girl it’s killing me, but I’m getting used to the getting by.”

This Is My Dirt ends with “You Know It’s Coming,” a poignant and gorgeous ballad about the inevitabilities of life and the big moments that take your breath away, no matter how prepared you may be.

“Even though you know it’s coming, like a freight train humming from a mile away // You think you’ll be ready // Life’s lead foot leaning on the clutch and off the brakes // Til What’s down the line, ain’t down the line no more // That’s how time does it, Just crack a beer // ‘Cause someday’s here and dang if you can’t do nothing // Even though you know it’s coming”

For Justin Moore, This Is My Dirt continues to represent who he is as an artist, a songwriter, a father, and a man. While he may not be the genre’s biggest star, he’s a consistent hitmaker, and this LP is evidence why.

This Is My Dirt Track List:

1. This Is My Dirt – (Justin Moore, Paul DiGiovanni, Randy Montana, Jeremy Stover)
2. Put A Boot In It – (Justin Moore, Will Bundy, Randy Montana, Jeremy Stover)
3. The Worst (ft. Randy Houser) – (Justin Moore, Chase McGill, Jeremy Stover)
4. Glad To Be Here – (Justin Moore, Paul DiGiovanni, Randy Montana, Jeremy Stover)
5. Love Your Hometown – (Justin Moore, Will Bundy, Randy Montana, Jeremy Stover)
6. Beer Ain’t One (ft. Blake Shelton) – (Justin Moore, Casey Beathard, Will Bundy, Joe London, Jeremy Stover)
7. The Getting By – (Justin Moore, Paul DiGiovanni, Randy Montana, Jeremy Stover)
8. Redneck Love” – (Justin Moore, Paul DiGiovanni, Randy Montana, Jeremy Stover)
9. Time’s Ticking (ft. Dierks Bentley) – (Justin Moore, Will Bundy, Randy Montana, Jeremy Stover)
10. F Word – (Justin Moore, Paul DiGiovanni, Chase McGill, Jeremy Stover)
11. Never Left Me – (Justin Moore, Casey Beathard, Will Bundy, Jeremy Stover)
12. You Know It’s Coming – (Justin Moore, Chase McGill, Jeremy Stover)

Country Swag Picks:

1. This Is My Dirt
2. Love, Your Hometown
3. Time’s Ticking (With Dierks Bentley)
4. Beer Ain’t One (With Blake Shelton)

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Justin Moore releases.

To keep up with Justin Moore, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This Is My Dirt is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.