Hippo Campus Release Country-Inspired Single "Kick in the Teeth"
Written by Faith Logue
Graphic by Rebekah Witt
It has been a year since Hippo Campus released LP3, and they are back with a new single, “Kick in the Teeth.” This midwestern emo ballad brings a new sound to the group as they sound drastically different than other records and have other influences, including country guitar licks and an almost added accent to the words they sing. It is evident they are going for a country-type song with horses on the cover of their EP and horses prevalent in the lyric video accompanying this song.
The beginning of the song starts out immediately with only a guitar playing, tricking the listener into thinking it will be an acoustic song, singing, “My neighbor, Tommy, bought a six-pack/He's on his porch and really throwing 'em back.” The tone switches up at the pre-chorus with added melodies that hit the ear in a pleasant way because the group knows how to harmonize well and effectively. The chorus is where one can really hear lead singer Jake Luppen adding a country accent as he sings “So when you go home could you think about me?/I'm about as lonely as a cowboy can be/And a night without you's a kick in the teeth.” It is definitely a new element that one would not expect from the group but blends nicely, especially since they add guitar tracks that make someone feel like swaying back and forth.
The second verse references rodeos and the aspect of love, where they want their special person around them all the time, seeing them in their shirt and see them dancing around their room. The bridge changes up the upbeat tone and brings the overall message to a halt as Luppen sings “Skinny dipping in the moonlight/Drinking tequila 'til the sunrise/Stay in this moment for a lifetime/Living doesn't mean a thing without you/Without you.” Bringing this song to a slowed-down point emphasizes how much Luppen wants the person in their life and hammers down the final stretch of the song.
The last chorus part is a lot different than the previous one because they added different musical instruments, almost like they took a whole big band with trumpets and saxophones in the studio. There are added melodies and high notes that are pleasant to listen to and wrap the song up in a fast but calm manner. Overall, “Kick in the Teeth” by Hippo Campus was an unexpected song by them because they dropped it with seemingly no warning. The lyrics and melodies paint a picture in your mind of what exactly they are singing about, and I hope they continue making music with a variety of influences.