No opinion piece this week like last week, just reviews of two songs I’m very excited about. Hope y’all enjoy!
Like a Cowboy – Randy Houser
It’s hard for me not to overwrite about this song. It has been the one consistent carryover from the How Country Feels album when I start to listen to newer albums. Per usual, Houser’s vocals are top notch, but it’s the lyrical content of this song that makes me consider it his best single of yet (and more than likely of his career, if it’s treated correctly by radio).
“Well baby you know I can't stay long; when you wake up, I'll be gone, until then I'll hold on, like a cowboy”
The lyrics in this tune feel ripped straight out of 1990’s traditional country, and the prominent steel guitar helps that notion. Houser has had three straight hits with “How Country Feels”, “Running Outta Moonlight” and “Goodnight Kiss”, I think this song will either be the perfect ending to this album’s era or the spark that pushes the album back up the charts and allow for another single release (the former more likely than the latter).
“I keep your picture tucked inside my old hat; it brings me luck, I need a bunch of that; this midnight winding road runs through my blood; I can't give it up, like I said I would”
Read those lyrics and tell me it’s not a top-notch country song. Houser has had major success with the How Country Feels album. This song could be the one that projects him to top level success like Jason Aldean’s My Kinda Party album and Luke Bryan’s Tailgates & Tanlines album in recent years.
Dalton’s Rating: 9.5/10. I am biased in that the “cowboy” theme is one I love in country music, but I can’t say that this is not as good of a song as I’m hyping it. As a kid who grew up more on George Strait and Tracy Lawrence, this is the kind of song that I could see them recording back then.
Is it Worth a Listen? Definitely, I give it two thumbs WAY up!
Tracy Lawrence - Lie
Forever will I feel disgust towards “country music fans” that haven’t heard of Tracy Lawrence. His voice is one of the most distinctive in country music and he’s has a large catalogue of hits and amazing album cuts (See: “The Questionnaire” if you don’t believe me), but he is someone not a majority of today’s country fans haven’t heard of. With his new album, Headlights, Tailights, and Radios, Lawrence has modernized his sound while still holding true to the key elements that made him so successful before (his voice is one you can’t make sound non-country). “Lie”, is just a flat-out good country song. With lyrics like: “Did you get a chance to talk, did she mention me at all; was she there alone or with some other guy; well, I'm dying to know but I'm scared of the truth; so before you say a word; consider what this heart's been through” Lawrence paints the story of a sad man, unlike many others could ever do.
“Tell me she looked sad and lonely; tell me she's been missing me like crazy; yeah, just look me in the eye and lie”
It’s a story anyone who’s had a break-up can relate to and one that I hope will give Lawrence some long overdue chart success. “Lie” will struggle in that it’s a ballad and country radio hasn’t been kind to ballads (from anyone really) recently, but I think it’s a strong enough song that it could make some noise. Lawrence’s singing is never a concern, when paired with truly wonderful lyrics like this one, it makes for a very successful combination.
Dalton’s Rating: 9/5/10. Lawrence is as strong as ever vocally and has released the best song from his album and I’m extremely excited over it.
Is it Worth a Listen? One more lyrical proof, “Was she hoping I’d walk in; just take her by the hand; and pick up right where we left off; well, I know she’s moving on and it’s killing me to see; and the words you want to say are strong enough to be the death of me”. Yeah, you oughta listen to it.
Like a Cowboy – Randy Houser
It’s hard for me not to overwrite about this song. It has been the one consistent carryover from the How Country Feels album when I start to listen to newer albums. Per usual, Houser’s vocals are top notch, but it’s the lyrical content of this song that makes me consider it his best single of yet (and more than likely of his career, if it’s treated correctly by radio).
“Well baby you know I can't stay long; when you wake up, I'll be gone, until then I'll hold on, like a cowboy”
The lyrics in this tune feel ripped straight out of 1990’s traditional country, and the prominent steel guitar helps that notion. Houser has had three straight hits with “How Country Feels”, “Running Outta Moonlight” and “Goodnight Kiss”, I think this song will either be the perfect ending to this album’s era or the spark that pushes the album back up the charts and allow for another single release (the former more likely than the latter).
“I keep your picture tucked inside my old hat; it brings me luck, I need a bunch of that; this midnight winding road runs through my blood; I can't give it up, like I said I would”
Read those lyrics and tell me it’s not a top-notch country song. Houser has had major success with the How Country Feels album. This song could be the one that projects him to top level success like Jason Aldean’s My Kinda Party album and Luke Bryan’s Tailgates & Tanlines album in recent years.
Dalton’s Rating: 9.5/10. I am biased in that the “cowboy” theme is one I love in country music, but I can’t say that this is not as good of a song as I’m hyping it. As a kid who grew up more on George Strait and Tracy Lawrence, this is the kind of song that I could see them recording back then.
Is it Worth a Listen? Definitely, I give it two thumbs WAY up!
Tracy Lawrence - Lie
Forever will I feel disgust towards “country music fans” that haven’t heard of Tracy Lawrence. His voice is one of the most distinctive in country music and he’s has a large catalogue of hits and amazing album cuts (See: “The Questionnaire” if you don’t believe me), but he is someone not a majority of today’s country fans haven’t heard of. With his new album, Headlights, Tailights, and Radios, Lawrence has modernized his sound while still holding true to the key elements that made him so successful before (his voice is one you can’t make sound non-country). “Lie”, is just a flat-out good country song. With lyrics like: “Did you get a chance to talk, did she mention me at all; was she there alone or with some other guy; well, I'm dying to know but I'm scared of the truth; so before you say a word; consider what this heart's been through” Lawrence paints the story of a sad man, unlike many others could ever do.
“Tell me she looked sad and lonely; tell me she's been missing me like crazy; yeah, just look me in the eye and lie”
It’s a story anyone who’s had a break-up can relate to and one that I hope will give Lawrence some long overdue chart success. “Lie” will struggle in that it’s a ballad and country radio hasn’t been kind to ballads (from anyone really) recently, but I think it’s a strong enough song that it could make some noise. Lawrence’s singing is never a concern, when paired with truly wonderful lyrics like this one, it makes for a very successful combination.
Dalton’s Rating: 9/5/10. Lawrence is as strong as ever vocally and has released the best song from his album and I’m extremely excited over it.
Is it Worth a Listen? One more lyrical proof, “Was she hoping I’d walk in; just take her by the hand; and pick up right where we left off; well, I know she’s moving on and it’s killing me to see; and the words you want to say are strong enough to be the death of me”. Yeah, you oughta listen to it.