Single Review: Randy Houser - Goodnight Kiss

Randy Houser has been on a roll lately with hits like "How Country Feels" and "Runnin' Outta Moonlight." Will his streak of success continue with "Goodnight Kiss?" lets find out here!

When Randy Houser first came out in 2008 with "Anything Goes," he suggested a turn toward the neotraditionalist with an old-school broken heart ballad. Although a detour to the more "country boy"-leaning "Boots On" got him his first hit, his momentum died out quickly. However, a change in labels in 2012 seems to have done wonders for him, as he has just scored consecutive #1 hits with "How Country Feels" and "Runnin' Outta Moonlight." While these songs also have a more modern bent, they also have an undeniable undercurrent of traditionalism, helped in no small part by Randy's bracing, Ronnie Dunn-esque pipes and a finer lyrical detail than their not-so-deep subject matter would suggest. (After all, those two songs were, at the end of the day, an anthem about how country he is, and how he wants to be with a hot girl.)

"Goodnight Kiss" does mention a girl and a truck in the first line, and the lyrics don't get much more original as the song progresses — even if they do have a somewhat unconventional rhyme pattern. The bridge is also a bit underwhelming, consisting only of "I don't wanna wait, I don't wanna wait." But even if the lyrics aren't anything to write home about, they're still familiar and sincerely sung. Randy is usually a bit of a belter, but the verses allow him to tone it down before going full-force on the chorus, thus allowing a little more color to his sturdy voice than usual. The production is a bit loud, but not to the point of distraction.

Although Houser's first bow was incredibly traditional-leaning, his biggest successes to date have come in songs that re-dress familiar subjects just enough to stand out, and that are inherently country by way of Randy's thick drawling voice if nothing else. This down-the-middle approach seems to be paying off; after a false start, Randy seems refined and primed for stardom. And even better, he's been able to do so without compromising his artistic integrity.

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