Released on Jan. 22, Randy Houser’s third album, How Country Feels, didn’t receive a lot of attention. I didn’t even hear about it until the day it was released, when I was informed by the hosts of the morning talk show on FM 106.5. Despite the lack of publicity, it’s still averaging a 4.5 out of 5 stars after 205 reviews on iTunes — and I couldn’t agree more with those reviews. While it doesn’t have that factor that makes an album outstanding, it’s still a very solid country album. Houser starts off the album with “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight,” which will get just about anybody thinking about those upcoming late summer night drives that we’re all dying for right now. Later on in the album, he proves he has the voice to be more than just a party-country singer with the powerful ballads “The Singer” and “Power of a Song.”
Only after you’ve listened to half the album does he bring in his hit single and title song “How Country Feels,” which is an ode to everything country. Houser really struck gold with this track, as it’s addictive chorus and shoe-tapping rhythm make it an ideal country tune. He closes with “Route 3 Box 250 D,” a chilling song about a young man forced to grow up before his time.
Overall, How Country Feels is just a typical country album. It’s got your ballads, your party songs and your late night drive songs — and maybe that’s what I love about it.
Houser has always been a good country singer, just shy of your Jason Aldean’s and Luke Bryan’s, if you ask me. With this album, he sticks to his guns and and doesn’t try to do anything differently than what’s worked for him in the past.
And why fix something if it ain’t broke?