We can see that more work was put on this album. It's also on the long side, with 15 songs at almost an hour long. Randy hit 3 singles with this one, and a couple of songs beside those deserve attention, particularly Power Of A Song or Wherever Love Goes. Randy has perhaps one of the most powerful voices in the industry, and we get to taste it at quite a lot of moments. That being said, song-writing still requires a lot of improvement, as most songs are pretty generic. At the third album produced, this to me is inexcusable.
The album is quite inconsistent, in the sense that we either have radio-ready songs (or songs trying really hard to get there), or generic songs. Songs that are good, but not great. To me, the fact that most songs have absolutely no story to them kills it. Apparently he sought help with song-writing, but that is surely isn't enough, at all. It needs improvement. Particularly in a segment of new country crowded like never before. Randy tries to bet that his voice can differentiate him, and I would tend to agree with him.
We get a few songs in this album that really put forward his voice, particularly Power Of A Song or Wherever Love Goes. Those 2 songs, plus the singles, are pretty much what is interesting about this album. The rest is average.
Perhaps, and hopefully, the success of this album will allow him to get better stories for the songs in the next album. We are getting more mature with this one, but it is quite far from top-tier.
8/10
Runnin' Outta Moonlight
This was one of the first summer songs this year, you've probably heard it enough already. Still, I feel this is an enjoyable song, the story is pretty generic though. At least musically, it feels well done, well put together. - 8.5/10
Growin' Younger
The song is kind of slow to start, takes almost 50 seconds. This is a great sounding song, and Randy shows how great of a voice he has at many times. Still, we are faced with kind of generic lyrics here. It never went on the radio most probably because it was crowded already, but it probably came close. If Randy was as famous as Luke Bryan for example, I have no doubt that it would have aired. - 8/10
Top Of The World
This is a love song, where the couple feels "top of the world". The story is a bit better than for the past 2 songs, but not that much. It sounds good though. - 7.5/10
The Singer
This is a sad song. We can enjoy Randy's voice also at some moments here, but it's a traditional sad song, kind of cry-in-your-beer type of thing. Not much creativity here, and the story is not impressive either. - 7.5/10
Power Of A Song
If you can't appreciate Randy's voice in this song, then you should just stop listening to his album as a whole. This is perhaps the best song of the album. The song is also a sad song, but vocally, it's just astonishing. It's a very enjoyable song. There is a pretty good rhythm in there too. - 9/10
Absolutely Nothing
This is an enjoyable song, but again, the story is just empty. There is a nice solo guitar, but it felt to come out of nowhere. Also the "nananana" at some point feels weird. - 7/10
Wherever Love Goes (feat. Kristy Lee Cook)
This is another love song, but the duo is really impressive. Again, you can enjoy the depth of Randy's voice. Once more: astonishing. The song is also enjoyable, it has a nice rhythm. - 9/10
Like A Cowboy
Poetic song, it's good, but doesn't do really anything outstanding overall. The "I miss you" story is correct, but won't win any "Song of the year" award. The singing is lovely as always though. - 8/10
How Country Feels
Old single, aired back in 2012. Still a very enjoyable song, and you know the lyrics by heart by now. Lyrics are quite generic though. - 8.5/10
Along For The Ride
For some reason, the combination of the piano and the rhythm of the song makes it sound kind of "jazz-ish" at some point. In any case, quite a good song, it's enjoyable, but not especially great. The story is also a bit empty. - 6.5/10
Sunshine On The Line
This is way too rock for me. The song has generic lyrics, once more, and Randy feels just off with this kind of song. - 6/10
Goodnight Kiss
Recent single. Perhaps the best of this album. The song-writing is an improvement over the others, the change in tone from times to times is also a nice touch. It's a well produced song as a whole. - 9/10
Let's Not Let It
Good song, but again, not great. The story is nothing particularly stellar, it's average, decent. The music is quite good though. - 7.5/10
Shine
The story of this old man working in the country started good, but it appears that inspiration didn't last long, because most of the song is the chorus... The music is good, but not stellar either. - 7.5/10
Route 3 Box 250 D
The story in this song is great, the story of the difficult childhood. The slow is kind of slow and generic musically-wise though. - 8/10
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