Even though that album was only released in October, it produced no hits for Houser. As a result, the album seems to have been abandoned in order to release the inspirational “In God’s Time”, the lead single for an undetermined third album.
The song conveys that the timing of the trajectory of our lives is not always in our control, but instead, the orchestration of God’s timing. The theme of the song is what one might automatically assume it to be by its straightforward title. In fact, its overt nature could easily cross the line to heavy handedness, as so many songs of its ilk tend to do.
Fortunately though, Houser interprets this song with a humble conviction that can only be reliably conveyed by a person who must viscerally know the message to be true.
To accompany Houser’s impassioned, yet graceful performance, the instrumentation for this track is wonderfully restrained. It begins with gentle acoustic guitar strums and manages to subtly build without the obvious swells of an annoying orchestra, but rather, a sweet steel guitar solo instead.
There are similarities to Brooks & Dunn’s “Believe”, but I don’t mind going out on a limb to suggest that, despite Houser’s smaller status, it is a stronger performance and composition when all factors are considered. I can’t predict how “In God’s Time” will do on country radio, but I can venture a guess that it will be a serious contender for 2011 end-of-the year lists.
Written by Randy Houser, David Lee Murphy & Shane Minor
Grade: A
Listen: In God’s Time
More: Self-sufficient-life.com
I didn’t like They Call Me Cadillac as much as you, but I do really like this new single.
I like this a lot better than “Boots on” and Houser has a great voice. But I doubt this song will go anywhere on country radio.
One of the year’s best for sure. Time will only tell how it does at radio, but it would be criminal if it gets ignored.
While I love the recorded track, the version from the Grand Ole Opry, where he debuted this song, is better because he feeds into the crowd reaction and gives one of the best vocals I’ve heard in a long time.
He really deserves to be a much bigger success than he is right now.
Give Houser credit for not opportunistically running back to the amped-up “I’m countrier than Thou!” crutch after seeing his compelling, organically produced sophomore album go about virtually unnoticed.
Perhaps that’s the benefit of being an artist who never becomes an explosive commercial success story of sorts. It isn’t like “Anything Goes” sold particularly well either (just north of 200,000 copies I believe)……..so from even a commercial standpoint Houser had little incentive to move back in that aforementioned loud-and-proud direction. Thus, when a truly artistic album followed that up and also failed to make statistical commercial noise, Houser is better able to shrug it off and continue ahead with the kind of music he wants to make, minimally inhibited by the marionette strings of major label executives.
This will continue his drought of commercial chart relevance, but is certainly a most worthy addition to his growing artistic catalog.
Bob,
I don’t know that this song doesn’t have a chance based on content, since quieter songs have been more welcome lately (“The House that Built Me”) and religious themed songs are still embraced on country radio. I do think that his real hurdle is what Noah points out though. Radio just doesn’t seem to want to catch onto him yet. As Noah said, I’m glad that it seems that he’s making more organic choices lately, as he’s discovering that the Jason Aldean-esque productions aren’t working for him either.
Come check out Randy Houser on tour with Willie Nelson’s Country Throwdown tour this summer! BUY TICKETS HERE!!http://www.countrythrowdown.com/dates
It holds so true– you try and pray and beg for someone or something and it does not happen and then God sends you something better that you dreamed. Yes that is Go