Kolby Cooper: ‘Love You, Goodnight’ – Album Review

With his powerful growl and incredible knack for songwriting, Kolby Cooper is back with his sophomore album via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville with Combustion Music, Love You, Good Night. On the follow up to 2022’s Boy from Anderson County to the Moon, the Texas native continues his ascension towards superstardom with a collection of anthemic, radio-ready uptempos and impassioned ballads.

For the 25-year-old husband and father of three, much of his sophomore effort focuses on life on the road and all the good and bad that comes with being a road warrior. Yet, the country-rock dynamo blends his gritty vocals with authentic storytelling and catchy melodies, creating an impressive collection.

Featuring fourteen tracks penned by Cooper and a host of other well-revered writers, the album takes listeners on a roller coaster of emotion. “It just feels like the most ‘me’ album we’ve ever made, I wasn’t even trying to force this sound out,” Cooper revealed in a statement, “I was just sitting down like ‘Let’s write something badass.’ I hope the lyrics carry the weight of how cool the production is, how hard we worked on it, and the countless hours I’ve spent making sure it told a story.”

The album kicks off with the driving and anthemic guitars of “Apt. 208,” which he describes as “one of my favorite songs on the project and one of my favorite choruses I’ve ever been a part of writing.” On the powerful uptempo, he celebrates that good times often come after bad, musing, “I wouldn’t love the sun, if it wasn’t for the rain.”

That kind of lyrical juxtaposition weaves its way through much of the LP, as Cooper finds himself in a losing battle on the acoustic-driven “Fighting with God.” The story-laden “Getaway” makes him an accomplice to a crime, all in the name of love. Meanwhile, “Lost Gets Found” is a lush and hopeful anthem that all will be alright.

“Running Away” is a clear standout, a single-worthy earworm that celebrates getting out of the friend zone and into a special relationship, while “Under My Skin” is a growling uptempo that finds him willing to sacrifice pain for love. “Break my heart all over again,” He proclaims. “Get back in my arms, get under my skin.”

In a similar vein come “Hate You Too” and “Kill Me,” both which have titles that sound much darker than the songs would suggest. “Hate” is driving and gritty, blaring guitars accentuating Cooper’s voice as he deals with a woman he both loves and hates, while “Kill Me” pairs his raspy growl with heavier instrumentation.

“There’s a wildfire on top of this hill // I don’t know, I’m climbing still // The burning is giving me chills // I crave it I crave your body’s beautiful drug // Bringing me down and picking me up // I breathe you into my lungs // You kill me, you kill me”

Cooper grapples with heartache on the sparsely stunning ballad “Empty Handed.” Here, his voice shines with emotion as he realizes how bad an ex was for him, finding himself happier to be empty-handed. Similarly, he trades verses with the golden-voiced Danielle Bradbery on “One Last,” a breakup ballad that finds the pair convincing themselves to share one last night before saying their goodbyes.

The Texas native also pays homage to his East Texas upbringing and the dysfunction often found there, taking a deep look at vices and familial relations on songs like “Mama” and “One Big Happy Sad Family.” While the latter tells the tale of a complicated family, each member with their own problems and vices, “Mama” is the story of a man battling his addictions despite his mother’s prayers.

“Don’t put that on me, mama // I’ve talked to God before It feels like he don’t wanna // Hear from me no more // This devil in the bottle // Don’t wanna let me go // There ain’t no holy water // Gonna save my soul // Those prayers you sent through the ceilin //’ No, they ain’t worth a heart like mine // God knows my shoulders don’t need the weight of the world tonight // Don’t put that on me, mama”

The album ends with a one two punch of “Hello from the Road” and “Love You, Good Night,” both which find Cooper vulnerable and missing home. It ends with the title track, a sparse and soul-tugging ballad that finds him making a late night phone call from the road to his wife at home. “I have a beautiful wife and babies back home and it’s just, I would love to be with them every single day,” He reveals. “And this song was written in the morning after I’d been away for a couple of weeks and just called home and said, ‘Hey, I love you, I miss you.’”

It’s that kind of honesty and authenticity in his lyrics that make Kolby Cooper a true stand out in the country genre. Pair that authenticity with his incredible voice and you’ve got a man on the verge of superstardom.

Country Swag Picks:

1. Hate You Too
2. Apt. 208
3. Running Away
4. Empty Handed

Love You, Goodnight Track List:

1. Apt. 208 (Kolby Cooper, Ben Burgess, Andrew Baylis)
2. Fighting With God (Kolby Cooper, Andrew Baylis, Josh Dorr, Michael Whitworth)
3. Running Away (Kolby Cooper, Andrew Baylis, Michael Whitworth)
4. Lost Gets Found (Kolby Cooper, Michael Whitworth, Andrew Baylis)
5. Hate You Too (Kolby Cooper, Andrew Baylis, Riley Thomas, Michael Whitworth)
6. Empty Handed (Kolby Cooper)
7. One Big Happy Sad Family (Kolby Cooper, Sam Bergeson, Dan Pellarin, Riley Thomas)
8. Under My Skin (Kolby Cooper, Andrew Baylis, Josh Dorr, Michael Whitworth, Riley Thomas)
9. One Last (with Danielle Bradbery) (Kolby Cooper, Michael Whitworth, Cody Quistad)
10. Kill Me (Kolby Cooper, Andrew Baylis, Michael Whitworth)
11. Getaway (Kolby Cooper, Jaxson Free, Joybeth Taylor, Jacob Durrett)
12. Mama (Kolby Cooper, Andrew Baylis, Michael Whitworth, Geoff Warburton)
13. Hello From The Road (Kolby Cooper, David Garcia, Brett Tyler)
14. Love You, Goodnight (Kolby Cooper, Andrew Baylis)

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Kolby Cooper releases.

For more info on Cooper, including tour dates, visit his official website.

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Love You, Goodnight is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.