Album Review: Dylan Scott’s ‘Livin’ My Best Life’

Today Dylan Scott drops his second studio album, Livin’ My Best Life, some of it may already be familiar to listeners through tracks such as New Truck and Nobody but with sixteen tracks to enjoy there will be plenty of surprises for listeners.

Opening with New Truck, a radio friendly slice of country that centres on the romantic memories associated with an old truck – it’s a big, rousing contemporary anthem with polished production and a smooth honey-soaked vocal from Dylan. Fellow pre-release track Amen to That is a lavish country-pop treat that brings some slick electronic production effects into the fold. Can’t Have Mine is a number centred on romantic longing with Dylan soundtracked by stripped back acoustic guitar driven production. There’s also a highlight in the form of Jimmie Allen duet In Our Blood – it’s a moody track that leans more towards the world of country-rock and features one of Dylan’s strongest vocal performances on the album.

There’s a real anthemic treat in Static which finds its title through the line “Turn down the road I know to take that’s gonna save my soul, Crank up and gas it till there’s static on the radio…” Like many of the tracks on the album, this shines through Matt Alderman and Will Weatherly’s lavish production. Another romantic number follows in Lay Down With You, whilst the nostalgic and sentimental charm of Boy I Was Back Then showcases a versatility in the range of tones covered on Livin’ My Best Life. Dylan delivers a suave confidence on the laid-back charm of the LP’s title track in which the Louisiana native croons “I’m just out here living, out here living, living my best life” against a slinky country groove and some bold electric guitar notes.

Killin’ Some Time‘s pounding percussion and multi-instrumentation provides a soundtrack to this number about living life in the country and killing time until life’s important turns come to the forefront. There are echoes of classic nineties country on Ain’t Much Left Of Me in which the singer sounds heavenly atop harmonica and violin instrumentation. Nostalgia continues on Leave Her Alone, a laid-back romantic number soundtracked with twanging guitar and smooth, sparse production. Tough follows and centres on the idea of father-son bonding before veering onto the idea of first loves, shining with Dylan’s bold yet emotive vocals against quiet stripped back production.

The ascendant piano-driven Nobody shows why it was a radio hit, continuing to shine amidst the context of the album. It’s hook-filled chorus and rousing message make it a real highlight of the LP. Penultimate number Good Times Go By Too Fast is centred on the message of living it up and appreciating the good times. It’s the sort of song that Dylan excels with – bouncing, chirpy production, big choruses and hints of nostalgia and well-pitched emotion trickling through. Album closer Nothing To Do Town ends on an up-tempo note, slick-electronic touches paired with an old school country message, upbeat production and a smooth vocal all help this impress.

Livin’ My Best Life presents all facets that make Dylan one of country’s strongest rising talents: soaring when tackling high-octane, feel-good country with a sense of charm and swagger; yet managing to deliver a sense of sincere emotional conviction in the album’s quieter more intimate moments. Dylan packs the full sixteen song tracklist with an all killer, no filler approach whilst also asserting himself as a top-notch country songwriter, penning most of the album’s songs.

Livin’ My Best Life is out now. Click here for details.