If you’re a fan of indie music, you may have seen the name Way Dynamic pop up as the opener for touring acts such as MJ Lenderman, Waxahatchee and most recently Black Country, New Road on February 26^th. The project of local singer-songwriter Dylan Young, Way Dynamic blends folky, ballad-style songs with ‘60s pop and groovy guitar patterns to create gorgeous music that seamlessly incorporates all of its many influences. 

Young’s most recent album, Massive Shoe, leans into this, embellishing his voice and guitar with a range of different sounds and textures—his live band on the 26^th featured even more members than Black Country, New Road’s, a group known for their ambitious six-piece arrangements. I had heard a few of the songs before (and was especially obsessed with “Mercy Town”), but was blown away by how layered and intricate all of the music was, whilst still allowing for the songwriting to breathe. Backing guitarists, drums, double bass, violins and a range of wind instruments (the album’s Bandcamp page credits backing musicians on clarinet, harmonium and soprano saxophone) all contribute to the atmosphere and create a perfect backdrop for Young’s intricate guitar melodies and impressive vocal range.

The songwriting on Massive Shoe is a particular standout in just how sweet and wholesome it feels. Opening track “People Settle Down” speaks of settling down with someone as this huge, almost mythical thing, something that the speaker has only “[seen] in movies” and “read it in books,” as he dreams of building a “gentle house,”. It’s heartwarming, a feeling only added to by the energetic guitar chords and lively string sections, featuring an ascending violin line towards the end of the bridge section that feels engineered to make you smile. The same applies to songs like “Mercy Town”, singing about how “pigs will fly” with joy on the day of a wedding before jumping into a funky, piano-led melody between the choruses, and “In Review,” where Young imagines a series of futures spent with someone he loves; staying next to the Seine river, supporting their dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian, “flying to space in a massive shoe.”

It would also be remiss to not mention just how quality the guitar playing is across Massive Shoe. Channelling his inner Beatles (just listen to the start of “I Was The Dancer”), Young excels at writing riffs and earworms so catchy that the entire song falls into place around them. The melody from “Miffed It” hasn’t left my mind since hearing it live, the song repeating one riff and using it as the backdrop for a story of a relationship gone wrong, of losing a friend, of making a heartbreaking mistake. Between “Miffed It” and later tracks like “The Others”, Massive Shoe’s emotional potency comes from the guitar melodies just as much as the lyrics, the music being able to tell a story all on its own.

The only criticism I have about the album is its pacing. Directly after “Ibiza”, the album’s heaviest and most rock-y song, it goes straight into its two slowest tracks, “They Said” and “Evening Star”. Whilst this pair of ballads is beautiful, they bring the energy built up throughout the tracklist to an abrupt halt and unfortunately result in the album ending with a good deal of tonal whiplash. Especially given how much of the album is defined by its joyous, sometimes silly songwriting, it feels like Massive Shoe could create more impact by closing on a song like “I Was The Dancer”— equally emotional, but more guitar-driven and lyrical—which is exactly what the band did when opening for Black Country, New Road. In a live setting, Young is able to rearrange the tracklist in a more consistent way, letting the music shine all the more. His (way) dynamic with the rest of his live band is also something that brings the music to life— the woodwinds and violin are brought to the forefront, allowing them to add their own personality and a little bit of call-and-response with Young’s vocal melodies (as well as some crazy improvised recorder playing!). 

All of this is to say that, despite a few organisational shortcomings, the music from Massive Shoe absolutely stuns, regardless of whether you hear it in its studio or live version. It’s a testament to just how strong Young’s songwriting and ear for melody is. In that way, it’s not unlike (and possibly even rivals) the music that it takes inspiration from, the kind of album that, if it were written by the Beatles, would be seen as a classic now.