Dylan Schneider
Album review by Abby Anderson
Dylan Schneider is fresh off tours with Kane Brown and Luke Bryan earlier this year, and was named "Country Music’s Next Rising Star" by Billboard. He has solidified his place in country music with the release of his debut album, PUZZLED. Released on September 27 via This is Hit, Inc. and BBR Music Group, Schneider showcases his talents as both a performer and a songwriter having solo-written or co-written all 16 tracks on the album. PUZZLED proves Schneider is not just a rising star, but a versatile and powerful storyteller.
The album opens with ‘Carhartt,’ a simple yet romantic track infused with the classic flair of mainstream country. The song’s catchy hook makes it primed for radio play: “That girl she stole my Carhartt // Slipped it off of my head // Faster than a fast car // Wore it like a red dress.” ‘Here Comes the Sun’ takes a modern twist by blending trap and pop influences with a laid-back Margaritaville-country vibe akin to Jimmy Buffett or Kenny Chesney. Tracks such as ‘Bad Decisions’ and ‘Ain’t Missin’ You’ embrace the duality of pop-country, reminiscent of Luke Bryan and Thomas Rhett.
Schneider pays homage to one of country music’s greatest legends in ‘Without June,’ a heartfelt track nodding to Johnny Cash. Schneider’s reverence for Cash, a fixture in his Nashville songwriting career, shines through as he sings, “I'm Johnny without June // Like a ring without the fire // I wouldn't have no line to walk // I'd be locked up in Folsom Prison without the blues.” In an album that draws heavily from the country music scene, ‘Ruin This Town’ stands out as perhaps the truest reflection of Schneider’s artistic identity. With rich instrumentals, clever vocal runs, and a lyrical reference to Nashville’s Broadway Honky Tonks, the song feels authentic and full of personality: “There's our names on a dollar // On a wall at a bar // Pours 'em strong so tonight I can't go.” This narrative continues in ‘Better Than You Left Me,’ where Schneider finds comfort in the places that once brought him pain as he is supported by a new relationship.
The album closes with its title track, ‘Puzzled,’ a stripped-down acoustic ballad reflecting on Schneider’s journey and growth alongside country music. He sings, “I found a piece in Tennessee // Left some back in Indiana // There's one that went missing,” before concluding, “Through all the tears, through all the struggle // Eight short years and I'm still trouble // But I know one day I'll find out why this life // Has kept me puzzled.” Ultimately, PUZZLED feels like a love letter to country music, blending influences from the genre's past and present. Schneider’s fresh sound and thoughtful lyrics make him a rising star with the potential to become a household name for a new generation of country fans.
