Following his earlier single “Wave,” a song about walking away from situations that are beyond your control, Scott McDonald returns with his latest sonic salvo, “Can’t Get The Better Of Me,” which reinforces his fist-in-the-air, independent stance. And if there’s any justice in the modern music landscape, this slice of poised and polished rock ‘n’ roll will find much favour, both in commercial and critical quarters.
Built on grit and defiance, “Can’t Get The Better Of Me” is equal parts anthem and affirmation—a sharp-edged rock number that channels resilience through every riff and lyrical line. Okay, there’s no shortage of songs about overcoming the odds, especially in the rock world. The difference here is that when McDonald speaks such words, you believe him, no question. Somehow, he makes it sound personal, believable, and, most importantly, relatable.
Scott takes the vocals and guitar duties, and is joined by long-time collaborator and TUSK bandmate Tom Nelson on drums, with studio ace Brian J Anthony laying down the basslines. It’s a tight trio—seasoned players who know how to serve the song and only the song.
And what a great song it is, one that combines big, classic rock riffs with poised and polished production, driving power with infectious grooves, accessibility with energy, anthems with euphoria. This is everything that the rock world needs right now: a timely sonic shot in the arm. With everything moving ever more alternative, ever more experimental, and ever more abstract, perhaps we need more music that is honest enough and content enough to do the job at hand and just make people happy. And as Scott proves without a shadow of a doubt here, you can do that and still deliver a meaningful and relatable message.
In an era where sincerity often feels buried beneath production tricks and trend-chasing, “Can’t Get The Better Of Me” feels like a beacon on the horizon in the increasingly murky musical waters of the rock and roll oceans—bright, bold, and impossible to ignore. And as beacons go, this timely taste of his forthcoming album, See It Through, also on Bongo Boy Records, is exactly the destination that we should all be setting a course for.
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