Best That I Can

This short but powerful song, Best That I Can, is one of those tracks that seem simple but hide a carefully crafted structure. It’s not a repetitive chorus or an upbeat rhythm: its strength lies in its economy of resources. Vance Joy’s voice flows over an acoustic base that repeats with subtle variations, as if each return to the same pattern brought something new. The bridge, however, breaks that mold with an unexpected melodic twist that gives weight to the whole. There’s no overproduction: the sound breathes in those three and a half minutes, just enough for the lyrics not to get lost.

They recorded it in Boston with Ryan Hadlock, Edwin White, and Vance Joy himself at the helm of production. It was part of his debut album, Dream Your Life Away, released in September 2014 in Australia and New Zealand under Liberation Music, and a week later in the United States with Atlantic Records. The album ended up topping the charts in Australia, and by January 2018, it had already sold over two million copies worldwide. The special edition of the album, which came out in September 2015, included live versions and two new songs, but Best That I Can remained a balance between intimacy and accessibility.