Houston singer-songwriter A.G. McIntosh has teamed up with Squad Five-0 guitarist Kris Klein for an acoustic alt/punk song which has him looking back at his life with the sentiment that it’s all “Better Than the Last.” He first looks at his own personal life, then at his wife, and then his daughter. The song is a celebration of the blessings that God has granted to him throughout his lifetime.
The last verse solidifies this message as A.G. sings, “So here I am again thinking of my sins and all the things I wish I could redo. You motivate me to be holy and true. The man I am today is better than the last. I’ll be better than the last; You vindicate my past. I’ll be better than the last.” While I wouldn’t say this track “sounds like” Bob Dylan, the vocal melodies and parts of the delivery certainly bring Dylan to mind – if Dylan had a grittier sounding voice, that is. The format of four verses with no chorus may ring as a little strange at first, but it grows on you some as the differing “better than the last” refrains at the end of each verse serve as its own type of chorus.
McIntosh handles the acoustic guitar and singing duties while Klein handles electric guitar, tambourine, and background vocals. Keys player Jon Davis rounds things out by adding piano and organ to the mix. “Better Than the Last” is a joyous and well-recorded song acknowledging God for the best things in life. It’s a happy and upbeat number with solid production. It’s been a few years since A.G.’s last release with 2020’s The Satisfaction EP, so it’s nice to see him back with some new music. You can also find A.G. McIntosh on Jesusfreakhideout.com’s own indie sampler, Songs We’ve Been Trying to Tell You About (And Others We Haven’t), Volume 11. Fans of acoustic-based alternative music should find a lot to like with “Better Than the Last,” and A.G.’s catalog.
– Review date: 4/5/26, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com
Record Label: None
Album length: 1 track: 3 minutes, 1 second
Street Date: April 16, 2026
Buy It: Amazon Music
