The Way I’m Livin’ was made nearly six years after Lee Ann Womack’s previous studio album—2008’s Call Me Crazy—and it's clear that much has changed in her world. This is the sound of a refreshed artist who's more authentically country than ever. Womack’s husband, Frank Liddell, handles the production; he smartly fit his wife into his schedule, which has also included manning the boards for Miranda Lambert and The Pistol Annies. The two chose the best songs around, from songwriters such as Hayes Carll (“Chances Are”), Julie Miller (“Don’t Listen to the Wind”), Mindy Smith (“All His Saints”), and Neil Young (“Out on the Weekend”). Then they went about making them Womack’s own. As a superior singer, Womack has always had the ability to deliver a song with unfussy phrasings and sincere commitment. Liddell’s acoustic-based production gives Womack the room she needs while never pushing her to sing too hard. It’s as if the writers were composing with Womack in mind.