The Great American Bar Scene
Country is definitely by far my least touched genre, but I decided to give this album a try in the spirit of the fourth of july. Being kind of familiar with Zach Bryan I had some expectations set, but this, this album is pretty solid. Compared to his previous project, Zach went more into an Americana, folk, and rock direction this time, which I kinda expected. Like all his work, it features his emotional singing that I absolutely love. It blends perfectly with the instrumentation and especially the lyrics. His voice makes you feel like you're hearing a guy at a bar with an acoustic guitar, singing about his life, both the good and bad times. It's really authentic, and I dig it. I love his falsettos and harmonies, especially when he does them with his tour band or guest vocals on the album. The project has some really engaging and diverse storytelling. Like his last album, this one kicks off with a poem, this time about his tour experiences and his optimism about overcoming obstacles. The next song is a throwback to the old days, going to rodeos, and wanting to feel like a kid again. As you might guess, "Title Track" is a bar song where Zach sings about being robbed and then getting into a fight with a friend after a few beers. He also sings about not snitching on his brother, who's on the run, and later about his struggles with alcohol. "28" is about finding true love, probably about his current partner. He talks about the ups and downs and how he's reminded of his first concert. "American Nights" covers partying, the passage of time, and how friends change, sometimes due to tragedy. "Oak Island" talks about his time as a rail-tie worker, hanging with the boys and helping his family. The next song is about farming life, with Zach and Noeline probably playing a married couple trying to get by and get "purple gas" for their agricultural machines. "Boons" is about doing simple things, his concerts, his friends, and one of his exes. "The Way Back" is about a friend whose life was destroyed by drugs and alcohol, with Zach expressing hope and faith that she will overcome these addictions. "Memphis; The Blues" is a straightforward song about being in love that I like. "Like Ida" is about his previous girlfriend, hoping she's doing well, and making music. "Bass Boat" is about how his love for music started, dealing with problems, his relationship with God, and how his mother’s death impacted him. "Better Days" features a nice metaphor for life, comparing it to a boat and saying you’ll experience bad situations, but good ones will follow. On "Towers," Zach talks about his relationship with God, trying to get better to be in heaven, and seeing God in his love's eyes. The next song is about being afraid of losing your lover. "Northern Thunder" is about how his life changed due to his success and its impact on him. The next track is about wanting to be younger and more beautiful but knowing he can't change it. "Pink Skies" is one of my favorite songs of his; Zach sings about his mother's funeral, its impact on her family and friends, and his hope that she is proud of his achievements. The last song is about his ongoing struggle with alcohol addiction, being an authentic country singer, and his disappointment with the current direction of popular country music. Overall, I love these stories and how he expresses them with his wordplay and voice. The instrumentation is really raw, with harmonicas, pianos, drums, and electric guitars being more present compared to his previous record. Still, most of the songs are stripped back, with just acoustic guitars or pedal steel guitars and vocals. The guest performances are really nice, with Noeline Hofmann having great chemistry with Zach, John Mayer's minimal but solid appearance, John Moreland's slightly damaged voice, and Bruce Springsteen's solid performance.
ZACH BRYAN - THE GREAT AMERICAN BAR SCENE
RATING - 8.5/10
FAVORITE TRACKS - Pink Skies, 28, Purple Gas
GENRE - Country, Rock