The wait is finally over.
After months of speculation, tweets, retractions and false release dates, Zach Bryan has finally released his highly-anticipated follow-up to 2022’s American Heartbreak, a self-titled and independently produced record.
If you haven’t been keeping up with the rollout of the album, the record was first confirmed to have an August release date by Bryan himself on TikTok back in July. Flash forward to August 8th and Wesley Schultz, the lead vocalist of The Lumineers, posted a snippet of Spotless with the caption, “His album drops August 19!” This, of course, sent the internet into a frenzy with many speculating why Zach wouldn’t announce the date himself.
Hearing the buzz all over the internet, Bryan took to Instagram the following day to clear the air and dropped the official release date of August 25.
Hours before the album dropped, Bryan took to Instagram once again to give some insight on how he felt about the album, citing that it’s completely his own and that it overall encapsulates everything that he has been feeling during his rapid climb to the top of the country music genre.
“All I pray is that someone out there relates enough to not feel alone. I wrote and produced an album that I would want to listen to. I self titled it because I hear every cell of my being in it. Some of it’s slow and low, some of it’s reckless, some of it’s loud, some of it’s quiet, but it’s all me at twenty-seven. I put evervthing I could in it and lam at a loss for words at what a blessing this life is.”
The album comes in at 16 tracks, totaling just under an hour in runtime. It’s a noticeable departure from the absolute behemoth that American Heartbreak was at 34. This results in a listening experience that is much less taxing and overall easier in comparison.
It would be amiss to not mention the absolutely stacked features present on the record. Grammy-nominees, Kacey Musgraves and The Lumineers, as well as Sierra Ferrell and The War and Treaty, round out the lineup. Bryan’s voice pairs incredibly well with each and every one of the previously mentioned artists. Hey Driver, featuring The War and Treaty, is a stunner with Michael and Tanya Trotter’s powerful voices harmonizing beautifully with Bryan’s.
Returning on Zach Bryan is a poem. However, instead of closing the album like This Road I Know did on American Heartbreak, Fear and Friday’s (Poem) opens the album this time around. Not to be confused with the song, Fear and Friday’s, the poem is an extremely raw one. Here, Bryan reflects on his life, highlighting his accomplishments, faults and views on the world.
“I am unhinged, unworthy, and distasteful to mostly everyone I meet. However, I am loyal to a fault to anyone I find kindness in. I do not and will not fear tomorrow because I feel as though today has been enough. And I got no hate in my heart for anything, anywhere, or anyone. And I think fear and Fridays got an awful lot in common. They are overdone and glorified and always leave you wanting
In Overtime, the album’s first song after the opening poem, Bryan directly calls out his critics and doubters throughout the years in the third verse.
“They said I’s a wanna-be cowboy from a cut throat town
With tattooed skin and nobody around
Your songs sound the same, you’ll never make a name for yourselfBut I been scraping by my whole damn life
And granddaddy worked a double ’til the day he died
Said, “Never let this worlds earthly pride get you down”
It’s been a common criticism that Bryan’s songs and lyrics sound too similar. Often being called a wannabe Tyler Childers as well, it seems like Bryan is sticking a proverbial middle finger to the critics here on this rockin’ track. It feels like he’s saying, “I’m here to stay whether you like it or not.” with the release of this song and album.
Zach Bryan ultimately feels like a unique blend of the low-fi nature of DeAnn and Elisabeth and the professionally produced, heartland sound of his most recent releases. Tracks such as Smaller Acts and Summertime’s Close feel as if they’re ripped straight from DeAnn while El Dorado and Fear and Fridays feel like they would feel right at home on Summertime Blues.
Time will tell how the record ages in the eyes of Bryan’s adoring fans and the country music world in general. However, one thing that is abundantly clear is that he is not making music for the charts, streaming platforms or labels. Bryan is an artist and poet first and a superstar second.
Listen to East Side of Sorrow, Spotless and I Remember Everything here: