I haven't listened to the album yet, so when I read your comment I went ".....Bruce who. BRUCE WHO." I almost threw my phone, thank you! Any day with new Bruce Springsteen is a damn good day.
@@GameJunkyard11 Try hundreds. Country is gradually heading towards a modern day renaissance after the nuclear winter that was post-9/11 country. and there’s plenty of experimentation as well as songcraft if you look behind the curtain just a little
Zach Bryan is, by a considerable margin, the best country artist to hit the mainstream in the past decade. Glad to see him getting the respect he deserves from Melon. EDIT: okay yeah Chris Stapleton is also that good I can't believe I fucked that up EDIT 2: they're beating my ass in the replies and I deserve it
idk, i'd pick a more recognizably country artist than a Springsteen-modeled heartland-rock type. Tyler Childers by a considerable margin vis-a-vis "country music". IDK if he counts as 'mainstream' in the sense of catching the attention of Fantano fans, but he is mainstream in the sense of playing stadiums.
If you enjoy this album or Zach’s stuff, please check out stuff from Jason Isbell, Ruston Kelly, Sturgill Simpson, The Gaslight Anthem, Zach is carrying the flag for modern country but there’s so many more out there that you’ll love!
Being an Oklahoman, sometimes it can be hard knowing that you are the most “nothing” state in our entire Republic, almost universal hated by everybody. But I feel a little better every time I remember that we keep producing the best country artists on planet earth consistently. Don’t know how or why, but we do.
Cheer up bud, you don’t live in Florida. You aren’t the most universally hated by a long shot! You’ve still got Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama ahead of you!
@@noobasdfjkl Since forever. We’re considered a flyover state with zero redeeming qualities in any way lol. My entire life I’ve heard “the more boring Texas” and things like that.
Happy to see this get a yellow flannel. I’ve been enjoying Zach’s music and his consistent approach to Country/Americana. This one has a few weaker songs but his batting average is remarkable. 28, American Nights, Sandpaper, Bass Boat, and Pink Skies already feel like staples in my own listening.
you gotta get artists like willie nelson & colter wall in your diet, there's tons of great country music out there edit: commenter below said townes van zandt, absolutely him too. sturgill simpson, dolly parton, johnny cash, silver jews, songs ohia.. they’re all amazing, and there’s so much more too
Hating on country music, like any major genre of music in general, is so corny. Check out Jason Isbell's stuff. Hell, listen to the Dave Cobb compilation concept album Southern Family from 2016.
Purple Gas being Noeline Hofmann's first official release is just so incredible. Not really sure of her background or relation to ZB, but she is a stunning songwriter and vocalist and I definitely think you should keep en eye out for her first LP, if and when it arrives
Listening to this album on July 4th with my family at our lake house will always be a great memory for me. Love the album and have gone to listen to a lot of the tracks over again multiple times! One of my favorite albums of the year so far!
I worked at Peacemaker Festival 2022 in Fort Smith, AR when Zach Bryan was headlining. I am rarely moved by country music under a lot of circumstances, but this dude is the real deal. I'd see him perform again
Zach Bryan and his band are also amazing live. Them playing Revival is a fuckin awesome experience. Dude is absolutely revitalizing country music basically single handedly. Tyler Childers cool too though
This album seems to be bringing in more eyes to country, so I am gonna take the chance here to name drop Benajmin Tod, Colter Wall, Sturgill Simpson, and Charley Crockett. Some of them make similar-ish songs to Zach, some not so much, all worth the listen. By no means are these "small names" in the scene, either. Just hoping to get more people into it
You must have not listened to much country music, there are some very good modern artists: Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson, Colter Wall, Sierra Ferrell, and Sam Barber just to name a few
GABS to me feels like Zach perfecting what he was aiming for on his self-titled. Zach really leaned into the "sad cowboy" theme that he's gotten popular for on his self-titled, which I feel went off of the natural progression his albums have been taking from the genuine tragedy and raw sadness of DeAnn through to some of his most optimistic and upbeat songs on American Heartbreak. His song Better Days seems like he's almost aware of this too? Like he's become an overnight success without having to compromise his principles, maybe he doesn't have to be sad all the time? It really is exciting to see from an artist who's had such a positive impact on my life. Got engaged to my lovely lady at one of his shows last August and we'll be getting married next weekend :) Overall a great addition to his discography. I definitely agree that the album sounds in some ways like his self-titled, but I don't think that's a bad thing. The themes he presents in GABS really seem to fit with where he's at in his life, and it hits so much harder for that reason. I don't find his self-titled bad by any means - in fact, I think it's existence makes GABS even better
I listened to his self titled early this year. I thought it was okay. I thought there were some cool moments but it didn’t blow me away or anything. Then The Great American Bar Scene came out and I thought, “sure, why not?” And it blew me away. This album is incredible which is strange since it’s very similar to his last album. Maybe I’m just in a better spot to enjoy it and I should go back and listen to his self titled.
To me it’s a completely different vibe. Different subject matters, tones, and Zach uses much softer singing on a lot of this new one. It reflects Zach’s life since the last album came out, as he is in a happy relationship and has been traveling the country on tour. I don’t understand when people say they are too similar lol
I fucking love me some Zach Bryan. It kind of surprised me how popular he is because here in Florida they don't play any of his music on the radio. At the peak of "Something in the Orange" you'd maybe hear it on the "New Country" station once a month if that and "I remember Everything" or any other song never got played once. Obviously now a days you don't need the radio to be popular but you know the radio usually plays the popular shit so never playing one of the biggest artists in the world is pretty weird.
Solid review. Agreed on the score, I think, and the criticism that Zach tends toward staleness sonically. However, I have to disagree about the Moreland feature. I find it to be a quite pleasant and beautiful listen, nostalgic and measured.
Lots of traditional country artists with new albums this year: Jesse Daniel, Charley Crockett, Orville Peck, Esther Rose, and The Cactus Blossoms to name a few. It's a good trend.
I’m a huge Zach Bryan fan and honestly this one didn’t grab me in the same way as his self titled from last year. I can appreciate the slower, more downtempo and relaxed tone and it’s still a really solid album, but I wouldn’t put it above anything else he’s put out
I’d love to see you review truckload of trouble album by the pastels.. It would give them more popularity that they need and they deserve a review! Pumped to see it!!
The thing with zach bryan is he ones of those song writers that i can pick up on somethjng new in his songs the more and more i listen to them. I probably got a few dozen of his songs in my library, but a decent chunk of them on first listen, i thought were just alright, until the more i hear again they become some of favorite songs and become apart the rotation
@@SemprAFPSits not because he doesnt like eminem its because eminem has kinda been meh for the last 10 years compared to the 2000's, sorry to tell you the truth
