Zach Bryan is one of the biggest stars in music. Next month, he’ll headline the highest-ticketed event in American history at the Big House on September 27th. That milestone comes just months after selling out MetLife Stadium three nights in a row and becoming only the sixth artist ever to sell out back-to-back shows at Hyde Park. Naturally, becoming one of the biggest names in the world, some of his music is inevitably going to get overlooked.
We recently passed the sixth anniversary of his debut album, DeAnn, meaning Bryan has accomplished some historic feats in an incredibly short amount of time. With his fan base growing from a cult following on Twitter to a stadium-shaking audience, some songs no longer get the credit they deserve. While people will scream “Something in the Orange” like it’s their job, we’re counting down five Zach Bryan songs that are criminally lost in the shuffle of his massive discography.
5) A Boy Like You
“A Boy Like You” is one of the better tracks on Bryan’s sophomore album, Elisabeth, while getting no credit for it. While the obvious hits like “Revival,” “Washington Lilacs,” and even “Come As You Are” get the most love, the 15th track of the album is arguably the best. Bryan is clearly a completely different artist now than he was then. He’s grown as a person and an artist, leading to a different creative direction with a full band. Back in 2020, everything seemed simpler. Whether it was from the lack of real attention he was getting, money, or stylistic differences, something about acoustic Zach Bryan was very peaceful. The opening harmonies that Zach shares with his former wife, Rose Madden, cut through the room, creating a calming sensation. The song is actually quite sad, as the protagonist realizes he needs to set the girl free because she deserves better. It forces reflection while also creating a sense of contentment, like the sad choice feels like the right one. It makes sense that this era of Zach Bryan doesn’t get as much attention because it’s not the big, crowd-moving songs that sell out stadiums, but you also don’t get “I Remember Everything” without “A Boy Like You.”
4) Crooked Teeth
Zach Bryan’s bread and butter is story songs, even if they don’t directly relate to him. Bryan has been leaning more into personal experience lately, as seen in recent releases like “River Washed Hair,” but that doesn’t mean the fictional stories from the past don’t resonate. “Crooked Teeth” is all about the revenge a man takes after losing his girl to another guy. The murder ballad isn’t just a dark story, but it also has high energy that gets the listener charged up. “Crooked Teeth” doesn’t get the credit it deserves and should definitely be included in the setlist, and it would be unbelievable with a full band live.
3) Ticking
Considering “Ticking” one of Zach Bryan’s most underrated tracks might be a controversial take, considering it was on his wildly successful self-titled album. However, that’s precisely what makes it underrated. “Ticking” is one of the highlights on the record, and it gets almost no love. It gets consistently overshadowed by songs like “Overtime,” “East Side of Sorrow,” and, of course, all of the star-studded collabs. Granted, Bryan has only played “Ticking” live a handful of times, so it hasn’t had the opportunity for a “moment.” However, it is lyrically whole, and the smooth production ties everything together nicely, making it feel effortlessly complete. The way he captures his emotions through lyrics like, “And everyone thinks they know me now, In these close-minded leave-me towns, But I’m too young to even know myself,” is impressive because it strikes the perfect balance between incisive personal honesty and broad relatability. The self-titled album perfectly curates a feeling of the weather transitioning from summer to fall, and “Ticking” encapsulates that through the relaxed and pleasant sound.
2) Man Thats Never Known You
Despite the grammatical error in the title, “Man Thats Never Known You” is an excellent piece from Bryan’s debut album. The track is another sad one (shocker) that takes a look at someone struggling to get through a breakup. The melody takes things to the next level. The cadence is so catchy that it will loop in your head whether you want it to or not. Bryan has also played this a couple of times live, and it’s even better with a full band, as it incorporates the lively fiddle, which is a huge boon. This song is one of the best on DeAnn. It doesn’t exactly have the meat on the bone that some of the others do, as it’s a pretty basic concept, but it doesn’t get nearly the credit it deserves. Despite not being quite as good as some other tracks on this list, “Man That’s Never Known You” gets far less recognition than the others.
1) Billy Stay
Finally, Zach Bryan’s single most underrated track is none other than “Billy Stay.” It tells the touching and tear-jerking story of someone losing their significant other to Alzheimer’s. “You don’t know your own name, but you know mine” is one of the most memorable lyrics from the track, evoking immediate goosebumps. It’s hard not to get emotional as the protagonist reminisces about the yesteryear in their final moments. Bryan excels at storytelling songs, even if they don’t directly relate to him, as seen in this one, which is told from a woman’s perspective. There is just so much depth lyrically, and the production is the cherry on top, with the piano, electric guitar, and harmonica tying everything together. “Billy Stay” isn’t just Zach Bryan’s most underrated; it’s one of his best songs in general and should be getting comparable credit to his biggest hits.
