Over the last two years, Zach Bryan has won the hearts of the country music community and far beyond. Thanks to the behemoth of powerhouse songwriting, American Heartbreak, and songs like “Something in the Orange,” Zach Bryan had his “I’m here” moment in 2022. It’s hard to understate the seismic leap he took from midwestern cult hero to nationwide phenomenon; after years of promises that stalwart traditionalists like Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, and Colter Wall would break down the door and take over country music’s biggest stages, it finally happened with this awkward, young Okie.
Zach took on a massive tour the following year while releasing a steady stream of teases for his next full-length effort. With expectations through the roof, he cemented his spot in the genre in 2023, meeting those expectations and then some for his eclectic self-titled album.
His self-titled album, fully written and self-produced, showcases clear similarities to his older records like DeAnn and Elisabeth. While it retains those albums’ raw and unrefined quality, the full-band arrangements demonstrate his significant growth as a producer and performer. Despite a perceived lack of smoothness and cohesion compared to his work with Eddie Spear, this critique feels hollow, as the record was intentionally crafted this way. As Zach declared ahead of this record’s release, this is primarily a personal passion project; he wanted to do it himself and his own way.
Acoustic guitar, harmonica, piano, and soft drums take center stage for most of this record, with occasional appearances of horns in the spirit of his 2022 hit “Quittin’ Time.” The electric guitar’s appearances are few but impactful; “Tourniquet” features some powerful guitar licks in its somber climax. Overall, this record is undeniably slower-paced than American Heartbreak. Unlike “hype” moments like “Heavy Eyes” or “Younger Years,” this album exudes a more serious and mature tone.
Zach said his music started as poetry without melody or meter, which always shows in his songwriting. This record begins with a spoken-word recitation, the best introduction a new listener could get. ‘Fear and Friday’s (The Poem) exposes the fragile mystery of Zach Bryan, a man caught up in the wonder of the world around him with a chip on his shoulder to live right. The album’s opener may not have much replay value, but it will surely get you in your feels.
Some of the sure-fire standouts on the album include Zach’s friends and heroes, namely the War and Treaty, Sierra Ferrell, Kacey Musgraves, and The Lumineers. His chemistry with each artist is impressively natural. “Holy Roller” with Sierra Ferrell has a sweetness and clarity that stands out on an otherwise melancholy record.
“Spotless” features The Lumineers, which has similarly potent chemistry; musically, you can tell that Zach and the band are on the same wavelength as he swaps verses with Wesley Schultz. For their part, The Lumineers take things back to where it all started with stomping tambourines and acoustic guitars. With all four features, you’re invited into a jam session between friends rather than a planned, practiced collaboration.
From start to finish, this album’s biggest strength is Zach’s writing voice. Vivid, creative imagery is on display in just about every song, whether he’s considering his own experiences or dreaming up a wild, fictitious yarn. “El Dorado,” one of the few upbeat moments here, is particularly remarkable in this respect, reminiscing about an old friend with whom he lost connection.
The album ends with the pensive lamentation “Oklahoman Son;” for an album cycle that began with a tweet stating that he made this one for himself, you couldn’t ask for a better closer. Zach Bryan returns to his roots and push-and-pull relationship with his home state. The song affirms that he can’t escape the fact that being an Oklahoma native will always stay with him, no matter how good, bad, or complicated his life gets. After listening to some of the songs on this record in their heartache and confusion, “Oklahoman Son” is just mighty in its simplicity.
Zach Bryan is one of the best singer-songwriters in music today. With the lights shining on him amidst a considerable amount of hype, he turned in a truly exceptional body of work. Is it rough around the edges? Sure, but it feels like the type of record he needed to make at this point, in a moment where he’s one of the most commercially viable artists in music, putting out an unpolished, often poorly-recorded collection of personal lamentations, makes sense for him. You get the feeling that he loves being the outsider, and if he weren’t defying expectations at every turn, it just wouldn’t be him. It’s what makes him easy to root for and exciting to follow.
9.2/10
