Zach Bryan Is Currently Country Music’s #1 Songwriter
Zach Bryan isn’t releasing his massive new 34-song album American Heartbreak until May 20th, but the viral songwriter is already making a massive splash in the mainstream, which portends favorably for how much attention the new album might receive, and disruption it might cause upon its debut.
The first official single from the new Zach Bryan record called “From Austin” was released earlier this year, and stirred up a little dust on its own, showing up at #28 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, and #9 on the Hot Rock Songs chart—not bad for a guy that receives no significant mainstream radio play.
But Bryan’s most recent single, the sunrise/sunset inspired “Something in the Orange” has gone to an entirely different level. Not only has it debuted at #11 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and #4 on the Hot Rock Songs chart, it’s also Zach Bryan’s first entry on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 at #55. On top of that, the song is also the #3 streaming song in all of country at the moment. The video (see below) has already racked up over a million views.
And perhaps most astounding—and what will most certainly cause some buzz in the mainstream—is that the song’s performance is strong enough to put Zach Bryan #1 on Billboard’s Country Songwriter’s chart. When you consider that “Something in the Orange” is a solo write in a world where most songs are written by multiple people, and “From Austin” is also still charting at #32 on the Hot Country Songs chart this week, that makes Zach Bryan the hottest songwriter in all of country music at the moment. Zach Bryan doesn’t have a #1 song just yet, but this is still a #1 for Zach Bryan.
Perhaps most important is how all of this portends for how Zach Bryan might perform once his new album American Heartbreak is released. With a massive grassroots fan base that appears to continue to be growing after the performance of “Something in the Orange,” once Zach Bryan releases 34 songs, it will be like a metadata tsunami, racking up spins and downloads like crazy. How does Morgan Wallen’s album Dangerous continue to remain #1 in country? It’s partly due to having 30 tracks.
The momentum behind Zach Bryan has continued to grow since the release of his homespun debut album DeAnn in 2019 recorded in an AirBNB. Upon the release of American Heartbreak, that momentum just might reach critical mass, and spill over into the mainstream like we’ve never seen before.
As crazy as the Zach Bryan phenomenon has been so far, we may have seen nothing yet.
May 5, 2022 @ 8:03 am
#7 looking really sus
May 5, 2022 @ 8:30 am
This is going to get the people going.
May 5, 2022 @ 9:14 am
He is talented. I see why people like him. I personally enjoy his music. Everyone is not for Everyone. We have seen the Anti-ZB crowd and some it seems rooted in envy. This is a very different kind of success story. Kills me when people say he is marketing is story about his military service, etc . Well yeah, an artist’s story has a lot to do with who he is. He comes across as humble and genuine. What’s wrong with that? Interesting to watch him grow. The increased performances have definitely tightened him up live.
All the songs released so far off the new project are really pretty solid.
He really does have a way with words that connects with a lot of people.
Let’s see where he ends up. All the power to him.
May 5, 2022 @ 11:00 am
There is definitely some envy and jealousy working into this. That said, I’ve also seen enough rumors saying that Zach Bryan big times his fellow artists backstage and other stuff to make me think there’s something going on there (his bromance with Charles Wesley Godwin notwithstanding). But a lot of people are overlooking the connection he’s making with fans, and the lines he delivers are are undeniably potent.
May 5, 2022 @ 12:44 pm
I’ve seen a couple vague references to things, but nothing that has told me any type of detail at all. Seen a brief mention of someone not getting paid. IDK.
May 9, 2022 @ 6:13 am
I don’t know Zach and I did not know about the rumors, hell, I’m not even on your continent. I do know though that there are painfully shy people around, particularly among artists. Many have imposter syndrome and actually feel inferior when they are among other artists. Like “Why would you even want to talk to me, I don’t belong here, I hardly know what I’m doing, when can I please leave?”
As I said, I don’t know Zach, I don’t know if the sudden success got to his head and he already feels bigger that the people who are sharing his backstage rooms. But when I hear someone is “bigtiming” someone else, I think we should not discount the possibility that that person does in fact not feel better, but inferior to the people around them and is just keeping to themselves out of anxieties, or just modesty.
I remember the singer in a British Indie band I loved who was fine on stage, but really unwell in backstage and post-gig surroundings, to the point of suffering panic attacks. The band played our local club and he couldn’t wait to get back on the bus while his bandmates were still celebrating and talking to fans after the show. He was not being arrogant, he was just an extremely sensitive bundle of nerves and he was not good at meeting new people.
I may be totally wrong about Zach, but maybe people who got the cold shoulder treatment might consider that they might just have been too intrusive for someone who despite his muscly soldier’s frame may be of a very delicate mind. He did not plan to have a career, remember? If I remember the story correctly, he never sent demos to Nashville bigwigs trying to get signed. He put out some songs on social media that received unexpected traction and all that has put him onto a rollercoaster that he may not always feel comfortable on. Not everybody is made for what is, essentially, show business. We are always told that “becoming a Star” is what we all should strive for and what would make us happy, but really, it’s not for everyone.
I’m aware I am projecting, but so may be those who portray Zach as aloof and arrogant because the moment they got to share was not up to their expectations.
May 5, 2022 @ 9:27 am
I’m 100% for Zach Bryan’s success here. He’s original, and he’s good at it. Every time I happen to turn on Country radio, it’s always filled with songs name-dropping popular country songs and artists and other stupid cliques. Red-dirt country also has plenty of 2nd rate songwriters….if on first listen I can guess multiple times how they are going to finish a lyric before they do, I stop listening to the song.
May 5, 2022 @ 9:37 am
Obviously Morgan Wallen’s album success is propped up by a bunch of racists, considering how racist your average 20 something white girl is. You have to go back to 1987’s Whitney Houston’s ‘Whitney’ to find an album that spent that long at 1#.
May 5, 2022 @ 4:08 pm
I sense you are joking, but anyway I’m tired of even hearing this in a joking manner. Morgan Wallen is not a racist. He’s young, rich, and makes bad decisions, but he’s far from a racist. The most racist people I meet on a daily basis are black people. There are more black people that knowingly, falsely scream racism than there are real acts of racism. It’s sad, but true. Black folks need to take care of the fact that black men are a little over 8% of the population and commit over 50% of the crime in America. The ghettos in Chicago and other major cities are more dangerous than Afghanistan and Iraq. People claim that we have to have “real” discussions about race. The fact is they want to only have those discussions in the context of white people groveling and feeling bad about what happened 100-200 years ago. When you point out facts, like the crime drastic above, you get the old standard reply that, “you are just a racist.” Well, I’m married to a black lady and have 4 biracial children. You can call me anything you want, but just don’t call me wrong about the facts. Morgan Wallen did not use the n word in a way that demonstrated hate. Even his tone and dialect in the recording was as if he was a “brother” talking to another black person. He’s certainly a knucklehead, but anybody that suggests he’s racist based on that incident is a disingenuous moron. As far as Zach Bryan. I think he’s a good songwriter, but I wouldn’t give 20 cents to see him perform. He just seems boring to me. Everybody’s got their own opinion.
May 6, 2022 @ 12:16 am
Whatever. The key issue is that Morgan Wallen’s music SUCKS.
May 6, 2022 @ 6:44 am
I’m sorry, this comment cannot go unchecked, even in the comment section of a country music blog. It’s so riddled with far right propaganda it almost feels like parody.
If we’re pulling out “stats” without fact checking them, here’s one I’ve heard: black men are just as likely to smoke marijuana as white men, and yet are incarcerated at 10x the rate for marijuana offenses. It’s almost like… a “crime” is a crime because you get arrested and convicted for it, not because you commit it. Hmmm… could that be because black men are policed differently than white men?
I’ve committed several crimes in my life, but I’m white, so there has never been anyone there to catch me in the act. I bet that’s true of you, too! Feel free to respond. I will not be reading it.
May 7, 2022 @ 5:32 am
You don’t get arrested for smoking Marijuana, Jimmy. You get arrested for selling it.
May 9, 2022 @ 7:45 am
lolololol.
Dumb or Lying?
The Mike Honcho Story.
May 5, 2022 @ 4:38 pm
Don’t understand your comment? Please expand.
May 5, 2022 @ 10:01 am
Ok, so as an anti ZB I figured i owed it a listen.
I should like it, its acoustic and simple and songwriter. But I couldn’t make it through the song. Really, I tried.
Its basically acoustic teeny bopper. From the pandering screen text to the overblown unrealistic love song to the getting the word ‘young’ in straight away.
Ok, best of luck to him, but he’s still just a male Taylor Swift. Will he also go pop? Probably not, because thats not the current trend, but i wouldn’t put it past him. I mean, for all his social media statements, i haven’t heard of him knocking pop country.
But sure, if people like him, thats great. Maybe.
May 5, 2022 @ 10:20 am
Totally understand someone not liking Zach Bryan. Calling Zach Bryan a male Taylor Swift is beyond hubris. The Chris Stapleton effect is in full force with this dude. The more successful he gets, the worse he sounds.
“I mean, for all his social media statements, i haven’t heard of him knocking pop country.”
Zach Bryan actually calls out pop country on a regular basis. It’s a serial part of his social media posts.
May 5, 2022 @ 10:57 am
…and not to belabor the point, but when Zach Bryan showed up three years ago, the biggest knock on his was how he was ripping off Tyler Childers, and he wouldn’t be around in six months. Now all-of-a-sudden the biggest criticisms I see for him is how he’s pop/corporate country, though his sound hasn’t changed at all. I’m just not sure how to square that. The other big criticism I’m seeing is that he won’t be around in six months—the same accusations people were making three years ago.
May 5, 2022 @ 5:35 pm
I’m often a stick in the mud and I got no problem with this guy, in fact I think he’s pretty good.
May 5, 2022 @ 11:02 am
Zach Bryan is a relatively young poet who writes about his life, loves and losses. Most of the music isn’t mass-market radio crap-it actually means something and is often a bit cryptic. I was slow to warm to his music at first, then learned more about him as a person and the music made more sense. I’ve followed him for a couple years, it’s been fun to watch him grow as a singer, songwriter and musician. Zach also puts on an excellent, enthusiastic show, only matched by the passion of his fans. He is completely worth the hype.
May 5, 2022 @ 12:10 pm
“Most of the music isn’t mass-market radio crap-it actually means something and is often a bit cryptic.”
Very true. And I think some people get the false impression that he’s not really saying anything because they’re not slowing down to really listen to the words. Zach Bryan also doesn’t do himself any favors by continuing to not put strong production behind his music that may compel a wider audience to listen. But again, the guy just released a single that shot up to #11 on the charts. And the people who are listening are most certainly not pop country fans. These are often younger folks who are really finding meaning in what he says and feel like he’s speaking right to them. To be frank, I don’t feel like I “get” Zach Bryan as much as many others. But I recognize the songcraft, and have seen with my own eyes the connection he’s making with audiences. I feel like you run a big risk trying to discount that.
May 5, 2022 @ 1:23 pm
Ok, I stand corrected on him not calling out pop-country.
BUT in my direct experience, ZB fans are often pop country and straight hip hop fans.
Pop country fans have a narcissistic emotional side as well, and ZB is there to fill it.
Sorry, I wish him well, and maybe he will be a gateway for some people to listen to John Prine etc.
May 9, 2022 @ 8:09 am
He’s literally bringing Charles Wesley Godwin as his opener.
Anyway…it’s quicker to just say that ZB fans are generally quite young, haha.
More to the point…pop country is a lot of folks’ first gateway into the good stuff, and “straight hip hop” has been the most lyrically driven genre of mainstream music for the last 40 years or so.
The depths of Q-Tip’s lyricism is a hell of a lot closer to Prine than, say, George Strait’s or Alan Jackson’s…and he actually writes his own shit, too.
May 5, 2022 @ 11:27 am
Taylor Swift is far more talented than simply being a pejorative.
May 5, 2022 @ 1:12 pm
To clarify, I didn’t mean it as an insult. (I was a young Taylor fan myself)
But the comparisons are obvious
They both talented enough to get away with being hyped up.
They both started with simplistic songs and arrangements and both had an excuse for it. Taylor was a teenager and ZB had his navy commitments.
They both had the support of a lot of people who said “at least its better than whatever else is on the radio”
Taylor played the sob story of all her ex’s as much as ZB plays the story of his mum.
They both play the social media/audience interaction very well.
And both are famous above people who musically deserve it a lot more.
Very well played by both of them. It doesn’t mean they aren’t both talented, but I find it surprising that less people see this.
May 5, 2022 @ 4:50 pm
You keep digging yourself into a bigger hole with these dumb comparisons and comments. Best to just stop now.
May 6, 2022 @ 9:36 am
Or… you could just chill and not allow yourself to get worked up over benign comments made by random strangers on the internet. If you disagree with what OP is saying, then formulate a coherent and polite counter argument that adds to the ongoing discussion, instead of getting angry and hurling around childish insults.
May 9, 2022 @ 8:21 am
I mean…if the comparison is “Generationally talented lyricists who write well to the strengths of their own voices and write strong hooks,” you won’t find much of an argument here.
It’s fine if you want squeeze-bottle Michelin star bullshit “musically.”
But people aren’t “dumb” or “immature” or whatever for preferring Snow’s BBQ to Noma.
May 5, 2022 @ 12:33 pm
I don’t think ZB would take being called the male Taylor Swift as an insult.
https://twitter.com/zachlanebryan/status/1502786814796570627?s=20&t=GS8PWo7e9SgtxRi5AJ3seg
https://twitter.com/zachlanebryan/status/1502820194216992768?s=20&t=GS8PWo7e9SgtxRi5AJ3seg
May 9, 2022 @ 8:22 am
Top notch pair of tweets, honestly.
May 5, 2022 @ 4:47 pm
You are an idiot if you think he sounds mainstream. How old are you and what do you listen to? I want more on your background to understand such a comment. He is very original, great lyrics all from the heart.
May 5, 2022 @ 11:06 am
As I have posted repeatedy, I am a fan of his story more so than the music and delivery. That is just as it hits me. To each his/her own. Best wishes to him. He is an interesting newer artist.
May 5, 2022 @ 11:13 am
Trigger almost made it without mentioning Saving Country Music’s #1 man crush Morgan Wallen 🤣🤣🤣🤣
But in all seriousness, this seems like a weird way to judge songwriting talent. I mean Walker Hayes is on it LOL. I love ZB, don’t get me wrong but I laughted in Joshua Ray Walker reading this😁
May 5, 2022 @ 12:02 pm
The reason this is so significant is BECAUSE Zach Bryan is competing with guys like Walker Hayes and Morgan Wallen. I probably wouldn’t put Zach Bryan as my #1 songwriter on a list. But I sure as hell would rather see him at #1 here as opposed to Walker Hayes, who was #1 on this list for the better part of last year.
May 5, 2022 @ 11:31 am
Dude needs a better photographer. That photo makes it look like his neçk is about to fall off. Ouch.
May 5, 2022 @ 11:36 am
He writes raw poems put to extremely simple arrangements, and 18-25 year olds are obsessed with it. That’s pretty remarkable. I’m a fan of his, and agree that we have not seen anywhere close to the peak of Zach Bryan. Come May 20th, he could turn into one of the biggest names in music.
Also the jeremy pinnell album from october rips
May 6, 2022 @ 7:50 am
I’ve been looking for an album that rips. Wish you’d mentioned this earlier.
May 5, 2022 @ 12:52 pm
It’s 2022, I’m perplexed that radio is hesitant to play songs that are doing well on sales and streaming but have zero trouble playing songs (in high rotations) that literally no one cares for.
May 5, 2022 @ 1:45 pm
Mainstream country radio is run by the labels, who in turn advertise their tours and artists through the format. Radio plays what the labels tell them to play, with only a few exceptions. That’s why it’s always been silly to get mad at radio for their playlists, whether you want to hear more country, or want to see more women, etc. Raging at radio for radio is to completely misunderstand how the system works.
May 6, 2022 @ 8:57 am
As one famous music guru once told me in Nashville: “[radio] is not about art; never has been. The songs are just what they play between the commercials.”
So true.
May 5, 2022 @ 1:06 pm
Doesn’t really matter what alot of people think. The people on here are not in the demographic that this is resignating with. Honestly with the people that regularly are on here sometimes if it doesn’t sound like cookie cutter Outlaw Appalachia, or should be featured on Western AF they tune it out. If you can listen Shivers Down Spines or November Air and think this guy doesn’t have songwriting talent I believe your just bigoted on how the music sounds. I can listen to Sarah Shook and understand she is a good songwriter. I accept that fact even if I think her music when played should be used to torture war criminals. I have noticed there is not a ton of objectivity on this site from its readers. Also you gotta love how if they do give it a try they just listen to the top two songs with the most views which generally are always the most broad appealing songs but not always the best. Then they use those two examples as reason to never listen to the artist again. I used to dislike Red Shahan but I kept giving him a shot over time. It took like the 7th attempt but I fell in love with his music. now he is a top 5 artist of mine. Objectivity is lacking here. Go look at the lyrics then only and read a couple songs of DeAnn and I’m sure you’d be pleasantly surprised.
May 5, 2022 @ 1:36 pm
Wes, I see you attempting to make some good points here, but you’re overexaggeration is a classic example of exactly what’s wrong with assessments of Zach Bryan. If you don’t dig the Appalaichian sound, that’s cool. Yes, mush of it has some similarity to it, but to throw out that critique, while backing the claim that ZB is the best songwriter out there (as if he isn’t writing songs from a template) is just beyond bonkers. Also anyone slagging Sarah Shook or Red Shahan has some dubious perspectives. I guess you came around on Red, but it’s rather perplexing that it could take seven times through to get it. Zach is talented. He’s far from the best. Let’s see where he is in five or ten years before he’s annoited with such praise. And any claims that he’s the best songwriter out there are ridiculous clickbait, playing catchup with the trends. I like Trigger in spite of his bombastic claims, and this article is interested in spite of them. But there’s are hundreds of better country writers than Zach Bryan out there. Popularity doesn’t equate to better, and SCM should be well aware of that concept.
May 5, 2022 @ 3:05 pm
“Popularity doesn’t equate to better, and SCM should be well aware of that concept.”
Is there any question that Saving Country Music is NOT aware that popularity doesn’t equate to better?
I also think you’re reading a little too much negativity into what Wes said.
The reason I think this news is important is because Zach Bryan being the #1 rated songwriter in country music at the moment is better than Walker Hayes, the Applebee’s guy. There was a time when we cared about this kind of stuff. Now, I see more slagging of Zach Bryan and Charley Crockett than I do of Walker Hayes and Florida Georgia Line.
Nobody is claiming Zach Bryan is the best songwriter ever, not even Billboard. It was simply an interesting note that a guy that radio pays no attention to whatsoever has upset this industry chart, and portends well for his upcoming album release. That is all.
May 5, 2022 @ 4:58 pm
Hmmm, you slam ZB about cookie cutter songs all while sitting behind a computer living out your depressing life slamming others who are more successful than you.
May 5, 2022 @ 5:18 pm
Dave, we’re just discussing music here. No need to get personal.
May 6, 2022 @ 8:05 am
ZB fans are becoming like Swift fans. It is OK if someone doesn’t like your favorite singer.
May 5, 2022 @ 1:36 pm
Seeing that name at #1 Producer is repulsive.
I understand why it is what it is, but still.
May 5, 2022 @ 1:45 pm
A very racist comment. Ironic indeed.
May 5, 2022 @ 3:31 pm
I have no doubt the album will do well because of its length but Something in the Orange probably had the highest debut because there were two versions of available that both count as the same. Maybe not idk.
May 5, 2022 @ 3:34 pm
I’ve tried to listen to everything he releases and it’s not bad by any means but it’s all the samey sounding to me, kinda like how Combs got old fast.
May 9, 2022 @ 2:11 pm
It’s much more Moreland than Combs, IMO.
In The Throes caught some guff for being same-y, sonically…but the songwriting more than stands up.
May 5, 2022 @ 4:12 pm
Never said I do not dig the Appalachian sound by the way I listen to everything under the sun in the country/Americana/folk relm of music. I also never said that Zach Bryan is the best songwriter out there he’s a great one in my opinion but the best is up for debate (this article is just refrecing a billboard chart not saying he is the best) I would appreciate you not drawing all these inferences from my comment in your comment and writing that I said things I didn’t. But I listen to a wide variety from Western swing to Folk Pop. I listen to it all and everthing in between. When Shahan first came out dude I was only 21 and all I would listen to is Pop Red Dirt. Alot of that his music was to slow for me at the time. My listening tastes have changed considerably in the last 7 years. Ruston Kelly, Red Shahan, Shane Smith, Corb Lund, Special Consensus, WCG, The Michigan Rattlers and The Lil Smokies are the kind of things I listen to now. I’m just saying I see a lot of the likes on Facebook and comments sections on this website that get more traction seem to all gravitate towards particular set of sounds and subgenres on this site (Appalachia Country for instance). Look all I’m saying is sometimes there are artists who may not fit the Cody Jinks or Tyler Childers model get more than their fair share of hate on this site from its patrons. Not the trigger is doing this it’s just alot of the people on here have narrow views on what they like. And if someone kind of breaks that mold like Parker McCollum did with having a unique writing style and a higher voice the crucify them. Parkers second album trigger gave it a 10 out of 10 and I would agree it was fantastic album. Here I will even contradict myself show you a similar situation with my opinion to make a point. I dislike Sarah Shook cause her voice makes pitches that gives nightmares. Maybe some people felt the same way about Parker but there was a lot of people who just dismissed the whole artist instead of looking at what the artist does well. But the hate trigger received for that article was Unreal for afterwards. Especially if the Grassroots movement behind an artist is from college age kids their seems to be a negativity that follows in the comments automatically. Almost as if you don’t see someone in your age group that’s where you make up your mind if it’s going to be for you or not. Meanwhile I am over here the youngest one at a Asleep at the wheel show. If you break the typical mold of what independent country music should be or don’t fit well in what they think Outlaw music should look like get out of the way. But even so I mean there’s a lot more people liking the post on Facebook than even negative comments so maybe there still is hope. I think the biggest thing is it’s fine to give a specific criticism but broad slamming something without getting really any specifics drives me nuts. when I see these negative comments I see this is just garbage music is not even that great of a writer. What specifics in his writing do you not like? what makes the music unappealing to you? I guess people don’t like a change in expectations from what they want to see and hear and most will shut down if it’s not what they expect. I guess that’s human nature but I was hoping in a site with music enthusiasts that would give more things a chance.
May 5, 2022 @ 5:43 pm
Dean Dillon has entered the chat
May 5, 2022 @ 5:43 pm
About what?
May 5, 2022 @ 7:32 pm
About being a better writer. I know I know – currently. But he just penned Luke Combs new one.
May 6, 2022 @ 5:17 am
The scenery in the video is cool! Sunrises and sunsets offer some beautiful pictures.
May 6, 2022 @ 6:50 am
Zach Bryan has become a status symbol, slowly taking Chris Stapleton’s position as the guy people say they listen to when they want others to think they are cool. His music is ok to good, but I don’t get the fanfare. Maybe I’m not cool.
I have to wonder if Chris Stapleton might not be happy to pass the country music status icon baton?
May 9, 2022 @ 2:13 pm
I think Stapleton is probably happy to escape the pressure, haha!
That’s a man who just wants to hang out and do his own thing.
May 6, 2022 @ 7:30 am
If anyone is bothered by Zach Bryan’s success, they might want to go underground for the summer. This kid is breaking stardom. Reminds me of those early days of Taylor Swift, but much, much bigger – he is quaking compared to her tremors at this point before the release of a “major.”
May 6, 2022 @ 10:10 am
That is what I’ve been thinking while seeing all of these negative comments. Zach Bryan is playing pretty much every single major independent country music festival this summer and into the fall, and headlining many of them. He is going to be everywhere, yet somehow he’s officially reached the vilification status. And I can guarantee you that when he takes the stage, he will receive more engagement than any other artist, aside from perhaps the Turnpike Troubadours, but for other reasons. It really is quite an interesting dilemma, and I think it’s mostly due to an age discrepancy between Zach Bryan fans (18-28), and the average independent country fan (32-55).
May 7, 2022 @ 5:29 am
I agree about the age discrepancy entirely. I treat a lot of young athletes and if you ask them their top 3 country artists, Zach Bryan is almost always in the top 3. And this is in rural South Carolina, not the middle of Texas or Oklahoma. I’m 27 myself, but he has found a way to connect to the younger crowd.
May 7, 2022 @ 6:54 am
Seems the difference between the two generations is that the younger listeners who have grown up on Bryan, Andean, and FGL, listen to Luke and think, wow this is cool, I haven’t heard anything like this before. Older listeners hear Luke and think, this is cool, but I’ve heard this before and done better. What’s the big deal here?
For me it’s not really a case of I don’t like Luke Bryan, because I do. It’s more of, why has this guy of all people suddenly become the next big thing? But hey, more power to him.
May 7, 2022 @ 9:18 am
Just reread my post and realized I swapped Zach for Luke, essentially making Zach Bryan into Luke Bryan. Damn. Better than comparing him to Taylor Swift? Maybe? No, sorry Zach.
May 9, 2022 @ 2:29 pm
I think a major part of it is that the age group in question (I’m a few years older than Zach Bryan) grew up on confessional, LoFi basement mixtapes.
He’s nothing revelational to me – he sounds like William Clark Green trying to do Southeastern in the style of Train a Comin or TVZ, LATOQ.
But, y’know…Southeastern is my favorite album, LATOQ is my favorite Townes record, and I’ve seen Will live five times, haha!
May 6, 2022 @ 9:02 am
Can’t argue that this guy is making $$$. Clearly for him, he’s hit upon something that’s working, and at this point he needs no criticism from any of us. So do your thing Zach, its got you where you are. I see lots of $$$ and fame, and sold out shows in your future.
Now, as for me personally, I don’t get it…at all. But I’m a persnickety, middle-aged hardcore traditionalist – Country fan. ( As in, not in touch with the trends, or chasing youth marketed music) For me, its about melodies and hooks and solid picking.( And a great Country voice helps too) In his songs there is the occasional melody, but its not his strength. And he’s not big on solid hooks either. In many cases, in lieu of verse, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus, he’s doing verse, verse,verse,verse. Thats more indicative of a folk style, in the vain of Dylan. To see that style getting huge among mainstream listeners is interesting, albeit it, it breaks away from the normal structure of Country Music. ( one of the reasons I don’t personally consider him Country Music per se) The other thing is that hes mainly influenced by Turnpike Troubadors and Tyler Childers. I haven’t thus far read him talking about listening to lots of Haggard, Jones, Jennings, Nelson, etc growing up. So hes coming at this being solely influenced by very MODERN artists only. No law against that mind you, but it definitely doesn’t put you on a traditionalist track. Finally, there’s his, for lack of better description, Emo vocal style. ( I know, I know, young people are eating this up right now, and if you can rationally figure out the why, I’d sincerely love to understand) I think your either gonna be all in on that singing style, or totally out altogether, not a lot of in-between.
Some commenters above are expressing great displeasure about those who knock what they don’t understand, in terms of the music of Zach Bryan, so I wanted to provide insight into perhaps why some of the older Country music fans don’t get this rising phenomenon. But, make no mistake Zach Bryan has become a big, big thing.
May 6, 2022 @ 10:07 am
That was a well thought out man. Respectful too. I know most people won’t want to write as much as you did but that’s insightful criticism on understanding why someone may not like the music. I think everyone appreciates this comment more then well it just sounds like Pop trash.
May 6, 2022 @ 7:59 pm
I think we may be close to the same demographic, I’ve tried but his lyrics were unintelligible to me and I couldn’t remember the songs due to flat melody lines. But I am hard of hearing from years of metal fabrication and loud telecaster playing, I would class him as acoustic singer songwriter as opposed to country which he doesn’t really play. Also, let me know when he writes a couple three up tempo train songs, until then I will be back in my vinyl collection or writing a train song for myself.
May 9, 2022 @ 2:43 pm
I wouldn’t call the vocal style “emo” so much as “2010s Texoma,” haha!
It’s very 7&7/Break My Heart Sweetly/Fool Me Once/Cover Me Up…and they all pulled it from Steve Earle, who pulled it from Townes.
I’d even say that the reason Morgan Wallen’s version of Cover Me Up sucks so much is that he belts it from his stomach, rather than in the ragged tenor of a man desperately hoping for yet another last chance.
May 6, 2022 @ 11:47 am
The rudimentary arrangements of songs I think are complimentary to the really naked and emotional sometimes gut wrenching lyrical content and it gives him more of an authentic vibe. He’s very much the common playing common man’s music. Which is the definition of folk music right? I have appreciated many of his songs and some fell a little flat for me. Sometimes I enjoy something a little more polished but a lot of times a Zach Bryan song hits.
The number one songwriter though is Benjamin Tod. Just putting that out there. He’s townes/guy Clark/Prine level.
May 7, 2022 @ 4:03 am
I know I’m late to the comment section and I doubt anyone sees this but whatever, I’ll throw in my 2 cents.
I’m 24 years old and I’ve had to grow up with friends listening to f*cking Sam Hunt, Dan & f*cking Shay, FGL, and washed, cocaine and strippers Zac Brown Band for the better part of my teens and early 20’s. It got so brutal that I quit listening to country music. There’s a joy for me in being able to enjoy a new country artist who’s catching fire among my generation who writes A) good lyrics B) authentic sounding music (I.e. not electronic bs) C) a good song much more often than not.
ZB disdain comes across much more like “get off my lawn” than real criticism of the music.
Plus my generation is already f*cked up enough, we finally may have gotten something right… let us just have this for now haha
May 9, 2022 @ 2:47 pm
It’s honestly very reminiscent of Neutral Milk Hotel, for me – luckily Zach seems more equipped to handle the spotlight than Mangum ever was.
May 27, 2022 @ 7:20 am
My main criticism is the songs’ melodies and tempo are so similar so often that they really bleed together. In the first 5 tracks I feel like I hear the same core melody on at least 3 songs.
May 8, 2022 @ 2:10 pm
I was driving through Boulder yesterday and heard cool music in one of the best coffee shops in town. I was there to get a real macchiato, not do hipster activities. The gal working had Zach Bryan Radio playing on her streaming service, so I got to hear good music for the first time outside my own device in a while. I live on the Front Range and usually have to stop in Laramie on my way up to the Snowy Range to hear good tunes. I didn’t expect it in Boulder.
May 27, 2022 @ 5:53 am
I absolutely get why this guy is going to be huge. He’s kind of rolling up twenty years of cross genre music influences in a single package palatable to younger listeners. Someone mentioned neutral milk hotel. Yep. There’s a lot of bright eyes/Conor oberst in there too, down to some of the vocal styling mixed with Tyler Childers. The brain dump of Craig Finn lyrics. The heart on sleeve of bon Iver. Lumineers, Punch Bros etc . The rawness directness and non verse chorus verse of good rap. The tempo and changes of pop punk. Plus the rural stories from country. It’s all there and delivered with crazy conviction. He’s in a lot of ways what you might expect from a generational talent in country music circa now, if you look at it one way, or a very talented country leaning singer songwriter folkie if you look another way