The Great Zach Bryan Debate

So, which side of the aisle do I stand on? Well, that’s not a black-and-white answer. Anyone who questions the quality of Zach Bryan’s writing is, frankly, misguided. Compared to what? Try That in a Small Town, or Dustin Lynch’s newest hit Chevrolet? (Which, in my opinion, is equivalent to spitting in the listener’s face.) To take such an iconic song, Dobie Gray’s Drift Away, and force-feed listeners a bunch of pandering bullshit about a Chevrolet truck is a travesty. Regardless, given the state of country music, to have the audacity to say Zach Bryan’s lyrics lack substance is no less than a crime and couldn’t be further from the truth.

Ok….I digress. This has turned into more of an anger diary than a Zach Bryan review. Overall, the album does sound familiar. It sounds like Zach Bryan—we’ve all been down this road, and Bryan has remained unapologetically the same despite such claims.

The man makes music he likes, essentially “three chords and the truth” music. There are only so many arrangements of the same chords before everything has a similar tone and sound. Bryan is self-aware; he tries to distinguish each song through minimal production, whether it’s lone strums, an electric guitar in the background, simple piano playing, or recently, the addition of top-tier collaborators such as Springsteen himself (featured on the track Sandpaper). But in the end, despite production tricks and arrangements, it continues to be the same Zach Bryan sound, and purposely his continued method of delivery.

Final Thoughts

I realize my review is all over the place, partly fueled by my love for the genre, and partly fueled by anger. It’s ironic because I would not consider myself a huge Zach Bryan fan, but according to Spotify’s end-of-year list, I’m in his top 3% of listeners. I think that’s more of a testament to just how much I care about music and the genre.

I tend to get absurdly angry about the amount of criticism this man receives. To say he’s a bad songwriter is just untrue and outlandish. Bryan knows his way around song crafting—that’s the foundation of his entire legacy. But he obviously doesn’t need my help in defending his cause. Wake up, people; he’s the answer to the state of music today.

The Great American Bar Scene will undoubtly be recieved as another great success. Although it may be uneven in parts and delivers more somber Zach Bryan than we’re used to, that’s part of its appeal. The journey showcases a musician who is coming to terms with his place on Earth, maturing with a more subdued and introspective point of view. Bryan bleeds humility and thankfulness throughout the project, continuing to lean into his raw and unpolished sound.

Zach Bryan’s whole “brand” is authenticity. This is what people crave, and The Great American Bar Scene delivers just that.

Album Release: July 4, 2024

Favorite Tracks: Purple Gas