this album is what main stream country has been missing. the soul of country that the genre was formed on is starting to find its way into mainstream again, Zach did a great job
I read an article about half a year ago that went deep into what you’re saying. It touched on how you could get a pulse on the US/the economy based on how popular country music is in the mainstream/what type of country is popular. Pop song blue jean anthems vs songs about hardship like a lot of Zach or Tyler Childers. Wish I could find that article again.
@@decline1129country music will always be the heart of american music. to be fair, the hold it has on american society since the 50’s is hard to ignore, considering it’s the been the soundtrack for a lot of american culture for a while. so it would make sense that, the economy or certain products/companies, would have an economic rise with whatever song is popular in country music, take morgan wallen he had the billboard charts in a chokehold for half the year. I would love to see country take a turn for a more emotional and heartfelt place. would really start to see artists stretch their wings as an artist.
Thank you thank you thank you Fantano for reviewing this. I gave you a break on his last one because it was 30+ songs, but I am so glad you gave this a shot because Zach is so amazing. Also Hey Driver favorite song of the year for me
never been a huge country fan but zach bryan has become one of my favorite artists of all time as I've delved into his discography. he always tugs at my heartstrings and i love it
If you haven’t heard it check out his live album All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster, maybe my favorite live album of all time and a great way to get to know all of his best songs
Great review Anthony, it’s been interesting to see this alternative country wave seeping into pop culture. It’s a sign of things that could happen with other genres including rock 🤘
Your the best Fantano! I’ll listen to one song sort of like it and then your criticism of its ‘I’ll-defined’ repetitive instrumental reminds me I’m just hypnotized 😵💫
Zach is such an awesome artist! Been listening to his stuff since the Elisabeth album. Loved this album, especially Hey Driver and Oklahoma Son. Would love to see you review the new Turnpike Troubadour album, "A Cat in the Rain", for some more country music reviews.
Been a whole ass country hater but damn. This album is one of my favorites this year. Got put onto it by a friend and I just about laughed him off and then the EP dropped w/ a Noah Kahan ft and I decided to give the album a chance, very glad I did.
I was literally listening to this album 15 minutes ago and loved it and was wondering why you hadnt dropped a review yet... and then i go online and discover that you dropped one right after like wtf melon stop stalking me
I second the comments saying you should review Gabe Lee. Also Paul Cauthen is putting out some crazy and experimental singles in the leadup to his new album that are mixing country, funk, and disco with a bit of Swordfish Trombones era Tom Waits in there. Would love to hear your review of him as well.
Perfect comparisons. I’ve been comparing him to Bruce for a while. And the fact you brought up bright eyes is wild but something I’ve thought about a lot. Great review
Amazing album. Has some awesome highlights. It's no American Heartbreak, but it's exactly what we needed from him right now. I do disagree with what you said about Torniquet, though. That was one of the best on the album.
Very happy about the 8 here but once again his least favorite tracks are my absolute favorites… the production on Smaller Acts makes it sound like he’s playing a song for you by a campfire… it’s incredible.
This was my first time ever listening to a country album in full, actually. And it was incredible. I adored Something in the Orange when I first heard it, so naturally I was inclined to hear more of what Zach Bryan brought to the table, but felt overwhelmed by the two hour long ask of American Heartbreak. And then this comes along, and it's insanely powerful and moving from start to finish. The fact that the opening poem alone is better than some entire albums I've heard speaks volumes, and most of the actual tracks like Overtime, East Side of Sorrow, Holy Roller, Jake's Piano - Long Island, El Dorado, and of course I Remember Everything push the boundaries in terms of songwriting and production. I'm so glad this album became a hit!
Zach Bryan is absolutely brilliant. Through and through breath of fresh air in a genre I'd had my worries about. How in the hell you didnt mention the poem is beyond me though.
I sob almost everytime I listen to I remember everything, I first listened to it when I was having really similar insecurities about my own relationship to the issues the song talks about, and has been the source of a lot of personal self reflection and healing for me. Modern Country music has always felt foreign and alien to me, but good lord this album speaks to me
Personally, I love Zach but I really didn't expect such a high score from you. I'm really glad to hear it though. People like him are fixing country music
Imo I personally rate American Heartbreak higher than this current album. Alternatively, there are just so many songs on that album that it has a bit for everyone which is why I am probably that fond of it.
Smaller Acts in the album is a voice memo from his iPhone. That is why you hear so much background noise (which can be a bit overwhelming at times). The song would be incredible properly recorded.
Please check out "Bewitched" by Laufey. She is an up-and-coming artist fusing jazz with classical music and is being credited with starting the modern revival of jazz. This album is enchanting.
I'm not a huge country fan, and the connections between rap and country are very similar to the contemporaries in the mainstream. Zach brought life and fire back into the country scene that mainstream artists wanted to steal from hip-hop. This record kicks ass, as American as it gets, and pays homage to the big boys like Cash, Denver, and HW. Excellent and one of my favorite country albums ever. It feels like I'm at my grandpa's listening to Johnny Cash on the deck and having a drink. Miss him every day
I’m so glad fantano finally got to review some country and my favorite artist Zack Bryan non the less!!! I would give this album a 9 but i totally understand his opinion and criticisms
Second this! Imo Gabe Lee is the most exciting artist and one of the best songwriters in country at the moment. He's done many different types of country and Americana and does them all so well.
pleaseee review sam fender's seventeen going under album and noah kahan's stick season if you're trying to seriously hang onto being the "internet's busiest music nerd" love you thank you
I feel like he’s more so the Nirvana of country music. Grady Smith said it in his video, but I feel like the bro country phase was the hair metal of country music, and the Indy country movement similar to grunge. If you haven’t seen it, go check it out, it’s pretty fascinating.
you can see undercurrents with indie folk hitting its stride like Hovvdy, more recent stuff by Toro y Moi, certain tracks by Slow Pulp, Toledo, Big Thief to name a few. Capturing a cultural sense of sincerity that probably marks a cultural shift into meta modernism .
He came out before the album released and said it was produced for/by himself not for anyone else, which is why I think it’s self titled. It’s supposed to be personal
I like Zach Bryan but I have a hard time classifying this album as “Country.” There are definitely country elements but it sounds more like an indie or folk album to me. It’s not a criticism at all, just don’t understand why people are saying this album is “saving country music” when it’s not really a country album
Are you gonna do a review on the new Peep and X? Also id love your take on how both of there camps are releasing music, especially now that peeps mom has all the rights to his music now
If anything now is the worst time to put down country music. I swear there have been loads of good picks in the genre this year. But I’ve never listened to country anyways being a more hiphop centric listener.
@@all-caps3927I think it's where "modern country" has existed long enough where a lot of up and coming country stars have gotten sick of it, and are looking to try and bring the genre back to what it was.
this album is what main stream country has been missing. the soul of country that the genre was formed on is starting to find its way into mainstream again, Zach did a great job
I read an article about half a year ago that went deep into what you’re saying. It touched on how you could get a pulse on the US/the economy based on how popular country music is in the mainstream/what type of country is popular. Pop song blue jean anthems vs songs about hardship like a lot of Zach or Tyler Childers. Wish I could find that article again.
@@decline1129country music will always be the heart of american music. to be fair, the hold it has on american society since the 50’s is hard to ignore, considering it’s the been the soundtrack for a lot of american culture for a while. so it would make sense that, the economy or certain products/companies, would have an economic rise with whatever song is popular in country music, take morgan wallen he had the billboard charts in a chokehold for half the year. I would love to see country take a turn for a more emotional and heartfelt place. would really start to see artists stretch their wings as an artist.
If Death Grips released this album, you'd say, "I never expected Death Grips to release a country album."
Facts
Lmao
This is an incredible joke.
*in MC Ride voice* COLD SHOULDER AT CLOSING TIME YOU WERE BEGGING ME TO STAY TIL THE SUN ROSE
top tier comment fr
Zach is a huge indie music fan so the fact that he is blurring the lines between country and other genres makes a ton of sense.
Music doesn't wanna be categorized anyway
@@JonahNelson7music ain’t a person mfer😭
Country needs it... they've been inbreeding a little too long
Shut up his music is country
Just by listening to the album I can totally tell the dude has listened to some fleet foxes lol
Bryan's voice may not be the most technically proficient in country right now, but man is it emotive. Something about it feels like a gut punch
it really is. it’s almost like you can hear him smiling on some tracks and even crying on others. just through his voice. man, he’s good.
Yeah I would say Chris Stapleton is way more talented vocally but I prefer Bryan’s vocals 😂
10 years later still get chills
Thank you thank you thank you Fantano for reviewing this. I gave you a break on his last one because it was 30+ songs, but I am so glad you gave this a shot because Zach is so amazing. Also Hey Driver favorite song of the year for me
Hearing him say he regrets not reviewing it makes me so happy but I totally get why he didn’t
hey driver is hands down my favorite song both this year and in a long time
never been a huge country fan but zach bryan has become one of my favorite artists of all time as I've delved into his discography. he always tugs at my heartstrings and i love it
Same ^.
Zach’s songs often have similar progressions or use similar chords. He said it himself once “I’m not a musician I am a writer”
a line in a song he wrote says “your songs sound the same, you’ll never make a name for yourself”
Tbf country has always been quite formulaic musically but that doesn’t make it any less good
I’ve been a huuuge country fan since watching this review 10 minutes ago. Thanks Melon 🙏🏽
If you haven’t heard it check out his live album All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster, maybe my favorite live album of all time and a great way to get to know all of his best songs
That’s the greatest album title of all time holy fuck
This
is this where he performed at red rocks?
@@_fernduarte yep!
Revival is the greatest live song ever created
Great review Anthony, it’s been interesting to see this alternative country wave seeping into pop culture. It’s a sign of things that could happen with other genres including rock 🤘
This guy’s rise to the top has been amazing to watch, and he deserves it because this album is fantastic
I’m really enjoying the direction country is going in. It’s exciting to see what’s next
I knew Zack Bryan was good but I didn’t expect it to be this good 😮
Ik I heard that diy UA-cam video from a couple of years ago and thinking damn that's good, but never really thought he'd be in position he is in now
i am not familiar with a ton of country but i thoroughly enjoyed this album! east side of sorrow and overtime are really something :)
Check out his other albums 🙌🏼 his song writing is some of the best in the music industry
Your the best Fantano! I’ll listen to one song sort of like it and then your criticism of its ‘I’ll-defined’ repetitive instrumental reminds me I’m just hypnotized 😵💫
Oh wow. Did not expect such a positive review. I’ll be checking it out ASAP! Thanks for another recommendation, Anothony :)
Based pfp :)
Zach is such an awesome artist! Been listening to his stuff since the Elisabeth album. Loved this album, especially Hey Driver and Oklahoma Son.
Would love to see you review the new Turnpike Troubadour album, "A Cat in the Rain", for some more country music reviews.
No one ever talks about Oklahoman Son, but so powerful for me.
Been a whole ass country hater but damn. This album is one of my favorites this year. Got put onto it by a friend and I just about laughed him off and then the EP dropped w/ a Noah Kahan ft and I decided to give the album a chance, very glad I did.
This. I hate country and I even text my wife his songs complaining that I liked a somewhat country song. Man I enjoy this guys music
I was literally listening to this album 15 minutes ago and loved it and was wondering why you hadnt dropped a review yet... and then i go online and discover that you dropped one right after like wtf melon stop stalking me
Thank you Melon. Would LOVE to get a retroactive review on Deann, Elizabeth, or American Heartbreak.
So interesting! Tourniquet was my favourite song on the album. That bass line is so smooth
Would have been a 10 if he literally didn’t get arrested tonight
Oh
Zach Bryan or Anthony Fantano?
@@andrewp6738Fantano, unfortunately. He was arrested for his MBDTF review 😔
arrested for "obstruction of investigation" that barely counts tbh 👨🦯
fantano hates criminals.
I second the comments saying you should review Gabe Lee. Also Paul Cauthen is putting out some crazy and experimental singles in the leadup to his new album that are mixing country, funk, and disco with a bit of Swordfish Trombones era Tom Waits in there. Would love to hear your review of him as well.
Met Paul and saw him twice in a week this summer, good stuff indeed!
Perfect comparisons. I’ve been comparing him to Bruce for a while. And the fact you brought up bright eyes is wild but something I’ve thought about a lot. Great review
Amazing album. Has some awesome highlights. It's no American Heartbreak, but it's exactly what we needed from him right now. I do disagree with what you said about Torniquet, though. That was one of the best on the album.
DeAnn is still one of my favorite albums ever. This Album is doesn't seem to bring the same emotion, but its still fantastic I think.
Never thought I'd see the day melon reviews ZB. Please review "American Heartbreak" its never too late
This album is so good! Liked your review but I disagree about Tourniquet. I can’t get that song out of my head and I love it
Whenever there's an album that I like that fantano happens to also enjoy, he seems to always specifically dislike my favorite track on the album 😂
This is the same man who gave Hozier's album a 6. Take everything he says with a pinch of salt
@@MrStopAskingand house of balloons by the weekend (his best album) aside from production a 3
Anthony mentioning Tyler Childers made my face light up, love that man
What impressed me is he wrote and produced it all alone
Very happy about the 8 here but once again his least favorite tracks are my absolute favorites… the production on Smaller Acts makes it sound like he’s playing a song for you by a campfire… it’s incredible.
Fantano probably doesn’t know what a campfire is
definitely one of my favorite albums to drop this year
Zach Bryan is incredibly poetic and feels like he’s just starting to realize his potential. Definitely a potential 10 coming soon.
This was my first time ever listening to a country album in full, actually. And it was incredible. I adored Something in the Orange when I first heard it, so naturally I was inclined to hear more of what Zach Bryan brought to the table, but felt overwhelmed by the two hour long ask of American Heartbreak. And then this comes along, and it's insanely powerful and moving from start to finish. The fact that the opening poem alone is better than some entire albums I've heard speaks volumes, and most of the actual tracks like Overtime, East Side of Sorrow, Holy Roller, Jake's Piano - Long Island, El Dorado, and of course I Remember Everything push the boundaries in terms of songwriting and production. I'm so glad this album became a hit!
Go listen to his first album DeAnn
@@lordzorg2498 Oh, I have plans to go through his entire discography, don't you worry.
Zach Bryan is absolutely brilliant. Through and through breath of fresh air in a genre I'd had my worries about. How in the hell you didnt mention the poem is beyond me though.
Fantano thanks you so much for reviewing this Zach has a huge fan base and we would love an American heartbreak review a year later
You showed Tyler Childers’ purgatory album, I would enjoy a review of that album 👍
Deann is one of the best albums I've ever heard. I'm so glad Zack blew up. Love this new age of country that's happening.
Somehow I read Dream and I was about to call you out
Probably my favorite album
I sob almost everytime I listen to I remember everything, I first listened to it when I was having really similar insecurities about my own relationship to the issues the song talks about, and has been the source of a lot of personal self reflection and healing for me. Modern Country music has always felt foreign and alien to me, but good lord this album speaks to me
Personally, I love Zach but I really didn't expect such a high score from you. I'm really glad to hear it though. People like him are fixing country music
he escaped the Morgan Wallen clone factory and made some REALLY good
He wasn’t ever a Morgahn Wallen clone. Zach Bryan has made stuff that’s more similar to folk then to stereotypical pop country.
He was more of a Childer’s than a Wallen.
Yeah
The fact you thought he was ever a morgan wallen clone is despicable
Let’s be honest, people still love his music so I think he knows what he is doing
been following this dudes music since 2019 so this is nice to see
Imo I personally rate American Heartbreak higher than this current album. Alternatively, there are just so many songs on that album that it has a bit for everyone which is why I am probably that fond of it.
It’s at least a 9 for me. One of my favorite albums this year
Smaller Acts in the album is a voice memo from his iPhone. That is why you hear so much background noise (which can be a bit overwhelming at times). The song would be incredible properly recorded.
I ❤ this album… Hey Driver is the absolute best!! 10/10
Please check out "Bewitched" by Laufey. She is an up-and-coming artist fusing jazz with classical music and is being credited with starting the modern revival of jazz. This album is enchanting.
Can’t wait for a review on the new teezo touchdown album
I absolutely loved it
8/10 for me
I'm not a huge country fan, and the connections between rap and country are very similar to the contemporaries in the mainstream. Zach brought life and fire back into the country scene that mainstream artists wanted to steal from hip-hop. This record kicks ass, as American as it gets, and pays homage to the big boys like Cash, Denver, and HW. Excellent and one of my favorite country albums ever. It feels like I'm at my grandpa's listening to Johnny Cash on the deck and having a drink. Miss him every day
I see Anthony is putting off his review of the new Slowdive for as long as possible
Hozier and Zach Bryan reviews from you in back to back weeks? I must be dreaming
Dude is blowing up. Rightfully so
I’m so glad fantano finally got to review some country and my favorite artist Zack Bryan non the less!!! I would give this album a 9 but i totally understand his opinion and criticisms
patiently awaiting the new slowdive album
Solid review. One of my favorites is Hey Driver. 👌
I really want you to check out the new Gabe Lee album. It's one of the best country albums of the year.
Second this! Imo Gabe Lee is the most exciting artist and one of the best songwriters in country at the moment. He's done many different types of country and Americana and does them all so well.
I was listening to him in 2020. I would tell people "I'm listening to him until they ruin him". Proud to admit that I was wrong
There were some tracks on here that are my favorite by Zach so far
Deann is another album of his seriously worth checking out.
pleaseee review sam fender's seventeen going under album and noah kahan's stick season if you're trying to seriously hang onto being the "internet's busiest music nerd" love you thank you
Zach Bryan is the frank ocean of country music
I feel like he’s more so the Nirvana of country music. Grady Smith said it in his video, but I feel like the bro country phase was the hair metal of country music, and the Indy country movement similar to grunge. If you haven’t seen it, go check it out, it’s pretty fascinating.
I’ve gotta give this one a listen. I don’t listen to enough country these days. Still looking forward to that Sprain review, though, Melon!!! 😃
Hell yeah, the melon with a country album review! Do A Cat in the Rain by Turnpike next, and stop being late for your BP interviews 😜
Those cymbal crashes at the start of Overtime hit really different if you're different.
Did you know - Zach’s drummer has worked with Oliver Tree on his tours in the past. Great accompanying bands for both artists.
American Heartbreak you regret not reviewing? Guessing that was also going to be a high score
as a former indie rock kid of the early 00's i was wondering why spotify played country i actually liked.
The tourniquet disrespect will not be heard, the piano slaps on that song
Love you Anthony.
i'd love for fantano to release a record so we could all review it lol
Melon pls tighten the greenscreen where you show the album cover, my ocd cant handle it anymore
you can see undercurrents with indie folk hitting its stride like Hovvdy, more recent stuff by Toro y Moi, certain tracks by Slow Pulp, Toledo, Big Thief to name a few. Capturing a cultural sense of sincerity that probably marks a cultural shift into meta modernism .
Love this album.
Summertimes close is a beautiful song.
The best one to me
Please review the Sprain Anthony you're breaking my heart
1:39 super fire bar Anthony
6:09 have to disagree with the closing track being a *strong 1* Anthony. I thougnt it was pretty good.
wow never thought i’d see fantano give a zach bryan album an 8/10
I guess you nailed it : flawed, but really captivating.
Waiting for his Cryptopsy and Dying Fetus reviews...
He came out before the album released and said it was produced for/by himself not for anyone else, which is why I think it’s self titled. It’s supposed to be personal
Do a Jason Isbell album. Starting with Weathervanes would be fine, but you could backlog if you wanted.
I love his stuff. I just saw him in concert
Cool thanks very nice might listen to it
Mr. Fantano, you need to listen to some Charley Crockett! He’s one of the best in the country music scene right now.
Killer live too
@@russ1422 For Sure. Saw him in Dallas last December. Probably going to see him next time he comes around
I like Zach Bryan but I have a hard time classifying this album as “Country.” There are definitely country elements but it sounds more like an indie or folk album to me. It’s not a criticism at all, just don’t understand why people are saying this album is “saving country music” when it’s not really a country album
would love to see a video about the new colter wall or nick shoulders. have a ton of substance
I love zach bryan but turnpikes did it more for me , but i get the hype behind the guy
Anthony you cant just say “country sucks” for 7 minutes and call it a review.
please review the new Sprain album 😢
THE TIMING
Smaller acts is fucking amazing in that raw unfinished state. It’s different and refreshing to me I like it
Met zach at the gas station the other day such a wholesome guy
@theneedledrop are you going to review the new Sparklehorse?
Are you gonna do a review on the new Peep and X? Also id love your take on how both of there camps are releasing music, especially now that peeps mom has all the rights to his music now
ItWasntEnough isn’t new, it came out 7 years ago. Also, it’s an EP.
as someone who has put country music down (ironic cause i’m from the south) an artist like Zach Bryan getting an 8 is a shock turn of events
If anything now is the worst time to put down country music. I swear there have been loads of good picks in the genre this year. But I’ve never listened to country anyways being a more hiphop centric listener.
@@all-caps3927I think it's where "modern country" has existed long enough where a lot of up and coming country stars have gotten sick of it, and are looking to try and bring the genre back to what it was.
@@Gannoh yeah
Great Review, he looks like a young Chet Baker when he sings, real stuff...
The reason this is his self-titled is because this is the first album that Bryan produced himself
Are you feeling better? Hope so.
+rep for Room On Fire in background