From serving the U.S. Navy for eight years to now selling out arenas all over the U.S., Zach Bryan kicks the new year off with a fresh album with 25 new songs. With a run time of one hour and 18 minutes, Bryan still demonstrates his raw vocal talent and genius songwriting. In this album, there are no featured artists; however, he incorporates a wider range of instruments, including a violin, cello, and other instruments that are not just guitars. This change makes the album feel exactly like “Heaven.” 

Zach Bryan continues to start an album with a poem. Ever since he introduced an intro as a poem in his 2023 album, “Zach Bryan,” the intro has remained to carry a lot of weight. Using only his vocals, without instruments, I felt a connection to him as he shared the story of his encounter with the former owner of his old apartment in New York. The deep, soft tone captures the realization that memories fall like a stream of water, hence the title of the poem: “Down, Down, Stream.” 

For those new to Bryan’s music, they might not have listened to any of his older albums. But as a devoted fan who listened to all six of his studio albums, I can confidently say that “DeAnn’s Denim” instantly caught my attention. As the fourth track of the album, it reminded me of Bryan’s older song “Sweet DeAnn.” “DeAnn’s Denim” is about Bryan’s mother, who passed away in 2016. The soft piano and the quiet strumming reflect sadness, but the lyrics reflect happy memories. Thus, when I heard his raw voice, it gave me goosebumps and reminded me of how parents are an important part of everybody’s life. 

Throughout the album, no song was skippable despite them feeling the same. However, the album ends with the song “With Heaven On Top.” The loud guitar strumming and the backup vocals add a harmony that feels like heaven, and the chorus adds the upbeat emotional reflection. The song was a perfect finale to the album. The lyrics resonated with me on a deep level; they mirrored my own life experiences perfectly. Every emotional high and low I’ve faced is captured in Bryan’s words.

As I finished listening to the album, I was surprised that I liked every single song. The catchy raw instruments and his raw voice kept me enjoying it. I wouldn’t be surprised if it wins Country Album of the Year because it feels genuine and not overproduced. 

5/5 Paws