a new country album you may actually like

By: Lucy Radocha

I do not, and will not fear tomorrow because I feel as though today has been enough.

The line from Zach Bryan’s “Fear and Friday’s (Poem)” sums up the feeling of his recent release of a new, self-titled album. While the opening track is named as a poem, the rest of his lyrics throughout the album take on this same feeling of deep-rooted, heart-wrenching lyricism.

Image via CIRCLE All Access

Bryan’s songs sing stories of growing up, of fathers lacking love and loving the girl next door, of the cruelty of our prideful world and the beauty in the days at the end of the summer. Bryan bridges the void that many country music dislikers feel because of an inability to relate to lyrics telling of beer-drinking, boat-riding and Florida beach sun-tanning. 

Do you ever get tired of singin’ songs like all your pain is just anothering f***ing sing along?

These lyrics are a sucker punch to the soul. Love and loss, joy and pain, disappointment, mundaneness and heartache all weave in and out of each of his 16 tracks.

When asking a friend about their thoughts on the album, he said, “It’s really sad.” Sad it is, but the intense passion he produces from this sorrow is where the beauty lies within this album. It doesn’t feel like a sob story. It feels like life and this feeling makes these songs feel like home.

Bryan also masters the guest feature in his album. Often other appearances of big-name artists can distract albums from their tone and feel desperate or overdone. With names like Kacey Musgraves, Sierra Ferrell and The Lumineers, though, Bryan gives a little bit of everything to his listeners. Musgraves offers the newer, feminine Californian country music sound. Sierra Ferrell’s voice captures the deep roots of classic country, and the Lumineers hit more of a folk sound. All together, these featured artists shine bright and make Bryan shine even brighter in this album. 

She’s satisfied in the scorchin’ summer like the trees and stars she’s layin’ under.

I’m not asking you to turn into a country music lover. However, turning on these tracks for a minute or two and letting them soak deep into your skin through to your heart hardened from hate of country-sounding things might lead to a moment of inspiration or even just sweet simplicity.