Zach Bryan - The Great American Bar Scene

If last year's hit self-title "Zach Bryan" put him on the radar, then the album "The Great American Bar Scene" makes a powerful bid for a new country star, which will be understood not only by residents of the red states who need something in the background in the bar played [hi Morgan Wallen].

Zach Bryan is an amazing storyteller who is not afraid to be vulnerable and is open to dialogue and reflection. This is a person who grows up with his music, who subtly notices what is happening to himself and to everyone around him. This is a person who sits down opposite you with a guitar and starts singing so soulfully that you will listen, even if you didn’t intend to.

"The Great American Bar Scene" may boast the label "country album", but in fact most of the record draws on the genres of americana, folk and even rock. This gives a little variety to a very long album, which still goes a little overboard with the number of songs, causing it to sag quite disappointingly in the middle.

However, if you give it an hour of your life, you come across songs like "28" [one of the strongest songs of the year so far] or "Better Days", where John Mayer fits into the theme very delicately. And in the final part you will be greeted not only by Bruce Springsteen, but also by the single “Pink Skies”, which has already shown its potential.

Zach's beautiful timbre, fairly deep lyrics and clever play with words, well-chosen instrumentals that do not distract from the story, but offer enough variety - what more could you want from a “country album”?

8.2/10