You’d have to be living under a rock to not know Zach Bryan. The latest in the social media born and bred generation to hit, Bryan has built a devoted following from the very beginning. His angst-ridden, forlorn vocals coupled with sparse production value has greatly resonated with the overstimulated Gen Z. Perhaps with the ever increasing speed of the internet age, the back-to-basics style of Zach Bryan appeals to the beleaguered souls of the modern teenager. I personally haven’t delved deeply into Mr. Bryan’s music. I enjoy if not quite a lush, but at least a more full production style. However, a country music compatriot of mine is a Zach Bryan superfan who has done yeoman’s work in evangelizing the word of Zach in our social circles. He is a genuine fan in a world that increasingly views music as just content and the artists to be disposable creators. It’s a throwback, and a testament to the power to what Zach Bryan is creating. This synopsis review thing was written purely because of the joy and sheer exultation felt by the author. After he sent it to us, I was so impressed, I asked if I could post it. He graciously let me, and we all come out ahead because of his generosity. I think the thing that stood out to me was the emphasis on songwriting and how important it is to the ZB experience. Each song has a line that really stuck out to the author. The lens of songwriting is how he views that album and that felt unique. I wanted to share it with yall.
Zach Bryan- American Heartbreak
Track I
Late July
Thoughts: only fully acoustic song on the album, third prerelease, best of the five
Favorite Line: “I hope your sunsets always bleed red, and your family’s always well fed”
Score: 9.5/10
Track II
Something in the Orange (Z&E’s)
Thoughts: fourth prerelease, one of two versions, typically higher, amazing story and imagery
Favorite Line: “Your voice only trembles when you try to speak, take me back to us dancing this wood used to creak”
Score: 9/10
Track III
Heavy Eyes
Thoughts: fast paced, quick talking Okie is fun!, first “new song” on the album, VERY strong opener
Favorite Line: “Remember when Mary brought, her own Jane, Lucas thought he was gonna die”
Score: 8.75/10
Track IV
Mine Again
Thoughts: very different than original, amazing production, dads favorite, missing opening monologue :(
Favorite Line: “Are those tired you got still turning, is that spirit you had still burning, do you still talk that s*** the way you did before?”
Score: 8.75/10
Track V
Happy Instead
Thoughts: amazing story, amazing production, really sad, very mature
Favorite Line: “I’ve been pacing this room for forty hours, crawling up the walls and trying not to call”
Score: 8.25/10
Track VI
Right Now the Best
Thoughts: “okay one take, one take”, nice ‘be yourself’ song, ICONIC chord progression, typical ZLB write
Favorite Line: “And I think Grandfathers gone crazy, he keeps rambling on about way back when, braggin’ bout Grandma and wartimes, all the friends that he’s lost once again”
Score: 8.5/10
Track VII
The Outskirts
Thoughts: feels like we’re in the outskirts in the sound of the song, so very home-y
Favorite Line: “Fireflies and some schemin’ eyes will turn this house into a home”
Score: 7.75/10
Track VIII
Younger Years
Thoughts: one of the strongest on the album, fun fast talker is back in full
Favorite Line: “Deborah’s on the bar and she’s dancing again, to an old folk song that reminds her of him, she ain’t getting down to they carry her away”
Score: 9.5/10
Track IX
Cold Damn Vampires
Thoughts: written about overpriced Verizon bill, iconic whistle, done justice in production, death to the machine forever
Favorite Line: “Them damn cold vampires been keeping me awake, tryna build an empire of the things that they can take”
Score: 9.25/10
Track X
Tishomingo
Thoughts: perfect song, perfect imagery, amazing emotion, wild good production
Favorite Line: “So won’t you pray for me tonight, I’ve been heading down a dark cold road, and I’ve been dreaming of a porch swing, and some lights, hoping I can find myself back home”
Score: 10/10
Track XI
She’s Alright
Thoughts: saddest song on the album, perfect, beautiful, voicemail was topically Heartbreaking
Favorite Line: “So look up tonight, the moon she’s shining, and we’ll be alright, cause she’s still smiling, city lights would blow mamas mind, the more I search the less I find, but I’m alright, cause she’s here tonight, and she’s alright”
Score: 10/10
Track XII
You Are My Sunshine
Thoughts: cried, beautiful, mom’s favorite
Favorite Line: “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray”
Score: 8/10
Track XIII
Darling
Thoughts: no cicadas, amazing writing, good premise, lovely song, NO CICADAS!
Favorite Line: “Let me have my bloody knuckles, all my nights in dark cold trouble, when I was through I was hoping you might wait for me”
Score: 7.5/10
Track XIV
Ninth Cloud
Thoughts: SO much justice done in production, amazing story, love the windiness in the strumming
Favorite Line: “Then I’ll get on the road again, had another chance at fitting in, but fitting in to kids like me is dying”
Score: 10/10
Track XV
Oklahoma City
Thoughts: one of my overall favorite ZLB songs, amazing rework, still feels like the Belting Bronco
Favorite Line: “Old friend, it’s been awhile, and I ain’t spoke to you in years”
Score: 10/10
Track XVI
Sun to Me
Thoughts: song most anticipated, lived up to expectations, we’ve gotten Lilacs, Roses, and Sunflowers, waitin on orchids
Favorite Line: “Sweetest of the Sunflowers, how you’re the sun to me”
Score: 9.75/10
Track XVII
Highway Boys
Thoughts: amazing fiddle, such strong description, second prerelease, ranks fourth in the bunch
Favorite Line: “I wanna ride that K-10 to way back when, sleep next to the river hear it rushing again”
Score: 8/10
Track XVIII
Whiskey Fever
Thoughts: amazing production, sounds like a Wild West saloon song, piano is ungodly
Favorite Line: “Can’t stay sober past 11 am, my breath smells like my regrets again, oh whiskey river take me home”
Score: 7.5/10
Track XIX
Billy Stay
Thoughts: almost as sad as ‘She’s Alright’, doesn’t have real emotional kicker though
Favorite Line: “Billy stay awhile, lately you’ve been slipping in and out, Billy stay a child, and tell me bout that girl you dreamed about”
Score: 9/10
Track XX
Sober Side of Sorry
Thoughts: one of my most anticipated July, very happy with what it is, alliteration!
Favorite Line: “Wildflowers picked on a hillside, you just let die, that’s where I learned decay”
Score: 8.75/10
Track XXI
High Beams
Thoughts: typically least liked, although I enjoy it, some good ZLB
Favorite Line: “I’ve got your favorite song mixed in with the high beams, if we don’t go right now we’ll never know”
Score: 8/10
Track XXII
The Good I’ll Do
Thoughts: second most anticipated since May 2021, lives up to hype, amazing production, “ooo”’s!
Favorite Line: “Won’t you tell me that you need me, cause lately I’ve been needing, someone to remind, worth more than just an evening, I awoke to kitchen smoke and you dancing like God’s moved in you before”
Score: 9.25/10
Track XXIII
Someday (Maggie’s)
Thoughts: ripped straight from YouTube, and absolutely gorgeous
Favorite Line: “Someday I’ll find the words to explain all the good times that echo in my mind”
Score: 10/10
Track XXIV
Poems and Closing Time
Thoughts: an awesome concept, executed amazingly
Favorite Line: “Well I’ve been overdrinkin’ cause I’ve been overthinkin’ cause I get so damn anxious at night”
Score: 7.25/10
Track XXV
From Austin
Thoughts: because it was the first prerelease, it ranks number five in the bunch, although not bad by any means
Favorite Line: “Remember northwest mountains, they were snow capped in June, you were napping on my arms on a Sunday afternoon”
Score: 7.75/10
Track XXVI
If She Wants a Cowboy
Thoughts: satire song, still amazing, albeit a joke, love the autotune on Nashville section
Favorite Line: “I just might find me some boots that fit me right, chew some tobacco, ride me a Bronco, on a southern Saturday night”
Score: 8.5/10
Track XXVII
Corinthians (Proctor’s)
Thoughts: been waiting about a year for this song, and it lives up to everything
Favorite Line: “What the hell am I doing? Who the hell am I? How I miss the scripture oh Sundays the day to die. And granddad sure was punchy but loved Jesus to his core, I wanna die today so I can learn to live for more”
Score: 8.5/10
Track XXVIII
Open the Gate
Thoughts: fifth prerelease, placing third in the bunch, sounds like Birmingham
Favorite Line: “I heard you died out in Cheyanne, with my mothers ring on your hand, a note in your pocket said I love you till I die”
Score: 8.5/10
Track XXIX
Half Grown
Thoughts: least favorite on the album although beautiful, doesn’t strike with me
Favorite Line: “But I’ll raise myself a family and I’ll right the wrongs of some imperfect people who were only half grown”
Score: 9/10
Track XXX
No Cure
Thoughts: perfect, one of my favorites, amazing production
Favorite Line: “Who are you to say I can’t live this way? I was born to be a man of the night, I’m 12 foot tall, and I’m living proof that Highway Boys don’t die”
Score: 10/10
Track XXXI
‘68 Fastback
Thoughts: ZLB’s favorite, beautiful story about the Bronco
Favorite Line: “To you I’m just salvage, I ain’t ran right in years, so drive me then but me, deceive and f*** me, then disappear”
Score: 9.75/10
Track XXXII
Blue
Thoughts: been teased for what feels like years, very happy with the outcome
Favorite Line: “Break me down and beat me blue, there ain’t a beauty on the planet coming close to you”
Score: 9/10
Track XXXIII
Morning Time
Thoughts: least hype song, albeit beautiful
Favorite Line: “I f***ing hate love, but I love you in the evenings, I swore that you’d be here, when I finally woke, I love you in the evenings, but I f***ing hate high hopes”
Score: 9.25/10
**Scoring**
10’s:
Tishomingo 10/10
She’s Alright 10/10
Ninth Cloud 10/10
Oklahoma City 10/10
Someday (Maggie’s) 10/10
No Cure 10/10
9’s:
Sun to Me - 9.75/10
‘68 Fastback - 9.75/10
Late July - 9.5/10
Younger Years - 9.5/10
Cold Damn Vampires - 9.25/10
The Good I’ll Do - 9.25/10
Morning Time - 9.25/10
Something in the Orange (Z&E’s) - 9/10
Billy Stay - 9/10
Half Grown - 9/10
Blue - 9/10
8’s:
Heavy Eyes - 8.75/10
Mine Again - 8.75/10
Sober Side of Sorry - 8.75/10
Right Now the Best - 8.5/10
If She Wants a Cowboy - 8.5/10
Corinthians (Proctor’s) - 8.5/10
Open the Gate - 8.5/10
Happy Instead - 8.25/10
You Are My Sunshine - 8/10
Highway Boys - 8/10
High Beams - 8/10
7’s:
The Outskirts - 7.75/10
From Austin - 7.75/10
Darling - 7.5/10
Whiskey Fever - 7.5/10
Poems and Closing Time - 7.25/10
**Ranking**
Ranked from least liked to most liked
1. Poems and Closing Time
2. Whiskey Fever
3. Darling
4. From Austin
5. The Outskirts
6. Highway Boys
7. High Beams
8. You Are My Sunshine
9. Happy Instead
10. Open the Gate
11. If She Wants a Cowboy
12. Corinthians (Proctor’s)
13. Right Now the Best
14. Sober Side of Sorry
15. Mine Again
16. Heavy Eyes
17. Half Grown
18. Blue
19. Something in the Orange (Z&E’s)
20. Billy Stay
21. Morning Time
22. The Good I’ll Do
23. Cold Damn Vampires
24. Late July
25. Younger Years
26. Sun to Me
27. ‘68 Fastback
28. Someday (Maggie’s)
29. Oklahoma City
30. She’s Alright
31. Ninth Cloud
32. Tishomingo
33. No Cure
This review was written on my 27th listen of American Heartbreak on May 22nd, 2022. None of my opinions are correct or incorrect. I’ve decided to not include “This Road I Know” because I feel as though it is unfair to rank a poem alongside 33 songs. Zach “ZLB” Bryan is an incredibly talented artist who is well versed in his craft. This album is a masterpiece, an instant classic, my favorite of all time. It’s a blend of anger, and pain, and happiness, depression and sorrow, of excitement and let down. This album is a true American Heartbreak.