On Friday, Jan. 9, Zach Bryan released his new album “With Heaven on Top.” The album was a great success in my opinion, and I enjoyed listening to it. The album almost felt like Zach was trying to tell a story in some way, and nothing feels fake or overproduced (which was his goal even though he released an acoustic version on Monday Jan. 12). Below I have broken down every song and have listed my top five songs.
Top 5 Best Songs
- Appetite: 10/10
- Say Why: 9.5/10
- Plastic Cigarette: 9.5/10
- Santa Fe: 9/10
- All Good Things Past: 9/10
Song-by-Song Breakdown:
1.“Down, Down, Stream”
Bryan continues his tradition of starting albums with a spoken-word poem. It sets a reflective tone, centered on a New York man’s realization that life is moving past him like a river. The track is solid, but I’m just not a big fan of his poems in general because of the rhythm and how they don’t flow like normal songs. 5/10.
2.“Runny Eggs”
“Runny Eggs” is a surprisingly calm opener. It’s a soft and acoustic track that feels like a reflection on the chaotic life that he has. The song is most likely influenced by his recent marriage and sobriety, and it talks about his relationship with his religion. The song also includes great harmonica riffs. 8.5/10.
3.“Appetite”
“Appetite” is easily the best song on the album. It is high-energy with a horn section, similar to the E Street Band/Springsteen influence seen on his previous record, “The Great American Bar Scene.” Lyrically, Bryan talks about the idea of his public personality versus his private desires, and he even questions if he wants children. This is a perfect track with an awesome beat. 10/10.
4.“DeAnn’s Denim”
The fourth song on the album is a nostalgic tribute to his late mother, Annette DeAnn Bryan. The track captures Bryan’s specific “heartbreak” brand that everyone knows him for. 8/10.
5.“Say Why”
“Say Why” is a very catchy and straightforward singer-songwriter track. It’s short and punchy, focusing on the confusion of why some things work and other things fall apart. 9.5/10.
6.“Drowning”
“Drowning” is one of the heaviest songs on the album, using the metaphor of rising water to describe the overwhelming nature of fame and personal pressure. It’s one of the more vocally raw songs on the album. 6.8/10.
7.“Santa Fe”
This song was teased a long time ago, and the track features a beautiful mandolin instrument seen in many other folk-country songs like Noah Kahan’s “All My Love.” It’s a “road trip” song for sure that feels upbeat and is my kind of vibe. 9/10.
8.“Skin”
“Skin” is the “diss track” that everyone is talking about online. It features lyrics about a past relationship, widely speculated to be about Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia. It’s a decent song, but there are definitely better tracks on the album. 7.6/10.
9.“Dry Deserts”
This song is a very mood heavy track that feels like a song you would listen to outdoors around a campfire. It features a cello and great instrumental solos, and captures the feeling of an open mind. 8.75/10.
10.“Bad News”
“Bad News” is a politically and socially challenging song, most notably when he says “ICE is going to come bust down your door.” It moves away from Bryan’s normal folk sound into an almost angrier sound, showing his dissatisfaction with the current state of the United States. 7/10.
11.“South and Pine”
“South and Pine” feels like a memory song for Bryan, making the song a tribute to his hometown. The song focuses on the places that made him who he is now, as well as the desire to stay grounded. 7.3/10.
12.“Cannonball”
“Cannonball” is a song about living life at a fast-speed and the impact it has when everything finally slows down. The song starts slow but picks up at the end with the vocals and beat. 8.5/10.
13.“Slicked Back”
This track is an ode to his wife Samantha Leonard, whom he just recently married. It also feels that Zach is pushing back against recent expectations and criticism that he’s faced. It’s a lighter, almost playful song for him, featuring a very catchy chorus. 8.25/10.
14.“Anyways”
“Anyways” is a song that almost feels like a conversation. It’s a mid-tempo reflection on moving forward despite the outside noise. It’s a very emotional and reflective song. 8/10.
15.“If They Come Lookin’”
Bryan experiments with an indie-rock sound. It’s upbeat, and it stands out alongside the heavier folk-country tracks that surround it on the album. It also features strong guitar riffs. 7.75/10.
16.“Rivers and Creeks”
“Rivers and Creeks” is similar to “Dry Deserts” in the sense that it uses nature-heavy metaphors to show his own personal growth and his emotions. It’s a peaceful but also sad song. I’m not a fan of how the tone of his voice constantly changes throughout the song. 6.5/10.
17.“Plastic Cigarette”
“Plastic Cigarette” opens with the line “I haven’t written a love song in so long” before diving into the ways people try to replace real connections with temporary fixes. It feels real and is a song that feels very similar to his other tracks like “Burn, Burn, Burn” and “Something in the Orange,” because they don’t rely on big production, and they are very simple but deep songs. 9.5/10.
18.“You Can Still Come Home”
“You Can Still Come Home” is likely directed at some sort of family or old friends that he has drifted from. This song feels very sincere and deep hearted. Its mid-paced beat makes for an overall good track. 7.4/10.
19.“Aeroplane”
“Aeroplane” is a song about departure, in which Bryan vows to “start a forest fire with my family tree.” Bryan signals a clean break from the person he used to be, and it almost feels like a movement about leaving and getting away from reality. 7/10.
20. “Always Willin’”
This song feels like a testament to Bryan’s work ethic and stubbornness. It’s also about how he’s trying his best even when things aren’t always perfect. It’s a harmonica-heavy track with an energetic and fast-paced beat, and the guitar tone also sounds great. 8.5/10.
21. “Miles”
“Miles” is a direct address to the public’s fascination with his personal life. It is very repetitive with its title throughout the song. 6.5/10.
22.“All Good Things Past”
“All Good Things Past” feels very similar to Bryan’s hit song “Revival,” except it’s deeper. I enjoyed this song because of the great instruments and how it can be easily relatable to some. 9/10.
23.“Camper”
“Camper” is a song about life on the road, like sleeping in his clothes and the repetitive nature of touring. It’s a slow song but solid overall. 7.8/10.
24.“Sundown Girls”
The track is a classic Zach Bryan song about past relationships. This song is referencing the memories that stay with you long after they happen. This song is similar to how I felt about “Camper.” 7.8/10.
25.“With Heaven On Top”
The closing song and title track “With Heaven On Top” is a perfect closer with a feature from musician Grumpy. The song brings the album full circle while blending the “heaven” of his new life with the “heartbreak” of his past. As a flashback, he also discusses his arrest in 2023. 8/10.
