Calliope Music Rapid Reviews
Zach Bryan - Zach Bryan
Cloudless Country for a Clouded Mind
Soft acoustic guitar, cushioned drumming, and pristine pedal steel guitar embrace empty landscapes of green belt iconography and dark reminiscence. Indie horns and ringing piano add a nostalgic dramatism to Country folk tales of loss, sorrow, and self-indulgence.
Zach Bryan excels in his storytelling, reiterating many traditional Americana narratives with a fine genuineness and delicate approach. Although Bryan's voice doesn't always fit the grittier guitar tracks, a complete control of breath and tone never cease to massage the ear's inherent demand for smooth harmony.
The self titled project separates itself from other contemporary country with tight compositions, fully indulgent in the echoed gloom of Indie Folk atmospheres. Where some of this instrumentation is refreshing for a Country perspective, many progressions stick to subtlety, relying too heavily on Bryan's commanding voice. This results in a lack of satisfying climaxes, instead settling on an extra slightly louder chorus or refrain. As such moments accrue over the 54 minute runtime, many developments blend into one another, diminishing the impact of the individual stories being told.
Nevertheless, Zach Bryan is a moving Country album, where authentic anecdotes and graceful Red Dirt environments serenade any clouded mind looking for a soft landing.
Best Tracks: Overtime -- East Side of Sorrow -- Ticking -- Jake's Piano - Long Island -- El Dorado -- Tourniquet
6.5/10
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