Zach Bryan is a familiar name to many at Stratford, in Georgia, and across the country. After he released “Something in the Orange,” widely known as his most popular song, his work became popular across the country, and he is now arguably the most well-known singer-songwriter in country music. But why does his music attract so many people?
Major life events, often traumatic, have deeply influenced his music. His parents divorced when he was twelve, and his mother coped by drinking, coming to struggle with alcohol abuse, which led to her death in 2016. Her name, DeAnn, is widely mentioned across his music, as his debut album is named after her. After high school, he enlisted in the Navy, staying until 2021 before he chose to take a path in music for a living. Being “thrown into fame” has played a major role in his songs. Instead of embracing it, it was difficult for him to navigate. Relationships have also had an effect, as he divorced in 2020 and his breakup with Brianna LaPaglia became public in 2024, exposing his flaws to the public for his mental health issues. Through these major life events, they reflected Bryan’s emotions whether it was joy, pain, or confusion. . This forms a connection with the listener, allowing them to enjoy the music so much because they might relate to what he is saying, often having similar feelings to what he is experiencing in his song.
His sixth album, With Heaven on Top, was just released on January 9. To me, it is arguably his best album yet. Here is my personal ranking of the 24 songs.
- Say Why
- South and Pine
- Appetite
- Plastic Cigarette
- Rivers and Creeks
- With Heaven on Top
- If They Come Lookin’
- Camper
- Cannonball
- Miles
- Runny Eggs
- Bad News
- Anyway
- DeAnn’s Denim
- Dry Deserts
- Always Willin’
- All Good Things Past
- Slicked Back
- Sundown Girls
- Skin
- Aeroplane
- Santa Fe
- Drowning
- You Can Still Come Home
Overall, the album is very well-rounded, including upbeat songs like Appetite, sad songs like South and Pine, and songs about real-world issues such as Bad News. In my opinion, this is Bryan’s best album due to its well-roundedness. As a result, my final ranking for this album is a 9.5/10.
