Wikipedia

Zach Bryan (album)

Zach Bryan is the eponymous fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Zach Bryan. It was released on August 25, 2023, through Belting Bronco and Warner. Entirely self-produced (except for the song "Oklahoman Son" produced by Eddie Spear), it features guest appearances by the War and Treaty, Sierra Ferrell, Kacey Musgraves, and the Lumineers. At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards the project received three nominations, including for Best Country Album, winning his first Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for the lead collaboration "I Remember Everything" with Musgraves.

Zach Bryan
Studio album by
Zach Bryan
ReleasedAugust 25, 2023
GenreCountry rock[1]
Length54:23
Label
Producer
  • Zach Bryan
  • Eddie Spear
Zach Bryan chronology
All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster (Live from Red Rocks)
(2022) 		Zach Bryan
(2023) 		Boys of Faith
(2023)
Singles from Zach Bryan
  1. "I Remember Everything"
    Released: September 8, 2023[2]

Commercially the album debuted atop the US Billboard 200 with the biggest streaming week for a rock album, while its only single "I Remember Everything" became the first song to debut at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs charts simultaneously.

In support of the album, Bryan will embark on the Quittin Time Tour '24 throughout 2024. It is set to begin on March 6 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, and will end on December 19 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.[3][4]

Background and composition

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Bryan revealed that there is "no grand explanation" or "riddle in reasoning" behind any of the songs on the album. Instead, he simply described them as "poems and songs" he wanted to share because he thought they were special. He referred to the tracks as "heavy" and "hopeful" but what matters most to him is that they are his.[5] Upon release, Bryan announced that listeners should not come into the album thinking it would be a "chart topper" or that this was his "intent", otherwise they would be "severely disappointed".[6]

Bryan first shared previews of ten tracks on June 25, 2023, on his Instagram and hinted at an upcoming album release. He also revealed that this record was for him and that he does not care if listeners like it.[7] The singer-songwriter announced the album with details about the cover and tracklist on August 9.[8] The 15-track project sees Bryan mashing "elements of indie rock and folk into his unique take" of country music.[9]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic79/100[10]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [11]
Paste8.1/10[12]
Pitchfork6.7/10[13]
Rolling Stone     [14]

Zach Bryan received a score of 79 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on four critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception.[10] In a positive review, Maura Johnston of Rolling Stone opined that Bryan showcases a "careful presentation of his obvious songwriting talents" which makes for a "gripping listen" and praised his ability to not only give his songs room to breathe but "to seethe and yearn". Johnston thought the album was a blend between "hooky Nashville storytelling" and "Americana realism".[14] Sam Sodomsky of Pitchfork wrote that Bryan "works with a traditionalist's appreciation for songwriting and the intense, earnest emotion of heartland rock", concluding that his "fierce determination also ends up being his saving grace. Whatever effect his songs have on you, there's never any doubt they're coming from the heart".[13]

Year-end lists

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Select year-end rankings of Zach Bryan
Publication/critic Accolade Rank Ref.
Consequence The 50 Best Albums of 2023
8
[15]
The New York Times Jon Caramanica's Best Albums of 2023 8 [16]
Rolling Stone The 100 Best Albums of 2023 10 [17]
The Ringer The 27 Best Albums of 2023 23 [18]

Commercial performance

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Zach Bryan debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 200,000 album-equivalent units (including 17,000 in pure album sales), the largest week for a rock album in four years and Bryan's first number-one album. It also earned the largest streaming week for a rock album in Billboard chart history.[1] Zach Bryan remained atop the US Billboard 200 in its second week, moving an additional 115,000 album-equivalent units (including 3,000 in pure album sales), being a 42% decrease from its debut week.[19]

Zach Bryan fell two places to number three in its third week on the US Billboard 200, moving an additional 95,000 album-equivalent units.[20] In the albums fourth week of charting on the US Billboard 200, it remained at number three—moving an additional 79,000 album-equivalent units thus bringing Zach Bryan’s four week total to 489,000 units earned.[21]

The album also debuted at number one in Canada,[22] and New Zealand,[23] and at number two in Australia and Ireland.[24][25]

Track listing

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All tracks written by Zach Bryan except where noted; tracks also produced by Bryan except "Oklahoman Son" produced by Eddie Spear.[26]

Zach Bryan track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Fear and Fridays (Poem)"1:47
2."Overtime"3:10
3."Summertime's Close"3:06
4."East Side of Sorrow"3:29
5."Hey Driver" (featuring the War and Treaty)3:47
6."Fear and Friday's"2:51
7."Ticking" (Bryan, Justin Byrd)4:02
8."Holy Roller" (featuring Sierra Ferrell)3:36
9."Jake's Piano – Long Island"5:19
10."El Dorado"3:02
11."I Remember Everything" (featuring Kacey Musgraves) (Bryan, Musgraves)3:47
12."Tourniquet"3:09
13."Spotless" (featuring the Lumineers) (Bryan, Wesley Schultz, Jeremiah Fraites)2:49
14."Tradesman"3:07
15."Smaller Acts"3:07
16."Oklahoman Son"4:09
Total length:54:23

Personnel

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Credits adapted from AllMusic.[27]

Vocals

Musicians

Production

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for Zach Bryan
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[47] Gold 35,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[48] Platinum 80,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[49] Platinum 15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[50] Silver 60,000‡
United States (RIAA)[51] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (September 3, 2023). "Zach Bryan Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  2. ^ Mompellio, Gabriel (September 5, 2023). "Zach Bryan - I Remember Everything (feat. Kacey Musgraves) (Radio Date: 08-09-2023)". EarOne (in Italian). Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  3. ^ DeVille, Chris (August 28, 2023). "Zach Bryan Announces the Quittin Time Tour '24 with Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, and More". Stereogum. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  4. ^ Harrison, Scoop (October 9, 2023). "Zach Bryan Adds 19 New Shows To "The Quittin Time Tour"". Consequence. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  5. ^ Derksen, Cheyenne (August 25, 2023). "Zach Bryan releases entirely self-produced album: 'I put everything I could in it'". USA Today. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  6. ^ Lindert, Hattie; Minsker, Evan; Monroe, Jazz (August 25, 2023). "9 New Albums You Should Listen to Now: Burna Boy, the Armed, Zach Bryan, and More". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 26, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Breihan, Tom (June 26, 2023). "Zach Bryan Previews New Album: "I Do Not Care If You Like It"". Stereogum. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  8. ^ Mower, Maxim (August 10, 2023). "Zach Bryan confirms new album will have an August release date". Holler. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  9. ^ Vito, Jo (August 25, 2023). "Zach Bryan Shares New Self-Titled Album: Stream". Consequence. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Zach Bryan by Zach Bryan Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  11. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  12. ^ Williams, Tom (August 29, 2023). "Zach Bryan's Self-Titled Album is a Compelling Ode to Life's In-Betweens". Paste. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Sodomsky, Sam (August 31, 2023). "Zach Bryan: Zach Bryan Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  14. ^ a b Johnston, Maura (August 25, 2023). "Zach Bryan Delivers Late-Night Conversations Destined to Fill Arenas". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  15. ^ Siroky, Mary (December 4, 2023). "The 50 Best Albums of 2023 Ranked". Consequence. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  16. ^ Pareles, Jon; Caramanica, Jon; Zoladz, Lindsay (November 30, 2023). "Best Albums of 2023". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  17. ^ Hyun Kim, Michelle (November 30, 2023). "The 100 Best Albums of 2023". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  18. ^ Gruttadaro, Andrew (December 7, 2023). "The 27 Best Albums of 2023". The Ringer. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  19. ^ Caulfield, Keith (September 10, 2023). "Zach Bryan Spends Second Week Atop Billboard 200 With Self-Titled Album". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  20. ^ Caulfield, Keith (September 17, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo's 'Guts' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  21. ^ Caulfield, Keith (September 24, 2023). "Rod Wave Scores Third No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 With 'Nostalgia'". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  22. ^ "Canadian Albums Chart". Billboard. September 9, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  23. ^ a b "Charts.nz – Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Australiancharts.com – Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  26. ^ Zellner, Xander (September 8, 2023). "Zach Bryan Rules 8 Songwriter & Producer Charts, Thanks to New Album". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  27. ^ "Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  28. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Country Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  29. ^ "Zach Bryan Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  30. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2023. 42. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  31. ^ "Tónlistinn – Plötur – Vika 35 – 2023" [The Music – Albums – Week 35 – 2023] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  32. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  33. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  34. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  35. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  36. ^ "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  37. ^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  38. ^ "Zach Bryan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  39. ^ "Zach Bryan Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  40. ^ "Zach Bryan Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  41. ^ "Zach Bryan Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  42. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums Chart for 2023". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  43. ^ "Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  44. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  45. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  46. ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  47. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  48. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan". Music Canada. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  49. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  50. ^ "British album certifications – Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  51. ^ "American album certifications – Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
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