The Great American Bar Scene is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Zach Bryan, released on July 4, 2024, through Belting Bronco and Warner. The album follows just over 10 months after his self-titled 2023 album, and was preceded by the single "Pink Skies". It features guest appearances from Noeline Hofmann, John Moreland, John Mayer, and Bruce Springsteen.[1]
| The Great American Bar Scene | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 4, 2024 | |||
| Length | 62:59 | |||
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| Producer | Zach Bryan | |||
| Zach Bryan chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Great American Bar Scene | ||||
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Background
editOn April 1, 2024, the website Whiskey Riff announced the release of the album for June and features from Mayer, Springsteen and the Avett Brothers as an April Fool's joke. Bryan officially announced the record the following month, with features from Mayer and Springsteen.[2]
Critical reception
editBillboard's Melinda Newman felt that "the album feels less overstuffed than American Heartbreak, but could have still used a trim or two given the relative sameness in the sound of the tracks", although the songs "continue to deliver an emotional wallop thanks to his economical, but cinematic, trenchant lyrics".[3] Chris Willman of Variety wrote that The Great American Bar Scene "actually feels a lot less stark than last year's self-titled record did" and there is "no mistaking how much the spirit of Springsteen looms over the album, as much as it has over much of Bryan's short, meteoric career to date".[4]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Zach Bryan.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lucky Enough (Poem)" | 2:42 |
| 2. | "Mechanical Bull" | 3:28 |
| 3. | "The Great American Bar Scene" | 3:36 |
| 4. | "28" | 3:53 |
| 5. | "American Nights" | 3:38 |
| 6. | "Oak Island" | 3:59 |
| 7. | "Purple Gas" (with Noeline Hofmann) | 3:00 |
| 8. | "Boons" | 3:05 |
| 9. | "The Way Back" | 3:05 |
| 10. | "Memphis; the Blues" (featuring John Moreland) | 3:09 |
| 11. | "Like Ida" | 3:35 |
| 12. | "Bass Boat" | 3:36 |
| 13. | "Better Days" (featuring John Mayer) | 3:32 |
| 14. | "Towers" | 2:50 |
| 15. | "Sandpaper" (featuring Bruce Springsteen) | 3:36 |
| 16. | "Northern Thunder" | 3:30 |
| 17. | "Funny Man" | 3:16 |
| 18. | "Pink Skies" | 3:49 |
| 19. | "Bathwater" | 1:40 |
| Total length: | 62:59 | |
Notes
- "Pink Skies" features additional vocals from Watchhouse.[5]
References
edit- ^ Deville, Chris (July 4, 2024). "Stream Zach Bryan's New Album The Great American Bar Scene Feat. Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, & John Moreland". Stereogum. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
- ^ Crabtree, Mary Claire (May 2, 2024). "Zach Bryan Confirms New Album The Great American Bar Scene Is Coming This Year". Whiskey Riff. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
- ^ Newman, Melinda (July 4, 2024). "Zach Bryan's The Great American Bar Scene: All 19 Tracks Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
- ^ Willman, Chris (July 4, 2024). "Zach Bryan Brings In Bruce Springsteen for a Feature on The Great American Bar Scene, a Record Steeped in the Boss' Quieter Side: Album Review". Variety. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
- ^ Deville, Chris (May 24, 2024). "Zach Bryan – "Pink Skies" (feat. Watchhouse)". Stereogum. Retrieved July 6, 2024.