The Spire

Will Hick ‘27

Staff Writer

This week, I am reviewing the most recent album of my favorite contemporary artist: The Great American Bar Scene by Zach Bryan. Bryan narrates stories that one would often hear within a bar’s setting, such as the raw emotions of everyday life, nostalgic memories, and the complexities of relationships. To preface this review, I would like to openly express that I have a bias towards Zach Bryan, as I believe that he is one of the most talented poets and lyricists of our time. Without further ado, The Great American Bar Scene.

Kickstarting the album is a poem, titled “Lucky Enough,” written and recorded by Bryan. He says, “If I’m lucky enough, I’ll make it exactly to where I’m taking this breath now,” after recounting his key memories. This poem gives the audience a feeling of gratitude and appreciation for the small details in life. The first song of the record is “Mechanical Bull,” which is a narrative of Bryan searching for a sense of meaning after a failed relationship, though valuing the “calmness” of his mind. For the title track, Bryan shares a few short stories of his gambling addiction, his brother’s mix-up with the law, and falling for a girl. He then concludes by saying that life is often “unfair, uncertain, and mean” which is relatable for everyone. In his most popular track of the album, “28” is written about Bryan’s yellow lab puppy and his survival of a complex surgery. This song resonates with most pet owners, as they connect with the emphasis on the lyrics, “How lucky are we?” when reflecting on their pet’s roles in their lives. So far, this album puts more emphasis on appreciation than anything else. The last song on Side A of this double LP album is an anthem for summer nights that one wishes would never end.

For the second side of the first record is one of my personal favorites, “Oak Island.” This song explores the tensions of the Bryan family and dangerous people that they got tangled up with. The unique story, important message of defending family, and groovy beat gives this an enjoyable listening experience. Next, “Purple Gas” is a song with soft, incredible supporting vocals from Noeline Hofmann that talks about the struggles of living on the prairie. “Boons” is a song that recounts Bryan’s feeling of completeness when he is out in the simplicity of nature. The serenity of this sound allows the audience to be at peace and think about their own happy place, wherever it may be. In another fan favorite, “The Way Back” offers emotional, nostalgic imagery to show the audience that “love’s gonna bring [them] home” no matter where they are.

“Memphis; The Blues,” featuring John Moreland, is Bryan recounting his relationship and comparing his need for love to Memphis’s need for the blues. So far, most of these stories do not seem to have the happiest of endings, but Bryan’s appreciation for the experiences mask any negativity in his sound. Next, “Like Ida” sends a loving message towards the girl of his past relationship, saying “Roll where you’re rollin’, I’ll be prayin’ you’re fine.” The following track, “Bass Boat” is significantly softer than the rest, as Bryan recalls childhood memories with his father and mother. “Better Days,” which includes John Mayer, shows Bryan learning from this same relationship, while not being hostile. He includes, “I’m still finding out who the hell I am” to show that he is continuously growing.

For the last side of the album, Bryan includes Springsteen in “Sandpaper.” This track compares his lost love for a girl to sandpaper, saying that the more he tries to clear his memory, the more pain it actually causes him. In “Northern Thunder”, which is arguably my favorite song of the album, Bryan sings about a simpler time, when he did not have the weight of the world on his shoulders. “Funny Man” is another slow, beautiful song where Bryan believes that “God is a funny man for puttin’ beauty in [his] ugly hands.” His gratefulness for God and the world around him help make this album spirited and fun to listen to. To conclude this album, “Pink Skies” tells the story of his family getting together for his mother’s funeral. He proudly tells his mother that “if you could see ‘em now, you’d be proud.”The Great American Bar Scene urges its audience to focus on the positive aspects of all experiences. I believe that this is something that everyone could benefit from mentally. Throughout the album, Bryan decides to pick apart his feelings from life, whether it be dealing with death or heartbreak. The most impressive aspect of his music is that he clearly does not have trouble putting his true feelings into lyrics. This week’s lyrical spotlight is “In life, having the upper hand’s a myth, your only fighting chance is too stubborn to quit” from “Purple Gas.” This means that nobody has the ‘upper hand’ in life and that the ability to keep going is the strongest attribute one can have. I give this album a complete 10/10, as it demonstrates lyrical genius and musical simplicity that I love to hear.

Copy Edited by Charlotte Collins ’26

Featured image courtesy of Spotify