The first time I listened to Zach Bryan, I was immediately hooked. The American singer-songwriter has a talent for poetic lyrics and compelling melodies, which made the wait for his new album, “With Heaven on Top,” extremely exciting. The album, which was released on Jan. 9, did not fall short of my expectations and has lived up to the greatness of his previous work.
The 25-track album begins with a spoken-word story entitled “Down, Down, Stream,” in which Bryan’s voice speeds through a reflection on his life, painting vivid images of the passage of time. Much like his previous albums, which begin with a spoken word, the story allows the listener to pause and prepare for the journey that the album aims to take them on.
The album was highly anticipated, as it directly followed his Dec. 31 marriage to Samantha Leonard and his recent public breakup with Brianna LaPaglia. Additionally, a snippet from the song “Bad News” was released in October, which included the lyric “ICE is gonna come bust down your door.” The political nature of the tease fostered curiosity, and the newly released album’s version has other political lyrics as well.
Despite the controversy surrounding Bryan’s love life and political opinions, the album’s focus is not on dissing his ex or making political statements. Its songs encompass the ebb and flow of life and show the deep reflections Bryan has made about his experiences with grief, joy and love. His album definitely includes the exhilarating folky tunes Bryan is known for, such as the song “Santa Fe,” but has slow, softer and more vulnerable moments, too.
Bryan records his songs acoustically and produces his music under his own independent record label, Belting Bronco Records. This gives his songs a fresh and unique quality. The album layers horns, strings, harmonica and steel guitar to produce a raw sound that imitates a live performance. This can be heard in all of his songs, but particularly on “Rivers and Creek,” allowing listeners to be drawn in and connect to his music easily.
I find many of Bryan’s choruses addicting, especially in the song “Say Why,” where his voice becomes progressively more passionate as the song goes on. The repetitive chorus and blaring horns contrast with the lyrics expressing feelings of being lost and heartbroken. The song “Plastic Cigarette” has the same vibe as “Say Why,” and sounds like a classic Zach Bryan song.
While I have an affinity for every song on the album, the two songs that stuck out to me were “Always Willin’” and “Appetite”. They both feature beautiful and exciting choruses, which is the part that I enjoy the most in many of his songs. Some tracks, however, do not stand out when listened to by themselves, but they still play a valuable role in telling the broader story of the album. I find myself mainly skipping “Aeroplane” and “Sundown Girls,” and I don’t think they are particularly special to the album.
Bryan ended 2025 as the eighth highest-selling country artist of all time and set the record for the highest attended concert in U.S. history. This album debuted at number one on Apple Music’s All Genre chart, and has received mostly positive reactions from listeners
While being a 78-minute-long emotional roller coaster covering feelings of loss, reflection and love, I felt Bryan’s message and intention with every track. It will certainly be my new go-to album, and I recommend it for anyone who likes vibrant and soulful music.
