Zach Bryan’s “Heaven On Top” pushes the limits of the country singer’s new poetic sound, with the studio version of the album debuting at No.1 on the Billboard 200 chart and now sitting at No. 5. Bryan also released a full acoustic version of the album, stripping down each track to a barebones sound that helps the songs shine even more.
This is Bryan’s second time ever topping the Billboard 200 chart, with his only other appearance being his self-titled album “Zach Bryan.” For Spotify in particular, Bryan had five songs in the global debut top 10; these include “Plastic Cigarette,” “Appetite,” “Say Why,” “Runny Eggs” and “Bad news.”
The studio album was jam-packed with music, including 25 songs and a run time of 78 minutes. While the studio album had its time to shine, the acoustic version of the album was released only a few days later, bringing the album to a mind-blowing 49 songs and a run time of 142 minutes.
The acoustic version did not implement any new songs but transcribed the studio songs into their most raw form. For many, this is where the project stood out the most, and I found many of my personal favorites to be much better on the acoustic version of the album.
“Runny Eggs”
The opening track on the album is a very traditional song for Bryan, with the soft sounding three-chord layout that many have grown accustomed to with his music. “Runny Eggs” draws parallels between the comfort of eating runny eggs on the road, while taking risks and chances along the way.
“Appetite”
Being vulnerable to his audience has always been a focus of Bryan’s music. However, “Appetite” seems to be one of his most personal as he questions if he is worthy of being a father due to his past actions. One verse that stood out was, “Why am I in Northwest Arkansas? / Playing shows to those who don’t care at all.” Bryan expresses that although his audience is so large, he still feels unseen even with his stardom.
“All Good Things Past”
Towards the end of the album, “All Good Things Past” attempts to relay how Bryan tends to be stuck in the past, with nostalgia filling his head constantly. Although he struggles with letting go, he is aware that there are better things to come in the future. Just like the seemingly endless cycle of nostalgia, the song begins and ends with the lines, “Well, all good things pass / And your boy got himself into some trouble again / But all my friends are bound to share in this denial.”
“With Heaven On Top” is a stunning album, with both the acoustic and studio elements sure to not outshine the other. Bryan has succeeded in relating to and being vulnerable with his audience. It is safe to say that he has made substantial growth as an artist and will hopefully continue to do so in the future.
