The main problem is that this new Zac Brown Band CD is way too overproduced, and way too commercial-sounding, to the point where it affects the quality of the music. It opens with “Roots,” and it is followed by the mediocre “Real Thing,” which is a track that had a lot of potential, and the same holds true for “Long Haul.”
Perhaps the most stand-out track is the poignant “My Old Man,” which is their latest radio single on the radio airwaves. Equally remarkable is the mid-tempo “2 Places at 1 Time,” which is a song that many listeners can relate to lyrically. “Start Over” is totally lackluster, while “Your Majesty” is comprised of the band’s soaring harmonies.
It closes with the forgettable “Trying To Drive,” featuring Aslyn on backing vocals, and on a fitting note with “All The Best.” This CD is made up of only 10 tracks, while their previous studio effort Jekyll + Hyde consisted of 16 songs, and it was a far more superior record.
The Verdict
Overall, the new Zac Brown Band album garners 2.5 out of 5 stars. The only highlight tracks are “My Old Man,” “2 Places at 1 Time” and “Your Majesty.” This journalist’s suggestion would be for country fans and listeners to download these aforementioned tracks, and to skip the rest, since they wouldn’t be missing much otherwise.
