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Just a few months after the release of his fifth studio album, “The Great American Bar Scene,” Zach Bryan has released two singles, “This World’s A Giant” and “High Road.” He is currently on The Quittin Time Tour, but announced through an Instagram post that he came home to Oklahoma after a year and a half away. He expressed that this homecoming, and more specifically, his visit to his mother’s grave, is what inspired the two singles.
“This World’s A Giant” follows the same folksy path as the rest of Bryan’s songs — the heavy use of acoustic guitar and his country twang paint the picture of the rural life he is depicting. However, this song is unique in Bryan’s discography in that it consists of soft wind instruments and piano to fill out the sound, rather than the bare acoustic guitar and vocals many listeners expect. Bryan also employs female backing vocals and drums, culminating in a more sophisticated production and an exciting and warm sound.
Additionally, Bryan produced these new tracks at home and not in a studio — a meaningful method of creating a raw and emotional song about going back to one’s roots.
As for the lyricism, “This World’s A Giant” improves upon the repetitive and sometimes shallow messaging present in some of his songs. Instead, it offers complex and insightful remarks about his life — his smoking habits, wanting children, and facing his fears. A depressing tone continues to dominate until the end, yet the overall message is somewhat uplifting.
He begins by explaining how he doesn’t want to think about the future — he thinks that there is nothing to live for. He sings, “breathin’ in this world is the thief of joy.” Throughout the song, he reminisces upon his past and realizes that yes, this world is a giant but you can be a giant within it, and make something worthwhile. By the end, the primary lyrics he emphasizes are “the time for rest ain’t now ’cause the kids need fed” indicating that he’s grown up, and there are more important things to focus on.
Unlike in many of his other songs, such as his popular single, “Something in the Orange,” Bryan tells a story of his self-reflection journey that follows a semi-chronological order, which is a breath of fresh air from his typical chorus repetition.
Bryan’s lyrics in this song are beautiful, but his mumbly delivery could benefit from being more articulate. Unfortunately, the mumbling is also apparent in his other single, “High Road.”
“High Road” aligns a bit more with Bryan’s usual discography, establishing a country/folk mix with acoustic guitars and an electric riff. He utilizes an electric guitar near the end that acts as a haunting bridge. Again, in this other single, he also employs a female backing voice, creating a beautiful and warm harmony throughout the song.
With this single, as opposed to “This World’s A Giant,” the takeaway is more depressing — Bryan is expressing feelings of solitude while waiting for someone who is long gone. There is no uplifting end, yet ironically the guitar in this song is more upbeat. Bryan successfully employs contradicting emotions and messages which usually serve to create a gray area in his logic, feelings, or morals. This culminates in more introspective and sophisticated music.
The lyricism embodied in “High Road” differs from “This World’s A Giant” in that it is less insightful about the future, and more about painting a picture of his past and how it haunts him now. As in most of his songs, there aren’t that many varying lyrics — he generally repeats the chorus throughout the song without any wordy bridges or verses, all with the same instrumentation. However, it works for this song. Repeating the same sorrowful words conveys to the listener that he is still hung up on this loss, and he is not getting over it.
In the few words that he did write, Bryan reminisces on many personal memories and items that are emotionally tied to this person. This contributes to a level of raw grief and introspection that many may resonate with. It [genuinely][CUT] feels as if listeners are getting a glimpse into Bryan’s personal journal, and experiencing his inner conflict of emotions with him.
Both “This World’s A Giant” and “High Road” consist of Bryan’s typical reminiscent, self-pitying, and depressing music, which can be both endearing and tiresome at the same time. After several years in the industry, he has definitely found his sound, and is sticking with it.
