If this is your entrypoint into ZB and you dig it, you’re lucky! Ton of other (and better) stuff to check out!
I got into Deanne and Elisabeth at the same time so they’re a bit interchangeable to me, but both of them. American Heartbreak is great too, just has some fat on the double album. Less than you’d think, though. I’d just go in order
Nice yeah I just put on American heartbreak and I love the first track already. Idk he kind of reminds me of classic the decemberists at times especially in the instruments
The first two are really stripped back and raw if you want a taste of his songwriting without any bells and whistles.
sounds right up my alley I finally got around to him because this is the time of year when I listen to a lot of folk music and wanted something new
I’m normally not one to listen to live albums much but I constantly listen to All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster - Live from Red Rocks. Definitely check that out.
Incredible live album. It’s basically the country equivalent of Dashboard Confessional. Not sure I’ve heard a crowd so loud on a live record.
Yep, and while I love his stripped back acoustic stuff, the live album brings an insane amount of energy and instrumentals to those songs. it’s almost hard to listen to the originals once you hear those live versions.
That one is at least worth a listen. The crowd enthusiasm is insane, and there's an electricity and joy to the recordings that isn't always there on the studio takes, especially the songs from those rough/demo-y first couple albums. "Snow" comes to mind as a song that is just way better on the live album.
Now I’m mad that I stuck my nose up at All My Homies on vinyl when it was $75. Thing goes for like $400 on Discogs.
“Snow” live is definitely one of his best songs, a personal favorite. All My Homies and MMJ Live Vol. 3: Bonnaroo 2004 were basically the only albums I listened to in the backyard last summer.
The run of ‘68 Fastback>Snow>Something in the Orange>Oklahoma Smokeshow is god tier. And the live version of Burn Burn Burn is also otherworldly. The other impressive part of these sing alongs and the audience enthusiasm is that a lot of these songs have a ton of lyrics, “Burn, Burn, Burn” reads like something off LIFTED or I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning. This conversation is giving me severe FOMO considering I sold my Zach Bryan tickets in Chicago for tomorrow night.
so far the boys of faith and summertime blues EP’s have been my favorite stuff but I haven’t made it through all of the first couple albums yet or the live album (which I love live albums if they’re as good as or better than the recorded material. Linkin park live in Texas, the 1975 at their very best, thrice live at the house of blues etc. there’s some modern classic live albums out there)
Alright, the live album is actually really good. I revisited all the studio versions of these songs before listening to the live album since I'm not entirely familiar with everything yet, and yes almost all these songs shine even more live
I decided to check out self titled on a whim last year and it became a top 5 album for the year for me and I still catch myself listening to it weekly. now I’m obsessed with American Heartbreak and all the singles/EPs especially burn, burn, burn and dawns. I still have to check out Elisabeth and DeAnn and I just know they will eventually be on repeat also.
About 10 seconds ago I was talking to my brother in law about how I haven't become this obsessed with an artist in a while. Same as you, knew nothing until the Kacey song then I kept hearing buzz on this website so I checked out self titled, after a few listens did a deep dive, I'm so deep into it and I love it
it’s crazy. I basically send Mikey songs almost every other day telling him to check the older stuff out. It even led to me talking about wanting to pay re-sell just to see him on tour too. I legit think I listened heavy eyes like 10 to 15 times today.
And to think, about a year ago I thought he was Zac Brown or Luke Bryan and didn't know he was someone else