Country-folk singer Zach Bryan released a new five-song EP on Sept.22, just shy of a month after releasing his critically successful self-titled album that debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200.
The recently-released album received positive reviews from major critics such as Pitchfork and Rolling Stone. “Listening to Bryan’s songs, it’s clear why he’s thriving on country radio. Even with his stripped-back arrangements, he’s got a knack for memorable, meaty hooks that take you down the backroads beside him with the radio blasting,” Pitchfork writer Sam Sodomsky stated.
The single from the album, “I Remember Everything” featuring Kacey Musgraves quickly joined the album at the top of the charts and became a No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 single. As of the new EP release, the single from the debut album remains at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
With Bryan’s career at its peak, new music so soon is a delicacy to fans and the joy Bryan radiates from making and releasing music is felt throughout his listeners.
Bryan seemed to tease the EP, titled “Boys Of Faith” days before the release on social media, posting “locked myself in the studio all week then went camping for a few days…” on Sept. 17, following the post up with snippets of the new songs until the EP was eventually dropped on Sept.22.
The new EP features the likes of Noah Kahan on the second track called “Sarah’s Place” and Bon Iver on the following title track.
Kahan and Bryan’s voices combined on “Sarah’s Place,” a song reassuring an old lover, gives the sense of an upbeat around-the-campfire party song, with a catchy chorus accompanied by an acoustic guitar mainframe with just a hint of drums. The lyrics, however, have a hint of painful undertones. “We always knew you were the batter half of the good times / Those backyard lights don’t shine as bright without your face / Out at Sarah’s Place.”
Justin Vernon’s dark and dreamy tones influence the title track “Boys of Faith” with the electronic melancholy elements of the track taking the spotlight alongside the strings in the chorus. Vernon’s backing vocals covering the entire track signal almost a more haunted version of Bryan reciting the same lyrics. The track is a complete shift from “Sarah’s Place” and solidifies itself as one of Bryan’s more dreary and heavily produced tracks in his discography.
The fourth and fifth track songs on the EP, “Deep Satin” and “Pain, Sweet Pain” are both previously uploaded but unreleased songs by Bryan that have been uploaded online. Bryan himself posted “Pain, Sweet Pain” in August of 2020 and fans were ecstatic to see it released to close out the EP.
“Tbh just here to thank @zachlanebryan for finally releasing Pain, Sweet Pain” X user, @thedegman, wrote.
“DEEP SATIN AND PAIN SWEET PAIN I THINK I AM DREAMING” another X user, @Tyman12379, posted in response to the surprise drop.
Entirely self-written and produced, Zach Bryan’s “Boys Of Faith” is sure to be a staple in country, folk and rock genres for some time to come. It’s the perfect soundtrack to the fall football season through the winter.
Listen to “Boys Of Faith” now on streaming platforms everywhere.
https://open.spotify.com/album/5wKVor4aDuvn09tJO7WZpY?si=hTv7OVFQTv2Nr-LylI-pXw
