On Sept. 20 the Zac Brown Band dropped their most diverse album yet, “The Owl.” With songs ranging from modern day pop to old school jazz, this album surely has songs to please even the harshest of critics.
It’s been two years since ZBB released their last album “Welcome Home,” filled with nostalgic ballads that connected everyone to their country roots. Whether it was the representation of true love through lyrics like “made-in-the-USA whiskey” or the powerful song “Long Haul,” that album never failed to pull at our heart strings.
“The Owl,” Zac Brown Band’s sixth album, changes course; leaning more into the pop and R&B side of music rather than country. Unlike their previous work, this album features only one country ballad, filling the gaps with more “relevant” music, filled with loud beats and vibrant lyrics.
The captivating hit, “Me and the Boys in the Band” is a perfect mix of country and rock. It’s filled with both twangy guitar riffs as well as a subtle- but present- rock undertones, striking the perfect balance that is, quite literally, music to your ears. On the other hand, “Someone I Used to Know,” is almost entirely pop. From starting out with an almost Diplo-like beat to finishing with a long-lasting echo, this song plays off of the modern day pop music heard on the radio.
As we come to the end of the album, we are left with an emotional ballad, “Leaving Love Behind.” The initial piano riff is beautiful and immediately fills us with comfort and a sense of belonging, since country ballads are what ZBB is best known for. Near the end of the song, a beautiful violin enters, ranging from stunning high notes to belly-laughing lows. This drastic change in pitch portrays the highs and lows of love: The amazing sensation you get in your core when you first find it and the gut-wrenching feeling you have when you lose it.
ZBB’s sixth album, “The Owl,” is not what fans were expecting. It encompasses multiple genres of music, which veers from what ZBB knows best, but that’s not a bad thing. The intersection of both R&B and pop with their traditional country sounds ensure ZBB will stay relevant, while never failing to deliver the signature country ballads we all know and love.
Rating: 4/5
Thumbnail photo from billboard.com
Sara Moorhead is campus correspondent for The Daily Campus She can be reached via email at sara.moorhead@uconn.edu
