Tuesday Tunes: Spotlight on Zac Brown Band
Zac Brown knows about keeping things in the family.
On his band’s third major-label studio album, “Uncaged,” Brown enlists the songwriting talents of a good chunk of the Southern Ground roster.
Sonia Leigh, Nic Cowan and Levi Lowrey join usual partner Wyatt Durrette throughout the album, as does Jason Mraz, who gives an assist on the opening “Jump Right In,” a sprightly number that recalls ‘70s-era Paul Simon with its percussive background (courtesy of new member Daniel de los Reyes) and tight harmonies.
While the songs vary stylistically, from the foot-stomping, old-school bluegrass of “The Wind” to the prog-rock organ swirls that coat the title track to the goofy reggae that powers the novelty “Island Song,” Atlanta’s ZBB sounds polished and cohesive throughout.
Brown’s voice isn’t overly distinctive, but it’s capable of rich emotion on ballads such as “Goodbye in Her Eyes,” where you can hear the wounded tone behind the line, “she’d found what she was looking for and I knew it wasn’t me.”
One of the many highlights on the CD is “Overnight,” which flows along on a creamy groove – and features Brown in full James Taylor mode – and spotlights the seductive brass of Trombone Shorty.
Local listeners will also appreciate the tender tribute to Atlanta drummer Lance Tilton, who died in a car crash in 2010 returning from a gig in Tennessee. The band has been performing “Lance’s Song” live, but the sweet ballad now has an official home, Brown’s words ever affecting: “When he closed his eyes, fell into a dream that never dies. And when the thunder comes, you can hear his kick drum in the sky, feel the rain fall from our eyes.”
There is enough straight-up country-folk on “Uncaged” to keep ZBB comfortably ensconced in the country category at awards shows and (the few remaining) record store shelves. But the band ably demonstrates a desire, backed up by impressive ability, to reveal themselves over many different beats.
Also available Tuesday:
- Hank Williams Jr., “Old School New Rules,” includes duets with Brad Paisley and Merle Haggard.
- Duran Duran, “Live 2011: A Diamond in the Mind,” recorded in Manchester in December and featuring several songs from the band’s excellent “All You Need is Now” album.
- The English Beat, “The Complete Beat,” a five-CD set from the ska-pop British band that eventually fractured into General Public and Fine Young Cannibals.
- P.O.D., “Murdered Love,” the first studio album in four years from the band behind “Youth of the Nation.”
- Serj Tankian, “Harakiri,” the third solo effort from the System of a Down frontman.
- Woody Guthrie, “Woody at 100: Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection,” a three-CD set featuring a 150-plus page book of essays and art.
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By Melissa Ruggieri, Atlanta Music Scene
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17 comments Add your comment
Headed to Nashville
July 10th, 2012
8:08 am
Melissa-good review on ZBB-but-Zac Brown’s voice not distinctive? I think he probably has one of the richest, clearest, strongest, most recognizable voices out there…to me, if anything, he stands out amongst a lot of your typical country outfits (they add a different twist anyway, to me, as I would call them a country jam band)…
Radiolover
July 10th, 2012
8:11 am
ZBB is not from Atlanta, they are from Fayetteville. Those of us in this area do not tell people we are from Atlanta. When Zac and the band are on TV or on stage they do not claim to be from Atlanta either. Camp Southern Ground is in Fayetteville. Zac’s bar, the Southern Ground Saloon is in Senoia. The AJC needs to quit trying to ride coat tails of the outer areas to claim ownership to things that are not from Atlanta
DrummerMatt
July 10th, 2012
10:18 am
After a good listen, there are many songs on the album that encorporate Zac Brown branded catchy hooks. Lots of emotion, great melodies, full harmonies, and virtuostic performances. Among my favorites include “Uncaged” and “Jump right in”. Right off the bat, they hit you with heart filled harmony in the opening lines, “The southern wind sings again an island lullaby”. I am already catching myself singing to the chorus from “Insland Song”. Great album. At first you may be thinking to yourself…. this is different. Yes, it is especially when you hear “Overnight”. Not my favorite, but you can definitely respect what he was trying there. Definately a song for the ladies if you know what I mean, but still, Zac and the band continue to show no limits to their talent. Go out and get the new album, you will be singing along, and will end up being your soundtrack to the summer.
Melissa Ruggieri
July 10th, 2012
10:45 am
Hi Nashville – I agree that Zac has a rich, strong voice, but to me, personally, it’s not necessarily distinctive. That said, I’d be happy to listen to him sing all day!
Cheers,
Melissa
Comment Here
July 10th, 2012
4:22 pm
I thought Zac was from North Georgia. Dahlonaga maybe?
OTP
July 10th, 2012
4:54 pm
Pretty bad when we cannot get the local boy’s information right. Born in Cumming, grew up in Dahlonega, went to West Georgia.
I think his voice sounds a lot like Jimmy Buffett, but better.
Headed to Nashville
July 10th, 2012
5:16 pm
Wasn’t his first bar on Lake Oconee? Have we all been reading Wikipedia too much? Are we splitting hairs, honestly?
Radiolover, count me as another person that isn’t a huge fan of Atlanta, as I am moving to Nashville in about a month, but-you seem to be complaining a bit much, and, here’s a question (and I love going to the Southside now and then, BTW):
Would you be in Fayetteville if Atlanta wasn’t nearby?
OK, that said, I think we can more accurately say that THE STATE of GEORGIA AS A WHOLE is cranking out country artists at a significant rate:
Sugarland
ZBB
Jason Aldean
Trisha Yearwood
Kip Moore
Billy Currington
(Can I throw Corey Smith in there? prob not)…:)
Brantley Gilbert
(who did I forget?)
Dude, I am the LAST person to apologize for the ATL, but-give it a rest…seriously…
(BTW do you think ZBB agonizes when they have a blast selling out Philips Arena every NYE?)…
Sorry-I NEVER defend Atlanta, but something struck a chord with me on that post…
Headed to Nashville
July 10th, 2012
5:17 pm
Forgot Lady Antebellum
Melissa Ruggieri
July 10th, 2012
5:24 pm
Radiolover and OTP- I am well-aware of where Zac was born, where he grew up, went to school, etc. But there are also other people in the band and I just didn’t think that referring to them as the Dahlonega-Cumming-Fayetteville-Senoia-Kennesaw-Thomaston-Atlanta-based band really rolled off the tongue in that sentence.
But considering that part of the band lives in Atlanta, it’s well-documented that many of their earliest residencies were in bars in the area and ZBB’s current band compound is also located in Atlanta…I wouldn’t exactly say that referring to them as Atlanta-based is inaccurate.
Thanks,
Melissa
delois
July 10th, 2012
5:34 pm
What about Alan Jackson? He’s one of the last true country singers left.
James
July 10th, 2012
5:36 pm
Why are you folks so desperate to claim these guys? Just celebrate that they are from Georgia. Kudos to Melissa for acknowledging the other members of the band besides Zac and the collaborative songwriting and musicianship that is responsible for much of his success.
Point about Atlanta: love it or hate it; without it, Georgia would be just like Alabama.
Comment Here
July 10th, 2012
7:04 pm
They are from Ellijay, Georgia. I read that somewhere.
Comment Here
July 10th, 2012
7:06 pm
Where is BlackBerry Smoke from? They be smoking some wacky tabacky.
globeflyer
July 10th, 2012
7:24 pm
@James-
Being from AL, I’ll take that as a (back-handed) compliment. The best parts of GA are well outside “the 285 Loop”.
Harriette Brown
July 10th, 2012
9:04 pm
He is not from Ellijay, he has never lived there. Cumming, Dahlonega, Carrollton, Atlanta, Smyrna, Union Point (Lake Oconee area) and Fayetteville. Let’s just say he’s a Georgian, and his heart is about all of it!
ZBBfanForever
July 12th, 2012
3:05 pm
I read he was from Duluth, Minnesota. Weird
GuitarGirl
July 12th, 2012
8:15 pm
Good grief, I thought the comments would be about the new album, not everybody hyper-focusing on where he’s from. GETTING BACK ON TRACK FOLKS…. This album is amazing. Truly original and refreshing. Regardless of genre, so much of todays music is sounds like something that’s already been done. As a musician myself (hobbyist), I can really appreciate the amazing musicianship and songwriting in this band.