Zac Brown Band: "Jekyll + Hyde"

[Dustin J.]

[Dustin J.]

After listening to this album in its entirety, I like it a LOT more than I did when I heard the small clips.

I actually think there's quite a few potential singles at country radio. "Remedy", "Bittersweet" (a shortened version), "Castaway", "One Day", "Young And Wild", "Wildfire", and the acoustic version of "Tomorrow Never Comes" could all make it on today's country radio. One of my personal favorites from the album is "Beautiful Drug"...not country by any means, but still a fantastic song.

For what it's worth, here's my thoughts single releases...
1. Homegrown
2. Loving You Easy
3. Remedy
4. Castaway
5. Young & Wild/Wildfire/Tomorrow Never Comes (acoustic)

And, ranking the entire album from my favorite to my least favorite...
1. Homegrown
2. Beautiful Drug
3. Castaway
4. Young & Wild
5. Wildfire
6. Remedy
7. Tomorrow Never Comes (acoustic)
8. One Day
9. Loving You Easy
10. Bittersweet
11. I'll Be Your Man
12. Tomorrow Never Comes
13. Mango Tree
14. Dress Blue
15. Junkyard
16. Heavy Is The Hand

[rsmatto]

So you're saying you don't like the rock songs. Why don't you like "Dress Blues?"

[Dustin J.]

Apr 28, 2015 10:37:21 GMT -5 rsmatto said:

So you're saying you don't like the rock songs. Why don't you like "Dress Blues?"

Oh, I like it...just not as much as some of the others. :) Again, I like this entire album a lot. But yes, as a whole, the 'rock' songs rank lower for my personal taste in comparison to the others.

[dm2081]

I'm a pretty big fan of this album, as I love others genres too (specifically Rock). I think this will be a big era for Zac Brown Band, and I'd be willing to bet they're going to work this era for a while before recording a new album. Here would be my singles choices:
For Country Radio:
1. Homegrown
2. Loving You Easy
3. Remedy
4. Castaway
5. Wildfire
If they took a chance and released "I'll Be Your Man (Song For A Daughter)", I think there's a chance it could be a huge out of left field hit for them. The song doesn't stray too far from their past hits, and the lyrics would really hit home in the Country genre.

For Rock Radio:
1. Heavy is the Head
2. Junkyard (needs a radio edit)
3. Bittersweet

For Pop Radio:
1. Tomorrow Never Comes
2. Beautiful Drug

[onebuffalo]

Just found this on YouTube-16 songs in 16 minutes:

[sabre14]

^ That was posted in the "Loving You Easy" thread a few days ago. :)

[phil1996]

I wish there was a way to get "Dress Blues" on the radio....

[rsmatto]

The whole record is produced by whomever "In The Arena Productions" is (likely Zac, Clay, Matt and the rest of the band with engineers) except for "Homegrown" and "Bittersweet" (Zac & Jay Joyce), "Remedy" & "I'll Be Your Man" (ITAP/Darrell Scott & Jim Hoke), "Heavy Is The Head" (IATP/Darrell Scott), One Day (IATP W/CeeLo Green).

I actually purchased this though I could've asked for a free physical copy (I heard the stream a few times pre-release).

[dm2081]

Apr 28, 2015 16:02:38 GMT -5 rsmatto said:

One Day (IATP W/CeeLo Green).

CeeLo?  Wow, Zac is getting to be pretty big these days, working with CeeLo and Dave Ghrol.

[rsmatto]

Apr 28, 2015 16:45:02 GMT -5 dm2081 said:

Apr 28, 2015 16:02:38 GMT -5 rsmatto said:

One Day (IATP W/CeeLo Green).

CeeLo?  Wow, Zac is getting to be pretty big these days, working with CeeLo and Dave Ghrol.

Yes and I could see it actually being an AC/Hot AC single (and possibly a country one) if they want it to be.

[Deleted]

Thanks for starting the thread, Dustin J.

I'll have some time to listen through this later this evening. I wish there were a few more straight-up country tracks (along with the rock and pop tracks), as my favorite hits from them have been the more traditional-leaning "Goodbye In Her Eyes", "As She's Walking Away", and "Colder Weather", and I also thought "The Wind" and "Day That I Die" were phenomenal. I will say that I really like the jazzy "Mango Tree" (but obviously it won't be a country radio single). I'm a fan of anything with brass instruments in it.

[zjames]

I'll post an extensive review later, but just a quick thought: "Bittersweet" is amazing, definitely one of their best all-time songs in my opinion.

[Deleted]

Ive only heard "Junkyard" (aside from the lead singles) and I REALLY love that song.....like a lot (and this is coming from a guy who has never generally liked ZBB) I picked up a copy so I'll give it a listen and have thoughts later :)

[Andy]

Plan to get this soon, anyone know if there are any deluxe or bonus track editions out there?

[zjames]

Apr 28, 2015 18:12:18 GMT -5 Andy said:

Plan to get this soon, anyone know if there are any deluxe or bonus track editions out there?

No deluxe editions or bonus tracks.

[someguy]

I bought this today but haven't had a chance to listen to it yet. Question though: is there a chance it doesn't chart on the country album chart? If it really isn't being marketed as a country album, I wonder if the ZBB would ask not to chart there (like LeAnn Rimes and Taylor Swift previously did). Or is it still country enough if that isn't even a question?

[Deleted]

Apr 28, 2015 20:24:52 GMT -5 someguy said:

I bought this today but haven't had a chance to listen to it yet. Question though: is there a chance it doesn't chart on the country album chart? If it really isn't being marketed as a country album, I wonder if the ZBB would ask not to chart there (like LeAnn Rimes and Taylor Swift previously did). Or is it still country enough if that isn't even a question?

It's definitely not a country album, but I'm 99% sure it'll chart on Top Country Albums simply because they're marketing singles to country radio. I could see it charting on Top Rock Albums as well.

There are a handful of songs that are either country or have country elements to them. Aside from "Homegrown", songs like "Dress Blues", "Young And Wild", and "I'll Be Your Man (Song For A Daughter)" are mostly country. "Loving You Easy", "Remedy", "Bittersweet", and "Wildfire" are a mix of country and other genres but I definitely wouldn't classify any of them as straight-up country (note: that's not to say they won't work on country radio. I previously stated that I couldn't see too many of the songs working on country radio, but I do think "Loving You Easy" will be a hit, and I actually hope they release a radio edit of "Dress Blues" -- I think that could be a big hit). "Young And Wild" and "Castaway" (the latter of which is a really good island/tropical song) would work at country radio as well.

"Heavy Is The Head" and "Junkyard" are straight-up rock songs. "Mango Tree" is a jazz song. "Beautiful Drug" and "Tomorrow Never Comes" are definitely more pop than anything else, both with some electronic elements to them.

It's kind of got a little bit of everything. Really hard to label it as any single genre.

[Deleted]

I'm surprised listening to the whole album how "islandy" it feels. It's nice. I'm a bit disappointed that they picked "Beautiful Drug" as the opening song, as if trying to make a statement. I know most people probably won't be disappointed because most of ya'll have a broader tolerance for different types of music, but after riding the merry-go-round, I'm a country fan. I don't like "Beautiful Drug" whatsoever at all. I'm not saying that because it's not country, I just don't like the song. I feel like the whole album could do without it altogether. I think it's awful.

"Remedy" is a great song. I have a soft spot for horns so I do like "Mango Tree".

I don't like "Heavy is the Head" but I kind of like "Junkyard" because it reminds me from my days of listening to Green Day, Bad Religion, and Eve 6 (hello middle school).

I'm gonna say "Wildfire" and "Remedy" are singles, along with a 5th wildcard depending in which direction they wanna push things.

[Deleted]

Wow.....that was a trip.....definently...um....weird. I echo everyone's sentiments, this album is definently NOT a country record (there's actually very few country elements on here). Now when it comes to this album, most people will most likely gravitate towards the type of music they like (for example I love country and rock, so songs like "Dress Blues", "Junkyard", "Homegrown", "Heavy Is The Head", "Bittersweet" plus a few others, are the highlights for me, while pop and beach songs are songs that just don't do it for me, like "Castaway", "Beautiful Drug"...etc). Overall, there's quite a few songs where the songwriting is weak, mostly because it seems that all of the focus for this album was on the sound. I don't know if I can grade this quite yet, as I love several songs, I just don't know if I love the full album quite yet. I do know that my absolute favorite song on this album (and possibly of 2015) is "Junkyard"

[onebuffalo]

Apr 29, 2015 12:23:53 GMT -5 Adam (UTR) said:

Zac Brown Band will top both the HITS album and SPS charts next week with what will be the year's third or fourth biggest debut. For third place, the set will have to beat the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack’s 210k bow.

No matter the outcome, the genre-spanning set will give Republic three of the top four debuts so far in 2015. Drake leads the list with 495k, while TDE/Interscope's Kendrick Lamar holds the #2 spot with 324k.

Here are this week's key debuts:
Zac Brown Band (Southern Ground/Varvatos/BMLG/Republic) 205-215k albums, 220-230k SPS
Josh Groban (Reprise) 120-130k, 125-135k
Tyler Farr (Columbia Nashville) 30-35k, 35-40k​

(HDD)

[Ten Pound Hammer]

I'm starting to warm up to "heavier" music, and I thought "Heavy Is the Head" went down just fine. Probably because they're still actually SINGING on it; I don't like more "screamy" like some metal-leaning music can get.

This is very much a rock album, but the songs are exceptional so far, in my opinion.

[Steven]

Heard a few random songs from Jekyll + Hyde in the car this morning and really enjoyed them. Can't wait to give listen to the album all the way through!


EDIT - I had no idea that there was a cover of Jason Isbell's "Dress Blues" on the album so I kinda freaked out when it came on. 

[maine]

Really into this now. I can't think of a single dud on the album. Definite crossover appeal with both rock ("Junkyard") and pop ("Tomorrow Never Comes" & "Beautiful Drug"), and obviously country hits thrown in there. I'm thinking this might become one of their most successful albums to date.

[joey2002]

Two words: Roller Coaster.  Rock, country, pop, jazz, big band, gospel, classic '70s southern rock, island style, acoustic rock. Seems like they cover nearly every type of music on here. I enjoy most of the album, and it should produce huge hits for them across multiple genres.

"Castaway" could be a big hit on country radio, and the acoustic version of "Tomorrow Never Comes" might also work. "Dress Blues" is such a powerful song, I really hope they make a radio edit of it to release as a single.

I just wish a few more of their "Colder Weather" type country songs were on the album – it's a shame "Day That I Die" never became a single.

[phil1996]

This is a lot like The Outsiders album. Nothing sounds the same, very different album.

Love:

Loving You Easy
Wildfire
Junkyard
Dress Blues
Mango Tree

[Kurt]

Finally gave this a listen today and I agree on the "roller coaster" descriptions, but I think it's interesting, especially considering they've covered pretty much every radio format save Latin. I also agree that I would've personally preferred if more of the traditional country/folk sound were intact, and while I'm happy to hear some crossover-friendly material, both of the obvious pop tracks ("Beautiful Drug" and "Tomorrow Never Comes") sounded somewhat muddy to me from a production perspective; I'd rather see "Homegrown" get a crossover attempt first anyway. "Homegrown" is currently still my standout - will have to give the album a few more spins to give other cuts more familiarity, but I like it well enough thus far.

[sabre14]

I actually enjoy "Mango Tree" a great deal, which is odd since I've never been a big fan of Jazz.

[Deleted]

Apr 29, 2015 21:20:56 GMT -5 sabre14 said:

I actually enjoy "Mango Tree" a great deal, which is odd since I've never been a big fan of Jazz.

I love, love, LOVE jazz music. Admittedly I don't know much about the genre or its artists, but I played in jazz band in high school and I absolutely loved it. Also I love restaurants that play jazz music, lol. So soothing, so good :)

Aside from "Homegrown", I think "Mango Tree", "Heavy Is The Head", and "Castaway" are my favorites on Jekyll + Hyde, although I think the end of "Castaway" is an absolute mess and it takes away from how much I enjoy that song overall. "Dress Blues" is great too, although I think Jason Isbell's original is better.

The rest of the album...I need more time for it to sink in. My first reaction: I don't think it's a bad album at all, but it's not exactly in line with my personal taste in music, and so I don't know if it's an album I want to spend money on. I might just buy a handful of tracks.

[phil1996]

Not the biggest hard rock fan, but I absolutely LOVE "Junkyard". An outstanding 7 minutes of music.