Zac Brown Band - Uncaged (27/09/2012)
As their highly anticipated third album, Zac Brown Band’s Uncaged lives up to the band’s well-earned praise. While the album appears to take a more relaxed approach then their previous works, the band has pushed themselves outside of their country comfort zone by stretching their work into R&B, jazz and blues songs. Despite the change in their approach to this album, long-standing fans should be nothing but pleased with the range of tracks presented across the album.
The title track Uncaged is a dynamic and heavily blues driven track that highlights the individual talents of each member of the band. The musical arrangement differs from their usual country-bluegrass sound, with the track driven by heavy guitars and jazzy keys. Brown’s timeless vocals draw the song back into their usual territory creating a unique blend of blues and jazz with a clear country tilt. With each member given a moment to show of their own instruments, the track builds in multiple solos without loosing the combined feel of the musical arrangement.
Goodbye In Her Eyes is a truly emotional track and one of the best break-up songs the Zac Brown Band has released. Brown’s vocals ooze heartbreak, and carry genuine emotion that builds along with the lyrics. In fact the lyrics of this song are among the best of the album; they’re startlingly honest and strengthened with through the sophistication of the vocals. As the only song of the album that deals with heartbreak and no hope of a happy ending, Goodbye In Her Eyes will leave fans sniffing back tears or at least looking for something a little happier to lift their spirits.
Despite being a newly released track, Sweet Annie plays as one of the band’s previous hit tracks and easily fits alongside the fan favourites of the past. Brown’s vocals weave a heartfelt story of a weary traveller seeking love with his ability to present sincere emotions in his voice highlighted in this track. The intricacies of the guitar and fiddle harmonies create a subtle backing to the vocals helping to build up seemingly humble song into a dynamic and memorable highlight of the album.
Natural Disaster is a masterfully arranged track that blends the band’s musical influences into a comprehensive and well-balanced song. The floor-stomping drums build up the track into a rock feel, with their signature fiddle solo introducing the strong bluegrass sound to the song. A highlight of this track is definitely the vocals, with Brown’s voice solidifying the band’s country base along with the perfectly blending backing harmonies that fill out the song. Overall this track is one of many standouts of the album and has more than earned its place on the album.
Daring to stretch themselves, Overnight is an R&B based track reminiscent of 90s love song compilation CDs. With the enlisted help from Trombone Shorty, Overnight is a sex-driven track that doesn’t quite fit with the heartfelt lyrics of the rest of the album. Unfortunately the letdown of the track comes from the tasteless lyrics, something that fans would certainly not be expecting from anything the Zac Brown Band puts their name to. Despite its apparent differences, the track has mastered a blend of enough country touches to musically find its place amongst the others.
With a rather fitting title for the final track of the album, Last But Not Least finishes off the album on a softer note. The track plays as an emotional ballad with only light musical backing that allows for Brown’s heartfelt vocals to build upon the lyrics about almost lost. And despite the dip in tempo, the track maintains the high energy of the rest of the album closing the album with a sweet but still captivating love song.
Bethany Williams
The title track Uncaged is a dynamic and heavily blues driven track that highlights the individual talents of each member of the band. The musical arrangement differs from their usual country-bluegrass sound, with the track driven by heavy guitars and jazzy keys. Brown’s timeless vocals draw the song back into their usual territory creating a unique blend of blues and jazz with a clear country tilt. With each member given a moment to show of their own instruments, the track builds in multiple solos without loosing the combined feel of the musical arrangement.
Goodbye In Her Eyes is a truly emotional track and one of the best break-up songs the Zac Brown Band has released. Brown’s vocals ooze heartbreak, and carry genuine emotion that builds along with the lyrics. In fact the lyrics of this song are among the best of the album; they’re startlingly honest and strengthened with through the sophistication of the vocals. As the only song of the album that deals with heartbreak and no hope of a happy ending, Goodbye In Her Eyes will leave fans sniffing back tears or at least looking for something a little happier to lift their spirits.
Despite being a newly released track, Sweet Annie plays as one of the band’s previous hit tracks and easily fits alongside the fan favourites of the past. Brown’s vocals weave a heartfelt story of a weary traveller seeking love with his ability to present sincere emotions in his voice highlighted in this track. The intricacies of the guitar and fiddle harmonies create a subtle backing to the vocals helping to build up seemingly humble song into a dynamic and memorable highlight of the album.
Natural Disaster is a masterfully arranged track that blends the band’s musical influences into a comprehensive and well-balanced song. The floor-stomping drums build up the track into a rock feel, with their signature fiddle solo introducing the strong bluegrass sound to the song. A highlight of this track is definitely the vocals, with Brown’s voice solidifying the band’s country base along with the perfectly blending backing harmonies that fill out the song. Overall this track is one of many standouts of the album and has more than earned its place on the album.
Daring to stretch themselves, Overnight is an R&B based track reminiscent of 90s love song compilation CDs. With the enlisted help from Trombone Shorty, Overnight is a sex-driven track that doesn’t quite fit with the heartfelt lyrics of the rest of the album. Unfortunately the letdown of the track comes from the tasteless lyrics, something that fans would certainly not be expecting from anything the Zac Brown Band puts their name to. Despite its apparent differences, the track has mastered a blend of enough country touches to musically find its place amongst the others.
With a rather fitting title for the final track of the album, Last But Not Least finishes off the album on a softer note. The track plays as an emotional ballad with only light musical backing that allows for Brown’s heartfelt vocals to build upon the lyrics about almost lost. And despite the dip in tempo, the track maintains the high energy of the rest of the album closing the album with a sweet but still captivating love song.
Bethany Williams