Country Mike Blog

Zac Brown Band

Mike Sudhalter  |  May 6, 2008

What if Alan Jackson and Bob Marley had a baby?

It would sound something like Zac Brown. The Georgia native combines country music and reggae in a way that Kenny Chesney only wishes he could.

The first song on the album, Foundation, is called "Toes" and it's about leaving Georgia for the islands. It's one of the most relaxing things I've heard in a long, long time. "Where The Boat Leaves From" is like a sequel to "Toes." It's very repetitive, but soothing nonetheless.

"Chicken Fried" is a celebration of southern, rural culture expressed in a laid-back way. Not in a in-your-face way like "Country Boy Can Survive", but a hey I just got back from the islands, now I'm kicking it in rural Georgia kind of way.

Brown also goes bluegrass with songs like "Mary." Those are almost as fun to listen to as the island music. Kenny Chesney needs to go to a Brown show and figure out how to be a true country islander!

I'm kind of on a neo-traditional country kick, that's why I have bluegrass artist Tim Hensley along with newcomer Hayes Carll, the Canadian Band Ryan Cook and Sunny Acres and the new Andy Griggs in my five-disc changer.