With Heaven On Top

the take

Pleasantly surprised. I think Bryan has short man syndrome. I need to lead with that because I’m about to spend my next few sentences praising him. I think this album is actually really well done. I was afraid it was overbloated (which it kind of is), but he has all the charisma I’ve been asking for over the past few years. He seems to be finding his way back to the country he wants to make. It feels raw and the new production style he ever so slightly places on new songs makes this a really good time. It’s not a groundbreaking project, but it’s an amazingly solid one to start 2026. Best songs: Appetite, Santa Fe, South and Pine, and Always Willin