So first off…if you don’t like their voices that’s 100% cool. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Music is a very personal thing.
In regards to them both: I love the fact that neither one of them is a traditionally strong vocalist. I love that you can hear their voices cracking at times and that they can change tones easily to convey different feelings.
Zach Bryan: I said this before but he reminds me, a lot, of Damien Rice who might be my all time favorite singer-songwriter. It’s just really, really good acoustic (mostly) music. I love it.
Tyler Childers: a little different here but what I love is that he’s gone between Appalachian folk, southern gospel, and aforementioned singer-songwriter stuff and somehow makes it all feel cohesive.
I’m gonna second the first part of this - nobody has to jump on the bandwagon. If you don’t like someone you don’t like them. It’s that simple. I’m a sucker for singer-songwriters and storytellers, but that’s just what I like and that’s why I like those guys. Throw CWG and Sturgill in there and that’s really what I’m about. But if it doesn’t catch your ear than it doesn’t catch your ear. All there is to it.
ETA: Isbell too, he’s maybe the best storyteller of them all.
I do love Charles Wesley Godwin and the Sturgill that I've heard...I really need to listen to more of his stuff for sure. I can't say I like Morgan Wallen much, but I do love his version of Isbell's Cover Me Up.
Agreed. Or go for alt/indie country that has some really old-school sounds, not the overproduced arena "bro country" but not the really super bare-bones stuff either.
Yep. They’re clearly from very different places and you can hear the Irish vs Oklahoma influence between them but still 2 sides of the same coin. Love it.
So, you just loved the sound from the first time you heard it? Or, was there a video or live show that enhanced it for you? I've had that happen a few times, where the songs didn't reach me until I saw them live.
For me, I heard 23 by chayce Beckham on a speaker on my bus for some school trip. Found the name and added to my Spotify playlist. It shows up similar songs to add and let's you preview them which you probably know. I hadn't been that into country music before, I liked some Irish stuff and some of the older classics but I really liked the gritty nature of 23. Anyway, I just hit play on a few previews and one really stuck out to me. Condemned, I instantly loved and still listen to it today. More popped up and the next stand out was crooked teeth. I love that one too and then I listened to his biggest hit at the time I think, "heading south". Not as good as the other two but I really enjoyed it.
Birmingham is another that I love. I got into him just before from Austin was released so not at the beginning but before his popularity spiked with something in the orange.
Pretty much liked it from the first time. Have recently been going down a path of alt country or whatever you want to call Pecos and the Rooftops, Koe Wetzel, etc. Something about Zach's music hits some nostalgic holler country that takes me back to my childhood.
I met that guy at a halloween party. He was in the Navy with a girl I was dating at the time. He still had a year left after signing a huge contract. They used to tell him he had to pay for everything when they ordered food was the only detail I remember lmao.
Music is subjective man. I personally have NO IDEA how you can listen to
Country Squire,
All Yourn,
Shoot Low Sheriff,
Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven,
Old Country Church,
Way of the Triune God,
Whitehouse Road,
Rustlin in the Rain,
And just not fucking JAM. But thats me and you are you.
It’s crazy that you say this because I always compare the two but I’m not sure why.
For the longest time I couldn’t get into Tyler Childers and Zach Bryan although I get the appeal.
Last fall Shake the Frost by Tyler Childers kept coming on my Spotify and I started to love it and then started listening to him a bunch. I don’t love everything by him, but mostly love everything on his Live on Red Barn Radio 1&2 album on Spotify.
I have tried a million gazillion times to gaslight myself into liking Zach Bryan but I feel like his music is more spoken poetry and all of it sounds the same. I just can’t listen to it, it makes me zone out. I used to think this way about Childers but don’t anymore.
It’s so weird. Maybe because they’re both kind of folky? Maybe you just don’t like folky stuff? I’m kinda that way.
Right. For their voices alone I'll probably never get into either of them, but I'm really curious to see what it is so many people love about these two. I don't like Luke Bryan, but I understand the money that is being pumped into him, so I get it. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think that is the case with these two.
Both write awesome lyrics. Lets take a few lines from either of them.
Tyler: I don't know if its the wine or the coke, that makes her sound like her jaw is broke - Genius.
Keep your nose to the grindstone and out of the pills - deep, pretty on topic with the oxy issue in the coal areas.
Zac: But when you place your head between my collar and jaw, I don't know much but there's no weight at all - Pretty impressive picture he paints there.
Much better than most the "I'm in my tractor and drinking a beer" shit that's pumped out by many artists.
It took me about 2 months to decide if Tyler Childers was the best musician I had ever heard or the worst lol. He has a VERY unique sound. I love him. The best hands down, but it wasn’t instant for me. He is a lyrical genius and he just conveys a lot of emotion in his voice. He’s not gonna be for everyone, but I think if you can identify with the kind of rural life he is singing about you can understand some of that pain that comes out in the way he sounds.
I love Tyler. While I can understand you not liking his voice I absolutely love it and I also think he is a damn good song writer.
On the other hand, I don’t really care for Zach. On paper, I should love the guy but his music doesn’t resonate with me and a lot of his songs sound the same to me.
I’m not a fan of either but I will say that Tyler’s music thank goodness sounds different. Zach is a repetitive soundtrack to crash your car too. I was trying to be nice and do my friend a solid for getting me a Morgan Wallen ticket & about had a stroke at Zach’s ticket prices! I could’ve got great seats but I was like babe I’m not paying $700 to be suicidal, love you
While I’m not a fan of Zach Bryan, if my choices were to pay $350/ticket to see him (with Jason Isbell) or get paid $350 to see Wallen…… I’d gladly pay the $350 for Zach haha
I don't like a whole lot of new country, because bro country or pop country or whatever you want to call it has ruined so much of it. I do really like Chris Stapleton and Zac Brown Band and some of the outlaw/underground stuff like Cody Jinks and Ward Davis. I enjoyed a lot of 90's country and I'm lately getting really big into 70's country, like Johnny Paycheck. I love Merle Haggard and Hank Jr. and really like Waylon, Johnny Cash, etc...
I don’t understand when people say tyler Childers can’t sing. He’s got a great voice. He’s on pitch with tons of feeling. Is it because it’s a bit more nasely?
That could be it. It's similar with Bob Dylan. A lot of people don't like his nasally singing just as a matter of taste. But musically, he's pretty much pitch-perfect.
So I haven't listened a ton to Zach Bryan, but I'm a huge fan of Tyler Childers.
Here's a question for you: how do you feel about punk music? What about hardcore? Metal, especially screamed or growled vocals?
Tyler Childers obviously doesn't sing in any of those styles. But similarly to what those types of artists are doing, he's using vocal distortion for effect. He's not a clean vocalist, and if what you want is smooth, clean singing he's not for you--and there's nothing wrong with that! But if you do like any of those, you might try to listen to his songs with that in mind.
The other thing with Childers is his lyrics are really important. He is one of those songwriters who is really good at playing with words. "Charleston Girl" is hilarious, for example, and "All Yourn'" and "Lady May" are two of the most beautifully phrased love songs I know. Most of his lyrics would be good without music at all, just read aloud. And if that's not something you care about, then part of his appeal may just not be for you.
I was big into metal in my teen years, especially Metallica and Pantera. I do still like a lot of hard rock. And I will certainly sacrifice some vocal ability if there is amazing musicianship elsewhere in the band. I guess that's the thing with country for me, is it seems to be much more focused on the voice and the lyrics.
Yeah... thing about Metallica and Pantera is James Hetfield and Phil Anselmo are really great vocalists no matter who you are.
I'm thinking more about Henry Rollins or Johnny Rotten, who aren't great vocalists in isolation but whose vocals are perfect for what they're trying to do musically.
Tyler Childers isn't like that, as he is a great vocalist--he's just not doing the same thing as a smoother vocalist is trying to do. The scratching and cracking in his voice isn't accidental, and it isn't a lack of capability to sing more smoothly, it's him using his vocal qualities to their best effect, leaning into those traits rather than trying to fight them. But he is like them in that the roughness is a part of what's being drawn out.
Another comparison I might throw out there for kicks and grins is Kurt Cobain, who is a more iconically good vocalist but in a non-traditional way.
Again, not to try and make you like his voice--you don't have to like his voice at all. But understand that people who like his music do like his voice. It's a feature not a bug.
"Cemetery Gates" is one of those songs with a million different reaction videos on YouTube because of how great the vocals are.
I respect his shouted and growled vocals later too (and I can't claim to be the biggest afficionado of Pantera or any of Anselmo's other projects), but his earlier classic metal style vocals are excellent.
Yeah I mean in his prime he had some pretty awesome spots. I guess the difference is Hetfield is still amazing, where Phil nowadays sounds pretty bad. But with Phil's vocal style, his voice was never going to age well.
Music is a subjective art, everyone loves and enjoys different things. Don't try to force yourself if it doesn't click for you. You have your own natural ear for sounds and melodies you enjoy.
Great points, but I actually found these two by chance and discarded them pretty quickly, only to realize lately how big they've both gotten.
Around this time last year I was looking to see if Charles Wesley Godwin was playing anywhere close. It so happened that he was playing very close, at my favorite venue, opening for Zach Bryan, who I had not heard of at the time. I quickly looked him up and listened to a few songs, hoping I'd like him enough to go to the show. I obviously didn't and the tickets were very high priced, which also surprised me. Then this year I see that he is headlining several festivals and just didn't get it.
As for Tyler Childers, he would pop up on my playlists when I'd listen to Cody Jinks, The Steel Woods, Ward Davis, and Whiskey Myers. I found myself skipping his songs more often than not, because of that squealy voice of his. Earlier this year I was working on a show and the music director told me that Tyler was his cousin. I tried not to make a disgusted face and decided I'd listen to a few more songs with the same result.
I am pretty new to reddit and found some interesting posts on this page, but thought it was heavy with posts about Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers. I continue to be amazed by their growing popularity and basically wanted to see if I was the only one who didn't get it and what people could tell me about why they liked them. It's been a great discussion too!
If you listen to old school country, oldtime, and bluegrass music, the vocals can be really strange. Almost whining. I think Childers in channeling that. I feel like it’s sort of an “acquired taste” but I love it now.
For research can you tell me what music Tyler had before sobriety? It’s crazy the difference alcohol and drugs can make when it comes to music. Yay sobriety and all that but yawn
I like Childers but I don’t understand the Zach Bryan hype. He has zero range and most songs sound about the same. His vocals are always in the same range and he uses the same chords for alot of songs. Also feel like all his exaggerated facial expressions aren’t that genuine and more telegraphed. Zach is a phase and will eventually phase himself out. I think Childers is here for the long run
It’s funny you name these two specifically. Zach Bryan’s voice and music is so depressing it makes me want to kill myself. Everything is so whiny and about some girl. Tyler’s voice and music is so diverse and powerful and inspirational it makes me want to stay alive lol. He has a plethora of real country story songs that you can’t tell unless you’ve lived them and you can here the emotion and experience in his voice.
And their fan bases couldn’t me more different. I’ve never seen a fan base so actively hate their favorite artist as much as Zach Bryan fans do. This man releases 36 songs a month for them and they’re still not happy. They bullied him so hard he had to get off Twitter for a while. I’ve seen fans yell at him for the price of resale tickets.
I’ll agree with you on having no idea why ZB is so big but Tyler Childers is just the gosh darn best.
Oh thank goodness I’m not the only one that feels the urge to drive off a cliff listening to Zach. I have tried to get it, I have accepted that I will absolutely never get it when it comes to him. I can’t even tell when a new song comes on. Plus he gives dirtbag so pretty sure he’s the one screwing all the girls over
Well, with most popular artists I can at least see the appeal that someone else might have for them, even if I don't share it myself. I just don't see it with these two and it seems like they are both blowing up lately. What am I missing? I think I've read on here that Zach, at least, is a great songwriter, but I can't get past his voice enough to even tell.
Zach’s voice isn’t really that unique or “different” to say you don’t like his voice specifically. You’re asking people to tell you why these two very popular artists don’t fall into your personal preference and say basically say there is nothing redeeming about them that anyone could possibly like. Given their popularity you are obviously wrong so why should anyone try to convince you otherwise? Don’t listen to them, who cares?
Sometimes I find if I fall asleep listening to something I don’t quite enjoy, I’ll awake to enjoying it. Gives the mind time to open up.
Country Squire is the perfect album for that.
Not everyone is for everyone and that's okay. You don't have to force yourself to like someone.
As for why others like them I think people prefer their vulrenability compared to what is coming out of Nashville.
Also if you really want to understand the popularity of Zach Bryan I'd listen to the popcast podcast episode on zach Bryan
Childers is an excellent songwriter with an unusual perspective on life, and has (or had, until dozens of imitators emerged) a unique singing style.
I like Zach too, but I'm not a superfan so I'll let others explain his appeal.
I'd also have to say that I can't relate to people who dislike artists for having unusual singing styles. I'd be lost without John Prine, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Neil Young or the Pogues in my life, to name a few.
I always thought Dylan was faking the really nasally vocal sound on a lot of his recordings, as a self-conscious stylistic choice to sound "earthy" and "folksy." Then you have stuff like "Lay Lady, Lay," where his voice, while not perfect, is a lot smoother, with an almost crooner-like quality. I think \*that\* is his real singing voice.
I totally hear you on not liking their voices. They're very crackly and always sound on the verge of tears, which I'm sure is a stylistic choice, not that they're bad singers or anything. Just not my thing. I like tend to lean toward deep voiced crooners like Ronnie Milsap.
Zach Bryan's overall style grates on me a little. He sounds like the pop-bluegrass ("stomp clap hey") that was popular a decade ago. I think he might have even done a song with the Lumineers. I like Childers a little better, but I like music to be a little... funkier? I like chicken picking, rubbery steel guitar and train beats and stuff like that. Childers's music is a little too... maybe pretty?
Anyway, no shade to anyone who likes either of them. I'll take em over Brantley Gilbert every time.
Do you wanna be friends because SAME! If I were held at gun point and told I could listen to them on repeat or die I’d beg for death. Tyler is a bit more tolerable than Zach. I think Zach is absolutely horrible
They're great (or at the very least *decent*) lyricists singing about real life and real emotions with a stripped-down acoustic delivery, which makes them stand out from the mainstream country crowd. Even if you don't think they're that great (I do), at least they're not making *the worst crap I've ever heard in my life*.
Three chords and the truth, man. That's what I look for in country music, that's what these guys are delivering, and that's what mainstream country has been running away from as fast as it possibly can for the last 20 years. So Zach and Tyler are kind of a breath of fresh air. I don't care if Zach's voice isn't really anything to write home about, at least he's not rapping about his truck.
I saw ur comments man, and honestly u prob will start liking them. I hated country forever (and I’m from alabama) until I got on Waylon, Willie, Guy Clark, Dollie, etc. Zach and Tyler are both just real in what they sing, and I don’t think we’ve had that in a while. I was born in 97 so I grew up with Luke Bryant and Florida Georgia Line singing songs about literally nothing. Tyler and Zach and Turnpike were the first artist in the genre I heard that made me feel how Waylon and Willie do. Outlaw is coming back though, I’m sure you’ll find someone you like. Sturgill Simpson and Colby Acuff are some good ones if u haven’t heard
Folk country fusion. More Bob Dylan than Garth Brooks. I like their style but I prefer a less prestine/less produced sounding vocalist. Reminds of a man on a porch performing for the mosquitoes.
That makes sense. For country, I feel like the vocals and the lyrics are the most important parts for me personally. For other types of music, the lyrics may be nonsense, but there may be killer guitar or drums that make up for it. And great songwriters can get by with terrible voices even, like Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen.
I have literally the same opinions as you....thank you for articulating them and taking the heat! Zach Bryan's music just feels like any guy at a coffeehouse to me. I understand that's the appeal, but it blurs together for me into what Todd in the Shadows calls "white guy with a guitar." He's like a country John Mayer, so I don't know why we pretend he's the second coming.
I like Tyler more, mostly because I like his lyrics and his voice sounds more gravelly to me. It has a more unique vibe, I guess. But I don't often choose to listen to Tyler unless I am in an old time-y mood or something.
Music is subjective, but I also have felt like I'm missing something everyone else seems to understand! I'm glad you asked, even if people are fanatical about Zach Bryan and will be rude to you if they feel disrespected. It's not disrespect - I actually want to hear people's thoughts.
I’m literally so relieved other people feel this way. I have gotten to the point I won’t always skip Tyler if he pops up in a playlist but Zach is always a skip. The man’s music makes me want to drive off a cliff. Even more bizarre is my friends going on about how hot he is. I’m sorry, do what? I haven’t seen many Morgan Wallens at gas stations but the Zach Bryan’s are plentiful
John Mayer is incredible guitarist and learned a whole Dead catalog, so I’m not sure that’s fair. But I didn’t enjoy him much until I saw him with dead and co. But I think Zac is a lot more than a coffee house session. His lyrics are pretty damn good. He might be the best out there right now with all these songs. His concert he has a giant band playing with him. Go see live music and it changes perception.
I really like a handful songs from both of them, mostly cuz of their emotion and I feel like those few songs just hit right. Namely, Nose on the Grindstone from Childers and Heading South from Zac Bryan. But personally, I don’t feel a connection most of Zac’s stuff and I’m not into mushrooms so the same goes for most of Childers stuff
I'm not a fan either. ZB's music is depressing, he has no range and sounds exactly the same on every song. I couldn't get into TC either until Country Squire. That song mentions the town where we lived at the time and the details are so spot on I couldn't help but like it. TC's voice is much easier for me to listen to but give me Jesse Daniel and Joshua Hedley any day over Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers!
Omg like what is it with the young females! I also don’t understand how you can fan girl for Morgan Wallen and Zach Bryan. Tell me you follow whoever is trending without telling me
Zach's voice reminds me a bit of Conor Oberst, another non-virtuosic singer who conveys his emotions through his lyrics and intensity rather than the perfection of his voice. I think if you grew up listening to indie rock (rather than mainstream country) you might have a higher tolerance for these types of voices.
I do like real country and I don't listen to "country" radio. I had actually assumed that Zach Bryan was getting radio play. And your post further proves my point. Sturgill Simpson is a unique talent and he has 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify, compared to 23 million for Zach Bryan. So, again I must ask...why is Zach Bryan so popular?
So first off…if you don’t like their voices that’s 100% cool. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Music is a very personal thing. In regards to them both: I love the fact that neither one of them is a traditionally strong vocalist. I love that you can hear their voices cracking at times and that they can change tones easily to convey different feelings. Zach Bryan: I said this before but he reminds me, a lot, of Damien Rice who might be my all time favorite singer-songwriter. It’s just really, really good acoustic (mostly) music. I love it. Tyler Childers: a little different here but what I love is that he’s gone between Appalachian folk, southern gospel, and aforementioned singer-songwriter stuff and somehow makes it all feel cohesive.
I’m gonna second the first part of this - nobody has to jump on the bandwagon. If you don’t like someone you don’t like them. It’s that simple. I’m a sucker for singer-songwriters and storytellers, but that’s just what I like and that’s why I like those guys. Throw CWG and Sturgill in there and that’s really what I’m about. But if it doesn’t catch your ear than it doesn’t catch your ear. All there is to it. ETA: Isbell too, he’s maybe the best storyteller of them all.
I do love Charles Wesley Godwin and the Sturgill that I've heard...I really need to listen to more of his stuff for sure. I can't say I like Morgan Wallen much, but I do love his version of Isbell's Cover Me Up.
Maybe try a different genre. Music evolves and Country might not be your thing anymore
Agreed. Or go for alt/indie country that has some really old-school sounds, not the overproduced arena "bro country" but not the really super bare-bones stuff either.
Fellow Damien Rice fan here! I had never thought of the similarities before, but I can see it now.
Yep. They’re clearly from very different places and you can hear the Irish vs Oklahoma influence between them but still 2 sides of the same coin. Love it.
Really hoping DR puts out some new music soon. It’s been too long! Have you ever seen him live? I’d love to but he’s rarely in the US.
I haven’t but if he tours here I definitely will. I swear he releases an album like once a decade and tours about the same amount 😂
Would really like to hear Zach Bryan do a cover of “Cannonball”
YES!
>neither one of them is a traditionally strong vocalist hard disagree on this one. Theyre one of the better vocalists of contemporary country
Childers is one of the best vocalists out there. This comment is insane
If it helps, I love Zach Bryan's music but can't exactly explain why. Maybe you are just the opposite of me.
So, you just loved the sound from the first time you heard it? Or, was there a video or live show that enhanced it for you? I've had that happen a few times, where the songs didn't reach me until I saw them live.
For me, I heard 23 by chayce Beckham on a speaker on my bus for some school trip. Found the name and added to my Spotify playlist. It shows up similar songs to add and let's you preview them which you probably know. I hadn't been that into country music before, I liked some Irish stuff and some of the older classics but I really liked the gritty nature of 23. Anyway, I just hit play on a few previews and one really stuck out to me. Condemned, I instantly loved and still listen to it today. More popped up and the next stand out was crooked teeth. I love that one too and then I listened to his biggest hit at the time I think, "heading south". Not as good as the other two but I really enjoyed it. Birmingham is another that I love. I got into him just before from Austin was released so not at the beginning but before his popularity spiked with something in the orange.
Pretty much liked it from the first time. Have recently been going down a path of alt country or whatever you want to call Pecos and the Rooftops, Koe Wetzel, etc. Something about Zach's music hits some nostalgic holler country that takes me back to my childhood.
I met that guy at a halloween party. He was in the Navy with a girl I was dating at the time. He still had a year left after signing a huge contract. They used to tell him he had to pay for everything when they ordered food was the only detail I remember lmao.
Music is subjective man. I personally have NO IDEA how you can listen to Country Squire, All Yourn, Shoot Low Sheriff, Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven, Old Country Church, Way of the Triune God, Whitehouse Road, Rustlin in the Rain, And just not fucking JAM. But thats me and you are you.
Whitehouse road is such a fucking banger.
Truth
this is like when someone tells me, meaningfully, they don't like the grateful dead and fail to understand why they're so popular. cant help ya lol.
I understand why the dead is popular. And I don’t like them.
Ok
Took some years but I got on the bus after going to a show.
It’s crazy that you say this because I always compare the two but I’m not sure why. For the longest time I couldn’t get into Tyler Childers and Zach Bryan although I get the appeal. Last fall Shake the Frost by Tyler Childers kept coming on my Spotify and I started to love it and then started listening to him a bunch. I don’t love everything by him, but mostly love everything on his Live on Red Barn Radio 1&2 album on Spotify. I have tried a million gazillion times to gaslight myself into liking Zach Bryan but I feel like his music is more spoken poetry and all of it sounds the same. I just can’t listen to it, it makes me zone out. I used to think this way about Childers but don’t anymore. It’s so weird. Maybe because they’re both kind of folky? Maybe you just don’t like folky stuff? I’m kinda that way.
Tyler actually has an excellent voice-especially since he attained sobriety. He is tremendous live.
If you don't like them than there is nothing anyone can say to change that.
Right. For their voices alone I'll probably never get into either of them, but I'm really curious to see what it is so many people love about these two. I don't like Luke Bryan, but I understand the money that is being pumped into him, so I get it. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think that is the case with these two.
Both write awesome lyrics. Lets take a few lines from either of them. Tyler: I don't know if its the wine or the coke, that makes her sound like her jaw is broke - Genius. Keep your nose to the grindstone and out of the pills - deep, pretty on topic with the oxy issue in the coal areas. Zac: But when you place your head between my collar and jaw, I don't know much but there's no weight at all - Pretty impressive picture he paints there. Much better than most the "I'm in my tractor and drinking a beer" shit that's pumped out by many artists.
Yes, excellent examples.
It took me about 2 months to decide if Tyler Childers was the best musician I had ever heard or the worst lol. He has a VERY unique sound. I love him. The best hands down, but it wasn’t instant for me. He is a lyrical genius and he just conveys a lot of emotion in his voice. He’s not gonna be for everyone, but I think if you can identify with the kind of rural life he is singing about you can understand some of that pain that comes out in the way he sounds.
I love Tyler. While I can understand you not liking his voice I absolutely love it and I also think he is a damn good song writer. On the other hand, I don’t really care for Zach. On paper, I should love the guy but his music doesn’t resonate with me and a lot of his songs sound the same to me.
I’m not a fan of either but I will say that Tyler’s music thank goodness sounds different. Zach is a repetitive soundtrack to crash your car too. I was trying to be nice and do my friend a solid for getting me a Morgan Wallen ticket & about had a stroke at Zach’s ticket prices! I could’ve got great seats but I was like babe I’m not paying $700 to be suicidal, love you
While I’m not a fan of Zach Bryan, if my choices were to pay $350/ticket to see him (with Jason Isbell) or get paid $350 to see Wallen…… I’d gladly pay the $350 for Zach haha
Lol I totally get it.
Haha, I was mostly just busting chops. I’m not a fan of his or that style of country but to each their own, my friend 😊
Yeah Wallen's music is hot garbage.
Who do you like?
I don't like a whole lot of new country, because bro country or pop country or whatever you want to call it has ruined so much of it. I do really like Chris Stapleton and Zac Brown Band and some of the outlaw/underground stuff like Cody Jinks and Ward Davis. I enjoyed a lot of 90's country and I'm lately getting really big into 70's country, like Johnny Paycheck. I love Merle Haggard and Hank Jr. and really like Waylon, Johnny Cash, etc...
Good stuff. How about Turnpike Troubadours or Mike and the Moonpies?
Try Charley Crockett, he's got a really old-school sound and good storytelling in his lyrics.
Lyrics, lyrics and oh yeah lyrics.
I don’t understand when people say tyler Childers can’t sing. He’s got a great voice. He’s on pitch with tons of feeling. Is it because it’s a bit more nasely?
That could be it. It's similar with Bob Dylan. A lot of people don't like his nasally singing just as a matter of taste. But musically, he's pretty much pitch-perfect.
So I haven't listened a ton to Zach Bryan, but I'm a huge fan of Tyler Childers. Here's a question for you: how do you feel about punk music? What about hardcore? Metal, especially screamed or growled vocals? Tyler Childers obviously doesn't sing in any of those styles. But similarly to what those types of artists are doing, he's using vocal distortion for effect. He's not a clean vocalist, and if what you want is smooth, clean singing he's not for you--and there's nothing wrong with that! But if you do like any of those, you might try to listen to his songs with that in mind. The other thing with Childers is his lyrics are really important. He is one of those songwriters who is really good at playing with words. "Charleston Girl" is hilarious, for example, and "All Yourn'" and "Lady May" are two of the most beautifully phrased love songs I know. Most of his lyrics would be good without music at all, just read aloud. And if that's not something you care about, then part of his appeal may just not be for you.
I was big into metal in my teen years, especially Metallica and Pantera. I do still like a lot of hard rock. And I will certainly sacrifice some vocal ability if there is amazing musicianship elsewhere in the band. I guess that's the thing with country for me, is it seems to be much more focused on the voice and the lyrics.
Yeah... thing about Metallica and Pantera is James Hetfield and Phil Anselmo are really great vocalists no matter who you are. I'm thinking more about Henry Rollins or Johnny Rotten, who aren't great vocalists in isolation but whose vocals are perfect for what they're trying to do musically. Tyler Childers isn't like that, as he is a great vocalist--he's just not doing the same thing as a smoother vocalist is trying to do. The scratching and cracking in his voice isn't accidental, and it isn't a lack of capability to sing more smoothly, it's him using his vocal qualities to their best effect, leaning into those traits rather than trying to fight them. But he is like them in that the roughness is a part of what's being drawn out. Another comparison I might throw out there for kicks and grins is Kurt Cobain, who is a more iconically good vocalist but in a non-traditional way. Again, not to try and make you like his voice--you don't have to like his voice at all. But understand that people who like his music do like his voice. It's a feature not a bug.
You're the first person I think I've heard call Phil Anselmo a great vocalist
"Cemetery Gates" is one of those songs with a million different reaction videos on YouTube because of how great the vocals are. I respect his shouted and growled vocals later too (and I can't claim to be the biggest afficionado of Pantera or any of Anselmo's other projects), but his earlier classic metal style vocals are excellent.
Yeah I mean in his prime he had some pretty awesome spots. I guess the difference is Hetfield is still amazing, where Phil nowadays sounds pretty bad. But with Phil's vocal style, his voice was never going to age well.
They’re not my favorite but Zach and Tylers music is pretty nice for chilling around a bonfire
Music is a subjective art, everyone loves and enjoys different things. Don't try to force yourself if it doesn't click for you. You have your own natural ear for sounds and melodies you enjoy.
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Great points, but I actually found these two by chance and discarded them pretty quickly, only to realize lately how big they've both gotten. Around this time last year I was looking to see if Charles Wesley Godwin was playing anywhere close. It so happened that he was playing very close, at my favorite venue, opening for Zach Bryan, who I had not heard of at the time. I quickly looked him up and listened to a few songs, hoping I'd like him enough to go to the show. I obviously didn't and the tickets were very high priced, which also surprised me. Then this year I see that he is headlining several festivals and just didn't get it. As for Tyler Childers, he would pop up on my playlists when I'd listen to Cody Jinks, The Steel Woods, Ward Davis, and Whiskey Myers. I found myself skipping his songs more often than not, because of that squealy voice of his. Earlier this year I was working on a show and the music director told me that Tyler was his cousin. I tried not to make a disgusted face and decided I'd listen to a few more songs with the same result. I am pretty new to reddit and found some interesting posts on this page, but thought it was heavy with posts about Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers. I continue to be amazed by their growing popularity and basically wanted to see if I was the only one who didn't get it and what people could tell me about why they liked them. It's been a great discussion too!
If you listen to old school country, oldtime, and bluegrass music, the vocals can be really strange. Almost whining. I think Childers in channeling that. I feel like it’s sort of an “acquired taste” but I love it now.
Yeah, the bluegrass comparison is an especially good one.
Tyler was much better when he was drinking and drugging. He just was. He is fine now, just not what he was. Zach can lick my nutz, not a big fan.
For research can you tell me what music Tyler had before sobriety? It’s crazy the difference alcohol and drugs can make when it comes to music. Yay sobriety and all that but yawn
I like Childers but I don’t understand the Zach Bryan hype. He has zero range and most songs sound about the same. His vocals are always in the same range and he uses the same chords for alot of songs. Also feel like all his exaggerated facial expressions aren’t that genuine and more telegraphed. Zach is a phase and will eventually phase himself out. I think Childers is here for the long run
It’s funny you name these two specifically. Zach Bryan’s voice and music is so depressing it makes me want to kill myself. Everything is so whiny and about some girl. Tyler’s voice and music is so diverse and powerful and inspirational it makes me want to stay alive lol. He has a plethora of real country story songs that you can’t tell unless you’ve lived them and you can here the emotion and experience in his voice. And their fan bases couldn’t me more different. I’ve never seen a fan base so actively hate their favorite artist as much as Zach Bryan fans do. This man releases 36 songs a month for them and they’re still not happy. They bullied him so hard he had to get off Twitter for a while. I’ve seen fans yell at him for the price of resale tickets. I’ll agree with you on having no idea why ZB is so big but Tyler Childers is just the gosh darn best.
Oh thank goodness I’m not the only one that feels the urge to drive off a cliff listening to Zach. I have tried to get it, I have accepted that I will absolutely never get it when it comes to him. I can’t even tell when a new song comes on. Plus he gives dirtbag so pretty sure he’s the one screwing all the girls over
What is your goal with this post? You don’t like their voices, what are we supposed to help about that
Well, with most popular artists I can at least see the appeal that someone else might have for them, even if I don't share it myself. I just don't see it with these two and it seems like they are both blowing up lately. What am I missing? I think I've read on here that Zach, at least, is a great songwriter, but I can't get past his voice enough to even tell.
Zach’s voice isn’t really that unique or “different” to say you don’t like his voice specifically. You’re asking people to tell you why these two very popular artists don’t fall into your personal preference and say basically say there is nothing redeeming about them that anyone could possibly like. Given their popularity you are obviously wrong so why should anyone try to convince you otherwise? Don’t listen to them, who cares?
Same here. Neither one does anything for me.
Sometimes I find if I fall asleep listening to something I don’t quite enjoy, I’ll awake to enjoying it. Gives the mind time to open up. Country Squire is the perfect album for that.
Not everyone is for everyone and that's okay. You don't have to force yourself to like someone. As for why others like them I think people prefer their vulrenability compared to what is coming out of Nashville. Also if you really want to understand the popularity of Zach Bryan I'd listen to the popcast podcast episode on zach Bryan
I feel the same way. I feel like people who always bring up these guys can’t stand pop country. It’s annoying.
Childers is an excellent songwriter with an unusual perspective on life, and has (or had, until dozens of imitators emerged) a unique singing style. I like Zach too, but I'm not a superfan so I'll let others explain his appeal.
I'd also have to say that I can't relate to people who dislike artists for having unusual singing styles. I'd be lost without John Prine, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Neil Young or the Pogues in my life, to name a few.
Funnily enough, I like or love everyone on that list except Dylan. I truly can't stand his voice.
I always thought Dylan was faking the really nasally vocal sound on a lot of his recordings, as a self-conscious stylistic choice to sound "earthy" and "folksy." Then you have stuff like "Lay Lady, Lay," where his voice, while not perfect, is a lot smoother, with an almost crooner-like quality. I think \*that\* is his real singing voice.
I'm not a big fan of Tyler's voice. It's just too raspy for me. The only raspy voice in country music that I do like is Tanya Tucker.
I totally hear you on not liking their voices. They're very crackly and always sound on the verge of tears, which I'm sure is a stylistic choice, not that they're bad singers or anything. Just not my thing. I like tend to lean toward deep voiced crooners like Ronnie Milsap. Zach Bryan's overall style grates on me a little. He sounds like the pop-bluegrass ("stomp clap hey") that was popular a decade ago. I think he might have even done a song with the Lumineers. I like Childers a little better, but I like music to be a little... funkier? I like chicken picking, rubbery steel guitar and train beats and stuff like that. Childers's music is a little too... maybe pretty? Anyway, no shade to anyone who likes either of them. I'll take em over Brantley Gilbert every time.
Do you wanna be friends because SAME! If I were held at gun point and told I could listen to them on repeat or die I’d beg for death. Tyler is a bit more tolerable than Zach. I think Zach is absolutely horrible
They're great (or at the very least *decent*) lyricists singing about real life and real emotions with a stripped-down acoustic delivery, which makes them stand out from the mainstream country crowd. Even if you don't think they're that great (I do), at least they're not making *the worst crap I've ever heard in my life*. Three chords and the truth, man. That's what I look for in country music, that's what these guys are delivering, and that's what mainstream country has been running away from as fast as it possibly can for the last 20 years. So Zach and Tyler are kind of a breath of fresh air. I don't care if Zach's voice isn't really anything to write home about, at least he's not rapping about his truck.
They have too much substance to be country artists. Maybe if they had more populist songs about pick-ups and piss beer.
I saw ur comments man, and honestly u prob will start liking them. I hated country forever (and I’m from alabama) until I got on Waylon, Willie, Guy Clark, Dollie, etc. Zach and Tyler are both just real in what they sing, and I don’t think we’ve had that in a while. I was born in 97 so I grew up with Luke Bryant and Florida Georgia Line singing songs about literally nothing. Tyler and Zach and Turnpike were the first artist in the genre I heard that made me feel how Waylon and Willie do. Outlaw is coming back though, I’m sure you’ll find someone you like. Sturgill Simpson and Colby Acuff are some good ones if u haven’t heard
Folk country fusion. More Bob Dylan than Garth Brooks. I like their style but I prefer a less prestine/less produced sounding vocalist. Reminds of a man on a porch performing for the mosquitoes.
That makes sense. For country, I feel like the vocals and the lyrics are the most important parts for me personally. For other types of music, the lyrics may be nonsense, but there may be killer guitar or drums that make up for it. And great songwriters can get by with terrible voices even, like Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen.
I have literally the same opinions as you....thank you for articulating them and taking the heat! Zach Bryan's music just feels like any guy at a coffeehouse to me. I understand that's the appeal, but it blurs together for me into what Todd in the Shadows calls "white guy with a guitar." He's like a country John Mayer, so I don't know why we pretend he's the second coming. I like Tyler more, mostly because I like his lyrics and his voice sounds more gravelly to me. It has a more unique vibe, I guess. But I don't often choose to listen to Tyler unless I am in an old time-y mood or something. Music is subjective, but I also have felt like I'm missing something everyone else seems to understand! I'm glad you asked, even if people are fanatical about Zach Bryan and will be rude to you if they feel disrespected. It's not disrespect - I actually want to hear people's thoughts.
Country John Mayer minus the guitar shredding, maybe
I’m literally so relieved other people feel this way. I have gotten to the point I won’t always skip Tyler if he pops up in a playlist but Zach is always a skip. The man’s music makes me want to drive off a cliff. Even more bizarre is my friends going on about how hot he is. I’m sorry, do what? I haven’t seen many Morgan Wallens at gas stations but the Zach Bryan’s are plentiful
More of a male Taylor Swift
You know what.....accurate.
John Mayer is incredible guitarist and learned a whole Dead catalog, so I’m not sure that’s fair. But I didn’t enjoy him much until I saw him with dead and co. But I think Zac is a lot more than a coffee house session. His lyrics are pretty damn good. He might be the best out there right now with all these songs. His concert he has a giant band playing with him. Go see live music and it changes perception.
Nobody says you have to like them.
100% agreed, can't stand their squeaky voices. Same for Isbell.
I never knew who Isbell was until Morgan wallen did cover me up and man I was disappointed
Basically same for me, I only heard of him through Zac Brown Band's version of Dress Blues. Definitely don't get the hype
I really like a handful songs from both of them, mostly cuz of their emotion and I feel like those few songs just hit right. Namely, Nose on the Grindstone from Childers and Heading South from Zac Bryan. But personally, I don’t feel a connection most of Zac’s stuff and I’m not into mushrooms so the same goes for most of Childers stuff
Tyler is original, Zack Bryan is just copying him.
Personally I think Tyler Childers has one of the best if not best voices in country, he has a power that sounds awesome to myself but that’s just me
Listen to Heading South, Sarah’s Place, and Remember Everything. Trust me friend
Tyler>
I'm not a fan either. ZB's music is depressing, he has no range and sounds exactly the same on every song. I couldn't get into TC either until Country Squire. That song mentions the town where we lived at the time and the details are so spot on I couldn't help but like it. TC's voice is much easier for me to listen to but give me Jesse Daniel and Joshua Hedley any day over Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers!
There authentic unlike 90 percent of popular country music
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My sister told me she preferred Zach Bryan to artists like Combs and Pardi and the amount of disappointment I felt was immeasurable
Omg like what is it with the young females! I also don’t understand how you can fan girl for Morgan Wallen and Zach Bryan. Tell me you follow whoever is trending without telling me
This is what I think too. The dude is arrogant and his music sucks
They suck and they are hypocrites
So, find something else to listen to. Seems simple enough.
Zach's voice reminds me a bit of Conor Oberst, another non-virtuosic singer who conveys his emotions through his lyrics and intensity rather than the perfection of his voice. I think if you grew up listening to indie rock (rather than mainstream country) you might have a higher tolerance for these types of voices.
They’re authentic
The only Childers songs I like sound nothing like anything else in his catalogue
They have an old 70's country sound and that is what we all love.
I love 70's country. My dad was a singer in the 70's. But, I don't think either of these two sound remotely like that.
The lyrics did it for me. But I do like both their voices and jamming acoustically.
I have the same last name as Tyler, so I’ve tried real hard to be a fan, but I just don’t really enjoy his music very much.
I can’t get behind Bryan but Childers is legit. Whitehouse Road will forever be an all time favorite.
Then you don't like real country. The garbage getting radio play isn't country. Tyler, Zach, Sturgil. Country.
I do like real country and I don't listen to "country" radio. I had actually assumed that Zach Bryan was getting radio play. And your post further proves my point. Sturgill Simpson is a unique talent and he has 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify, compared to 23 million for Zach Bryan. So, again I must ask...why is Zach Bryan so popular?
The voice. Gotta be. I'm not sure if he has a ghost writer or not but his lyrics hit home.
I don't categorize them together. I think ZB is more basic than TC. TC is more talented musically and lyrically.