Incorporating country music cliches of truck driving, love troubles, guitars and more all while balancing his own fresh touch is the ever-popular Zach Top, who released his latest album, Ain't In It For My Health, at the end of August.
Ain't In It For My Health succeeds his 2024 breakthrough album, Cold Beer & Country Music, which brought Top national recognition and award nominations, as well as being named "the future of country music" by Billboard. Now a Nashville-based country music star, he started out playing in a bluegrass band with his siblings on their farm in Sunnyside, WA. Since pursuing his solo career in Music City, he has released three albums and collaborated with icons like Billy Strings among others.
The whopping 15-track collection opens with an upbeat twangy country number in "Guitar," which acts as a love letter to music and his dedication to it. Top sings about the experiences -- and sacrifices -- he has endured chasing his dream, as he quickly speaks to the title as he sings, "I damn sure ain't in it for my health," in the chorus.
Going down two tracks is another highlight, "When You See Me," which is a step into a different part of the mind of Zach Top: his heartfelt side. This standout track showcases the tender vocals that he is capable of over gentle, yet upbeat guitar sounds. In his signature country crooner vocals, he sings of parting with someone close: "You won't recognize me / You'll probably walk right by me / Like some stranger on the street."
Moving down the track list to number six is "Flip--Flop," which stands as a more playful song in the middle of the record. The instrumentation has a lighthearted feel with the mandolin leading the sound, as well as distant, high pitched pedal steel sprinkled in. The delivery of the chorus, "I don't give a flip--flop" with the thoughtful pause before "flop" is a fun, witty surprise for listeners.
As is the case with many true country albums, there's often some "blues" related song, and what better straight-ahead no-frills title than track 13, "Country Boy Blues." Top narrates his experiences walking in downtown "Music City," only to uncover the reality of a lack of true country music. He sings, "I kinda feel like a dinosaur down on the Vegas strip / Yeah every spot in town got a drink and a band / So why can't I hear a damn country tune," illustrating his desire to stay close to traditional country music despite living in such a commercialized environment.
After a 15-track odyssey, the album closes with "Honky Tonk Til It Hurts," a song that embodies country music, connecting traditional country instrumentation with modern production. This song is a fun sendoff from the album about getting lost in the Honky Tonk, encouraging listeners to "forget about your phone, grab a drink and sing along."
Ain't In It For My Health further proves Zach Top's emergence as a leader in the revival of traditional-meets-current country music in 2025. He used this record to not only share his stories, but to celebrate keeping real deal country music alive amongst a sea of commercialization and factory made music (if not AI). His traditional sound lures in appreciators of the 90's style sound he emits, while also attracting the new generation with his youthful charm.
For now, with Zach Top, it doesn't seem like the country music craze is going away any time soon. He's currently on a fall tour in support of the album, with his next show tonight at Red Rocks in Colorado.
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