Zach Bryan added a couple more collaborations to his catalogue with the release of his EP Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs… so I thought it’d be as good a time as any to rank every collab the country superstar has ever done.
The “Something In The Orange” singer has always seemed to enjoy including features on his albums that push himself sonically. His long list of collaborators includes but is not limited to Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, Kacey Musgraves, The Lumineers, Noah Kahan, Sierra Ferrell, Bon Iver, The War and Treaty, Maggie Rogers, Charles Wesley Godwin, Kings of Leon, Noeline Hofmann, Watchhouse, Jack Van Cleaf, Gabriella Rose and John Moreland (before an online feud resulted in “Memphis; The Blues” getting removed and re-recorded with bandmate, J.R. Carroll).
And while all of the collaborations are great in their own right, I figured it would be fun to pit them all against each other and rank them in order of best to… well, not as good. Just to be clear, I stuck to studio releases only (and one live album). Yes, I’m ready to get torched by Zach Bryan fans saying I disrespected this song while giving too much love to that one. That’s the beauty of a ranking… it typically gets some good discourse going.
Let the debate again:
16. “Holy Roller” – Zach Bryan & Sierra Ferrell
A great song, and they sound great together, but Sierra only provides background harmony on this track and I would’ve loved to hear her weave some solo vocals into this one.
15. “Memphis: The Blues” – Zach Bryan & John Moreland J.R. Carroll
Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding this one outshined the finished product.
14. “Boys of Faith” – Zach Bryan & Bon Iver
Lots of potential with “Boys of Faith,” but felt like it left a lot to be desired.
13. “Pink Skies” – Zach Bryan & Watchhouse
Adding Watchhouse to this staple of Bryan’s catalogue worked without a doubt, but I cue up the non-feature version a lot more.
12. “Spotless” – Zach Bryan & The Lumineers
This crossover was highly anticipated, and Bryan and The Lumineers came together to deliver a track well within both of their wheelhouses.
11. “Dawns” – Zach Bryan & Maggie Rogers
Again, much like with “Holy Roller,” would have loved for Rogers’ powerful vocals to be in the spotlight more.
10. “Bowery” – Zach Bryan & Kings of Leon
This one has great revisit-ability, but my hot take (possibly my hottest take ever) is that this would have been better just as a Kings of Leon track.
9. “Better Days” – Zach Bryan & John Mayer
From the first note, you can tell “Better Days” is the brainchild of Bryan and Mayer. Guitar riffs and lyric quips galore… they had fun with this one.
8. “Purple Gas” – Zach Bryan & Noeline Hofmann
There’s just something perfect about Bryan and Hofmann together on “Purple Gas,” a song that the latter penned herself before it became a duet.
7. “Plainsman” – Zach Bryan & Turnpike Troubadours
Zach Bryan and the Turnpike Troubadours together at last. Ever since they teased the collab, fans have been champing at the bit to hear it. The pairing didn’t let fans down.
6. “Sandpaper” – Zach Bryan & Bruce Springsteen
The country music star finally got to sing with one of his biggest, personal music icons on “Sandpaper.” Bryan and “The Boss” bounce off each other quite well.
5. “Sarah’s Place” – Zach Bryan & Noah Kahan
Both Bryan and Kahan have done a lot for the country/folk/indie scene, so it only makes sense that when they got together on “Sarah’s Place,” it was a hit.
4. “Jamie” – Zach Bryan & Charles Wesley Godwin
Early on, it felt like the country music world was destined to have plenty of Bryan and CWG collabs. That hasn’t exactly panned out, but boy oh boy did the two country singers deliver with this one.
3. “Lies” – Zach Bryan & Lana Del Ray
Recency bias? Possibly. Undeniable musical chemistry? Certainly. Who knew the world needed a Zach Bryan and Lana Del Ray collaboration?
2. “Hey Driver” – Zach Bryan & The War and Treaty
Go ahead and say I’ve got this one too high. That’s fine. I just think “Hey Driver” is the perfect example of bringing in a feature to elevate a song. The War and Treaty certainly did that.
1. “I Remember Everything” – Zach Bryan & Kacey Musgraves
It might me basic to have this one at the No. 1 spot, but c’mon. The Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves duet won a Grammy for “Best country Duo/Group Performance,” and it also became the first song to sit atop the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs all at once.
