What is country music? Acoustic guitar or computerized beats? 

Since the 2010s, the original heartbeat of bluegrass and country music has morphed into a new pop sound. You might listen to Morgan Wallen and think, “This is country music.” Are you sure?

On Friday, August 29, 2025, Zach Top released his new album “Ain’t In It For My Health.” Zach Top is a rising country artist who released his first album, “Zach Top,” in 2022, with more of a bluegrass feel. Then “Cold Beer and Country Music,” which came later in 2024, had more of an old country feel.

Zach opens up his most recent album with a song called “Guitar.” He praises the instrument, as every true country boy does. Guitars have strings just like a heart. In the song, he says that “nothing kickstarts my heart like guitar,” with the message that the guitar is the reason his heart keeps beating. 

Describing Zach, I wouldn’t use the word new, as in “new country artist.” According to PBS, country music began in the 1920s in the United States. Johnny Cash and Hank Snow are some of the first influences on country music. 

Cash created hits such as “Ring Of Fire” and “Walk The Line.” Hank Snow also inspired Elvis Presley, as Presley recorded some of Hank’s songs, one being “Pardon Me If I’m Sentimental.” Later country artists came Vince Gill, George Strait, and Alan Jackson. 

Zach adds inspiration and flair from many past country artists, while keeping the songs his own, which is why “new” artists is not the best description.

The song “Flip-Flop” gives a Jimmy Buffett and Kenny Chesney feel. A song about not wishing to see his ex again, Zach creates the image of Chesney’s “Summertime” and Buffett’s “Five O’clock Somewhere.” However, the ring of the words flip-flop in the song shows that Zach can add his own iconic flair. “Good Times and Tan Lines” also shows some inspiration from the same sources. 

Listening to the album, I found it better to do it in order. It tells a story. I noticed the story in the last three songs. “Country Boy Blues, “Lovin’ The Wrong Things,” and “Honkytonk ‘Till It Hurts.” 

In “Country Boy Blues,” Zach talks about how the present era of country music has lost all of its old sound. Even Broadway in Nashville doesn’t feel like home to him as he says, “Somebody, please tell me where’s a man supposed to go, to hear some country music ’cause it ain’t on my radio?” He can’t even go to the street where country music lives to hear a country song. 

Those feelings lead to “Lovin’ The Wrong Things.” In this song, he finds himself questioning the things he loves, such as country music, due to pop culture moving on from the “old” country era. 

Finally, Zach accepts who he is in “Honkytonk ‘Till It Hurts.” He is not going to let time passing take away from what he truly loved in the beginning: bluegrass and country music. He goes full “honkytonk” without any shame. 

In recent interviews, Zach has also talked about his choice to keep his concerts small. He believes that having shows in “more intimate settings, over stadiums,” is to keep the authentic feel of a “real gritty country sound at live shows.” 

In the end, Zach Top came back at the time country music needed him most, which is when the computer country music appeared. He keeps the legacy of country legends alive while creating an authentic reputation for himself.