Zach Top has quickly ascended as one of modern country music’s most compelling new voices. Raised on his family’s ranch, he formed a bluegrass band with his siblings early on and honed his craft in the bluegrass circuits before relocating to Nashville in 2021 to chase a solo career in country music. Signed as the flagship artist to the indie label Leo33, Top released his debut studio album ‘Cold Beer & Country Music' in April 2024, produced by veteran neo-traditionalist Carson Chamberlain. The record earned an ACM Album of the Year nomination and showcased breakout hits such as ‘I Never Lie' and ‘Use Me,' with the former becoming his first top-charting single and ‘Use Me' earning him a memorable acoustic performance at the ACM Awards.
Now riding the momentum of a breakthrough year—marked by wins such as ACM New Male Artist of the Year, MusicRow Discovery Artist of the Year, and a CMA New Artist of the Year nomination—Top is back with new album ‘Ain't in it For My Health.' Produced once again by Carson Chamberlain, the 15-track collection features sun-soaked, ’90s country–inspired anthems such as ‘Good Times & Tan Lines' (introduced live at CMA Fest) and the emotionally resonant ballad ‘South of Sanity.' Billboard's acclaim—calling him “the future of country music”—coupled with his Tonight Show performance of ‘I Never Lie,' firmly positions Top as a torchbearer of authenticity in today’s country landscape but how good is the album?
‘Ain’t in it for My Health' is, quite simply, a statement record—one that leans proudly on tradition while finding clever ways to keep things fresh. From the opening cut, ‘Guitar,' it’s clear Top isn’t just dabbling in retro country textures; he’s living inside them. The light, bluegrass-influenced groove and pedal steel accents evoke a world where the heart still beats in 4/4 time and stories are carried by twang. As the de facto title track, it lays out both theme and tone. “Ain’t nothing kick starts my heart like guitars,” he declares, capping a chorus that barrels into a solo where Top flexes across multiple guitars, equal parts picker and showman.
He keeps the momentum going with ‘Good Times and Tan Lines,' a breezy slice of 90s-inspired summer country that nods toward Garth Brooks without losing Top’s own personality. This one is built for humid evenings down by the water, where the lyrics are simple, the vibe easygoing and the singalong chorus irresistible. But just as you settle into the carefree mood, Top pivots into ‘When You See Me,' a tender ballad dressed in acoustic guitar and piano. Here, heartbreak takes the spotlight. “You’ll probably walk right by me like some stranger on the street,” he laments, vowing to put on a brave face even as the pedal steel reveals the cracks in his armour. With its 70s country textures and an emotional breakdown in the final third, it’s a song that could live comfortably beside Glen Campbell or George Jones.
The retro streak continues on ‘Splitsville,' where Top imagines heartbreak as a literal town where the brokenhearted gather. “Long people around making happy sounds so you never have to be alone,” he sings, a line that feels tongue-in-cheek yet deeply poignant. Musically, the Countrypolitan twang calls back to the glory days of the 70s, adding polish to the rough edges of a breakup song. That theme of struggle—internal and external—resurfaces on ‘Between the Ditches,' a piano-driven ballad that brings a Billy Joel-esque flair to country storytelling. “Thank God for friends and four wheel drives,” Top admits while navigating the tug-of-war between God and the devil, responsibility and recklessness. It’s one of the album’s most nuanced tracks, a song rooted in the rural South but universal in its theme of trying to walk straight in a crooked world.
Top doesn’t keep the album heavy for long. ‘Flip Flop' breezes in like a Kenny Chesney-meets-Jimmy Buffett hybrid, a beachy romp with sharp wit hidden under the sand. At first it’s sun, fun and easy living, until the sting in the tail arrives—she’s gone, his wallet’s empty and all that’s left is regret. “I don’t know where that girl got off to!” he wails, turning what could’ve been cliché into something fresh with humour and sting. Later, ‘Tightrope' strikes a different comedic chord, this time in a honky-tonk barroom setting. Watching a buddy trade whiskey for wellness, Top deadpans: “She’s got you sipping green tea instead of Jack and Coke.” It’s playful, funky and a reminder that even traditionalists can have a laugh at modern love’s expense.
The heart, though, remains at the center of ‘Ain’t in it for My Health.' Tracks like ‘I Know a Place' and ‘She Makes' bring warmth and sincerity, pairing pedal steel with tender gratitude and lush 70s-style instrumentation. On the other end of the spectrum, ‘South of Sanity' delivers one of the album’s most dramatic moments: a Montana rodeo, a relationship collapsing over the phone and a touring musician realising, “I’m starting to believe I might be losing everything.” It’s country drama at its finest—relatable, cinematic and unresolved in a way that lingers long after the final chorus.
Top’s range is fully on display across the back half of the record. ‘Like I Want You' invites two-stepping couples back to the dance floor, while ‘Country Boy Blues' pokes fun at modern Nashville with a wink and a Garth Brooks-style vocal cadence. ‘Lovin’ the Wrong Things' strips everything back to a moral ballad about chasing guitars, girls and bad habits—a nod to both honky-tonk tradition and Top’s own biography. And when the album finally lands on ‘Honky Tonk Till It Hurts,' it’s not a comedown but a call to arms. “Forget about your phone… come and get your redneck on!” he shouts, practically daring you not to imagine it as the opener of his next live show.
In the end, ‘Ain’t in it for My Health' is more than just a sophomore album—it’s a love letter to the past and a roadmap for Top’s future. He weaves bluegrass energy, 70s Countrypolitan polish, 90s honky-tonk swagger and timeless balladry into a package that feels both reverent and fresh. His lyrics can cut sharp or make you laugh, his melodies lean classic without being tired and his voice carries the twang of a man who means every word. It’s the sound of an artist poised to step into the big leagues—not by abandoning tradition, but by proving it still has something urgent and vital to say.
Track list: 1. Guitar 2. Good Times & Tan Lines 3. When You See Me 4. Splitsville 5. Between The Ditches 6. Flip-Flop 7. Livin’ A Lie 8. Tightrope 9. I Know A Place 10. She Makes 11. South Of Sanity 12. Like I Want You 13. Country Boy Blues 14. Lovin’ The Wrong Things 15. Honky Tonk Till It Hurts Record Label: Leo33 Release Date: August 29th Buy ‘Ain't in it For My Health' right here
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