• Record Label: Republic
  • Release Date: Apr 28, 2015
User Score
6.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 21
  2. Negative: 5 out of 21
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
  1. Apr 28, 2015
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Jekyll+Hyde is definitely the most ambitious, diverse and impressive Zac Brown Band album yet. If you come expecting their normal mellow country fare (although their recent collaboration with Foo Fighter's front-man David Grohl was a good indicator of things to come) you will be disappointed. I'm pretty sure that most critics were expecting the same old as well, as indicated by the mixed reviews. Even so, It's very hard to deny the musical craftsmanship exhibited by Zac Brown and company in this album, especially in the songs: "Remedy", a gospel inspired anthem featuring Celtic uillean pipes; "Junkyard", a menacing rock song about child abuse and revenge featuring parts from Pink Floyd's "Is There Anybody Out There"; "One Day", a 70's soft rocking style tune co-produced by Cee-lo Green; and "Mango Tree", a big-band duet with Sara Barielles. They don't leave any genre untouched, even electronic music, featuring house beats and auto-tune in "Beautiful Drug" and "Tomorrow Never Comes". Not only is the musicianship and creativity of Jekyll + Hyde outstanding, but the songwriting is just as impressive, featuring tracks co-written by musical talents like Eric Church, Amos Lee and Keb' Mo'.
    In the end, instead of being ambiguous and cluttered, this album exhibits the Zac Brown Band's incredible versatility and genre-hopping abilities (reminiscent of Taylor Swift's "Red"), fusing multiple musical influences into the most convincing rock album featuring a banjo.
    Expand
  2. Sep 7, 2015
    9
    I can understand why some find the album either confusing or lightweight in parts, and if you like ZBB other albums it is clear to see they record songs about where they are....I wasn't sure at first but grew to love it....no not the greatest country album in the world...no not the meaning of life....but I wasn't looking for that but in general easy listening, good to sing to and no tracks I skip
Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 13
  2. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. Q Magazine
    Oct 6, 2015
    60
    Hopefully they'll focus on [their country roots] next time. [Nov 2015, p.104]
  2. 60
    Ironically, these more daring forays emphasise the inoffensive blandness of some of the other tracks, but if the future holds more similarly brave experimentation then ZBB are on a fascinating career trajectory.
  3. Uncut
    Aug 27, 2015
    40
    [The cover of Jason Isbell's "Dress Blues"] is nevertheless the best thing on Jekyll + Hyde, which plunges to a wretched nadir on "Heavy Is the Head." [Oct 2015, p.73]