The mere fact that the Van Zant brothers are releasing an album together after more than 17 years is in itself enough to cause a general alarm among all the southern & classic rock fans around the world. Obviously you don’t need to read these lines to know that we are talking about two living legends who have sold millions of records, they have left an indelible mark on music and all 4 albums they have released together are excellent. It is exactly this last statement that made me listen to “Always Look Up” with great interest.
The notable difference of Van Zant’s new sonic effort is that it has a religious lyrical content since all the songs are about God, faith, personal strength and the spiritual uplifting of each of us. I would even say that Johnny’s and Donnie’s performance brings out a lot of emotion which reveals the deepest faith in God of the two brothers. On a purely musical level we are talking about a southern hybrid with a lot of country references but also many pop/rock radio wedges. So imagine something in between “My Kind of Country” (Van Zant’s previous album) with something of Bon Jovi’s “Lost Highway” but also Jim Peterik in his solo albums. The production is absolutely fitting with the whole mood of the album and exudes an air of the American South. So we’re talking about a very well-crafted album in all its details.
Van Zant’s recording return comes at a time when the world is in a general upheaval and faith in God is more intense than ever. Perhaps to some it seems quaint or a forgotten belief of other times. Not so for the Van Zant brothers. “Always Look Up” is a tribute to God and faith that is musically invested with excellent melodies and brilliant compositional ideas. We highly recommend it…
Highlight: The cover artwork captures exactly what you will hear on the album.
