We once again fail to return the sentiment to poor ol’ Zac.
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[5.00]
Katherine St Asaph: Country was veering toward Southern rock for a long time, and the next destination is yacht rock. I’ve been to enough social functions full of Dockers and Carolina blue and “Sweet Caroline”; I know. But I am tired — exhausted, despairing, to-the-core weary — of every woman in every love song being a carefree, dancy, perfectly disheveled fantasy sprite. There are women who don’t making loving them easy in the dancing-to-the-radio, always-charming sense. They might be prickly, cerebral, serious, driven. They might not shine so bright in the morning. They might not — perish the thought, dance. Like most women, they are far more complicated than these songs admit. Pop culture allows them no praise, nothing for men to imprint on. It’s less this song, or any one song; more a death of a thousand quirks. And I am so, so, so endlessly weary.
[4]
Scott Mildenhall: A charming Danish Eurovision entry that, to the quiet pleasure of its middle-aged singer, described by unimaginative people as a “housewives’ favourite,” stands out among a sea of dramatic ballads to finish top 10. Baffled detractors assert that it’s merely a vacuum-packed three minutes of pretty harmonising over a generic Bo Diddley beat, and inadvertently elucidate why it’s so good. Either way, XTM and DJ Chucky come along to donk it up afterwards, and everyone is placated.
[7]
Thomas Inskeep: Smooth 1982 pop/rock-isms times “island flavor” vis-a-vis Kenny Chesney equals “Loving You Easy.” Eddie Rabbitt would’ve stormed the castle with this, and done it about 5 times more interestingly. In the hands of Brown and company, it sounds like a shampoo commercial.
[4]
Brad Shoup: Sellout country can go throwback sellout country any time. ZBB did great on the chorus: they’re on their Exile shit. And the sawing violin is the kind of frippery you don’t get enough. Zac’s an OK steward — the way he bridges the key change is an ersatz wonder — but I can’t get over how he’s cloaked his partner in his permission. Let’s work on making Zac feel pretty.
[6]
Ramzi Awn: I love the name Zac Brown. It has a real essence to it. Unfortunately, Brown’s voice doesn’t quite live up to the hype. It’s good; but it’s not great. The ultimate sound is just retro enough, but not quite. I appreciate easy love, but I don’t appreciate easy music. Every little smile, every single note reminds me just how much it makes loving music hard. You’re not bad, Mr. Brown, but you could be doing better.
[5]
Edward Okulicz: Well if Thomas Rhett can go disco and whatever else, Zac Brown Band can pretend they’re Steely Dan or something. But oh, their time machine works but their compass doesn’t; “Loving You Easy” sounds more like a country ABBA — I broke into “Dancing Queen” in the second half of the verses. This is not an unappetising prospect, but the song’s really crying out for Barry Gibb not Zac Brown.
[6]
Alfred Soto: Loving is not easy, and I don’t care how many John Mayer soundalikes testify on a mic.
[3]