You Get What You Give

iTunes Review

If some of these twangy tunes sound familiar, that's because five of them were previously released live versions on Pass the Jar: Zac Brown Band and Friends Live from the Fabulous Fox Theatre In Atlanta. But the studio takes of "Let It Go," "Who Knows," "Whiskey's Gone," "Colder Weather," and "Make This Day" don't sound too different, which is just a testament to how solid these guys are live. As Brown and band's second major-label studio album proves, they can also hold their own when the tape is rolling. The summery "Knee Deep" features guest vocals from Jimmy Buffett, who really nails the close-harmonies. But what's more impressive is how the recording of this tune sounds as timeless as any of Buffett's radio hits. Similarly Alan Jackson lends his larynx to "As She's Walking Away" but it's the vacuum-tight musicianship and classic tones that let this song radiate with the warmth of an old- familiar country rock tune from the ‘70s. Of the four bonus songs, Brown's live cover of Ryan Adams' "Oh My Sweet Carolina" shines brightest.