EDITORS’ NOTES

On their major-label debut, the Zac Brown Band hit the sweet spot between ‘70s-style Southern rock and modern country-pop, with well-honed musicianship to spare. After years of touring, they could tackle everything from turbo-charged bluegrass (“Mary”) to breezy Caribbean ditties (“Where the Boat Leaves From”) and goofy comedy pieces (“It’s Not OK,”). And still, that album's big hits—“Chicken Fried,” “Toes,” “Whatever It Is,” and "Highway 20 Ride”—won over an audience as eclectic as the band itself. The Foundation captures a hard-working heartland band with something to prove—and the talent to back it up.