Two years ago, Zac Brown Band had one of its bigger hits with the summertime hit "Toes," a laid-back and tuneful ode to chilling by the sea. Once again, they're serving up a similar song, but because this is a band who knows what it's doing, "Knee Deep" is more than just "Toes, Part II." It's a very fine song on its own merits, and yet another hit from the red-hot band. 

"Knee Deep" is breezy and acoustic, with a syncopated, tropical melody. I particularly enjoy the little touches of Wurlitzer electric piano and organ, which meld finely with Brown's nylon-string guitar work. ZBB's own sound draws nicely from the beachy Buffett, who fits into the song perfectly. Not unlike "Toes," there's a theme of escapism, but here, he's running away from a broken heart instead of the everyday stresses. It's that little extra touch ("Had sweet love but I lost it / She got too close, so I fought it / Now I'm lost in the world, trying to find me a better way") that gives the song more reason and more personality. 

With Kenny Chesney having generally moved away from the beach, it would seem that the eclectic Zac Brown Band has found another niche to fill with its diverse sound. As I said when I reviewed "Colder Weather," I am consistently impressed by ZBB's output, and "Knee Deep" is no exception. Expect yet another summertime smash from this one.

Buy: Amazon | iTunes

Watch: "Knee Deep" Live