I was introduced to ZZ Ward from a record store sampler in 2012, called Universal Music Group Record Store Day Sampler 2012. 

Whenever I heard this sampler, ZZ’s acoustic version of her tune, “‘Til The Casket Drops” always stood out to me, and I had to hear more.

I recall listening to some of her songs on Spotify, and I didn’t have a copy of her album until I borrowed one from our local library to hear it in full.

I always listened to it in parts, but when my brother first went away to college, I listened to this album, “Power Of The Hunter” by Tank, “Simon Townshend’s Moving Target” by Simon Townshend and Honey Davis, exclusively.

I only listened to these few albums because when my brother went away, he took our original offline music/photos exclusive Blackberry phone with him, and I had an Alcatel one with only a small amount of memory until I finally got a new Blackberry for myself.

Anyway, I used to listen to ZZ’s album in full for the first part of the ride before we went to visit him. It became one of my favorite albums because of a mix of the nostalgia I have from getting into it but also from how I recall having a phase with all her songs, between mixtapes and just hearing them in the car.

Upon hearing her second album, I had mixed feelings, at first. This wasn’t because I didn’t like it, I was just so used to hearing the first album and I wasn’t sure what to expect on her second album because there was 5 years between them being released.

In time, I really got into that one too. It has all the ZZ Ward classic elements, and it goes into a new territory too.

I’m not sure if I actually know anyone who listens to her music, but she’s awesome and one of my absolute favorites!!

I made a special playlist, as always, so you can hear my favorites and give a listen to her catalog!

Listen Here: Retronaut Favorites: ZZ Ward