Blues rock artist ZZ Ward returned with her first release of the year, “Love Alive,” on Friday. This new single coincided with the announcement of her upcoming album Liberation.
Preceded by her 2024 EP Mother, Liberation will be Ward’s fourth studio album and first under independent label Sun Records. “Love Alive” is a fine-tuned indication of what the album will sound like.
The song prominently features hand claps that will easily get listeners playing along, accompanied by classic blues staples like groovy guitar, deep bass and drums, and sultry vocals from Ward.
Her lyricism here is strong, as she works to revitalize a relationship in danger of falling apart, imploring her partner to put more effort into working things out. While the lyrics may imply some desperation, Ward’s vocal delivery reaffirms her cool and confidence.
Overall, ZZ Ward sounds livelier than ever, fittingly enough, on “Love Alive,” and hopefully the rest of Liberation continues to prime her for a comeback when it releases on March 14.
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