Liberation (ZZ Ward album)

Liberation is the fourth studio album by American blues singer-songwriter ZZ Ward. It was released on March 14, 2025, via Dirty Shine and Sun Records.^[1][2]

The album follows the release of Ward's third studio album Dirty Shine and extended play, Mother, and includes four out of six tracks from the EP.^[3] The album is produced by Ryan Spraker, who also produced Mother.^[4] To promote the album, Ward will embark in a new leg of her Dirty Sun Tour in March 2025.^[5][6]

"Love Alive" was released on January 17, as the lead single of Liberation, alongside its music video.^[7][8][9]

According Sun Records press release, the album is "a celebration of Ward's love of blues".^[10] The record includes both original songs, and some covers.^[10]

In an interview with Darryl Sterdan of Tinnitist, Ward said: “This is who I’ve always wanted to be — a blues artist, on my terms,” she continued. “It just took me a long time to get here.”^[7] Sterdan went to describe the record as a "fearless exploration of empowerment, authenticity, and self-discovery." he went further teasing some details about the album content, saying it was: "written during her journey through motherhood, the album finds Ward returning to her blues roots, reflecting the raw, unfiltered emotions of life’s trials and triumphs."^[7]

“I didn’t plan to make a blues album about motherhood, it just sort of happened naturally, I’ve always written to get through things in life. Suddenly, I was faced with a new job that’s 24/7 with no breaks, and that’s what I wrote about. But when you get tested, you discover who you are, and this album comes from a feeling of empowerment.”

— ZZ Ward on the making of Liberation.^[11]

Liberation was met with critical acclaim from blues rock media outlets and music critics alike, who deemed it as a triumphant rebirth from the singer to her blues roots.^{[18][19][20][21][22]}

Blues Rock Magazine awarded the album with a 9 out of an average rating of 10, with music critic Allan Claudio calling it "an amazing soundtrack to her life experiences". He also praised Ward's vocal performance, which Claudio described it as "filled with power and determination".^[23]

Shawn Donohue of Glide Magazine similarly praised the album and described it as "[it] finds the songstress rediscovering her love of the blues and delivering a stirring effort", and concluding that "While Ward is a music industry veteran, Liberation finds her re-energized, fully embracing her blues love while carving her own path forward."^[24]

Darryl Sterdan of the Tinnist selected the record as one of the "Albums Of The Week", applauding the album for its "aunthenticity and its sense of intrepid creativity" which results on "her truest and most blues-infused to date." He concluded that Liberation is "both a reclamation and a rebirth" of Ward's blues jorney.^[25]

York Calling critic Graeme Smith opined that Liberation is an "accomplished example of the [Blues] genre", dubbing it a "fiercely authentic" album.^[26] Writing for Indie Boulevard, Michael Filip Reed described Ward an artist that stands out thanks to her ability to remain true to herself, and said that Liberation "marks a milestone in Ward's career" highlighting its remarkable cohesive sound.^[27]

Notes

• "My Baby Left Me" is a cover of the 1950 single written by Arthur Crudup.
• "I Have No One" is a cover of the 1968 single by Big John Hamilton.
• "Cadillac Man" is a cover of the song written by Tommy Minga and recorded and released by The Jesters in 1966.
• "Grinnin' In Your Face" is a cover of the song written and recorded by Son House, which Ward previously covered in 2013.^[28]
• "Dust My Broom" is a cover of the 1937 single by Robert Johnson.
• "Sinner's Prayer" is a cover of the 1995 song written by Lloyd Glenn and Lowell Fulson.
• "Something You Got" is a cover of the song written by Chris Kenner and recorded and recorded by Fats Domino in 1964.

• ZZ Ward – vocals, harmonica
• David Brofi – drums, percussion
• Cooper Nelson – tenor saxophone
• Russell Nygaard – trumpet
• Jay Jennings – trumpet
• Kevin Barry – lap steel
• Ryan Spraker – electric guitar, electric bass, double bass, piano, organ, production
• Riley Biederer – background vocals
• Patrick DiCenso – mixing
• Shawn Hatfield – mastering
• Jon Carr – title font
• Evan Kaufmann – cover artwork
• Tabita Pugh – packaging