ZAM (album)

ZAM
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 1 2019
Length60:16
LabelGreenway Records
ProducerFrankie and the Witch Fingers
Frankie and the Witch Fingers chronology
Brain Telephone
(2017)
ZAM
(2019)
Monsters Eating People Eating Monsters…
(2020)
Singles from ZAM
  1. "Pleasure"
    Released: 25 January 2019

ZAM is the fifth studio album by American rock band Frankie and the Witch Fingers. It was released on March 1, 2019, by Greenway Records. This is the last album to feature founding member Alex Bulli on bass and the first of two albums (the other being Monsters Eating People Eating Monsters…) to feature Shaughnessy Starr on drums.

Composition and recording

ZAM is the band's longest album and only double-vinyl release. Describing the recording process, Menashe said "We basically just rehearsed the songs for a month straight: tweaking them, getting the structures right, getting the feel right and got it to the point where we had five days in the studio. We were able to track every song in at least three takes or under. And you know, there are mistakes. I think the bass gets unplugged on a song, and we just left it."[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Album of the Year77/100
Review scores
SourceRating
The Fire Note
All Music4/5
The Skinny

Critics have generally liked the album. Aggregate reviewer Album of the Year has given the album a 77/100 based on critic reviews.[2]

In a 4.5/5 headphone review, the Fire Note said "ZAM is an album that takes the punk, psychedelics, and the psychotic sock-hop vibe and recasts it as their own."[3] The Skinny called the album "an expansion and a refinement on what has come prior; broader in its scope, maturer in its delivery, and braver in its exploration." In a 4-star review...[4] AllMusic editors rated the album 4/5 stars.[5]

Paste Magazine called the album's opening song the "album's peak".[6]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Frankie and the Witch Fingers.

No.TitleLength
1."Dracula Drug"8:55
2."Work"4:12
3."Realization"4:40
4."Pleasure"3:52
5."ZAM"8:27
6."Cobwebs"4:22
7."Dark Sorcerer"4:45
8."Purple Velvet"4:44
9."I Am"1:07
10."Underneath You"9:29
11."Head Collector"5:43
Total length:60:16

Personnel

Frankie and the Witch Fingers

  • Dylan Sizemore – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Josh Menashe – lead guitar, backing vocals, synth
  • Alex Bulli – bass
  • Shaughnessy Starr – drums

Additional personnel

  • Josh Menashe – engineer, mixing
  • Nick Townsend – mastering
  • Kevin Mills – engineer
  • Zachary James – engineer

References

  1. ^ Boys, Ben And (2020-01-05). "Frankie And The Witch Fingers – Exclusive Interview -". Retrieved 2025-07-02.
  2. ^ "Frankie and the Witch Fingers - ZAM". Album of The Year. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
  3. ^ Tahy, Christopher (2019-03-07). "Frankie And The Witch Fingers: ZAM [Album Review]". The Fire Note. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
  4. ^ "Frankie and the Witch Fingers album review: ZAM - The Skinny". www.theskinny.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
  5. ^ "Frankie & the Witch Fingers – ZAM". AllMusic. Retrieved 2025-07-03.
  6. ^ "Frankie & the Witch Fingers: ZAM". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2025-07-03.