Dirty Shine

Dirty Shine
Studio album by
ZZ Ward
ReleasedSeptember 8, 2023 (2023-09-08)
Genre
Length38:20
Label
  • Dirty Shine Records
Producer
ZZ Ward chronology
The Storm
(2017) 		Dirty Shine
(2023) 		Where Did All the Love Go?
(2024)
Singles from Dirty Shine
  1. "Tin Cups"
    Released: October 14, 2022
  2. "Baby Don't"
    Released: March 24, 2023
  3. "Ride or Die"
    Released: May 3, 2023
  4. "Forget About Us"
    Released: June 16, 2023
  5. "On One"
    Released: July 28, 2023
  6. "Evil on the Inside"
    Released: October 13, 2023

Dirty Shine is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter ZZ Ward and her debut release through her independent label Dirty Shine Records.[1][2] The album follows The Storm (2017) and features vocals from Aloe Blacc, Jean Deaux, and Vic Mensa. A deluxe edition named the Dirty Deluxe was released on November 17, 2023.

In promotion of the album, Ward embarked on her One Hell of a Night Tour.

Background

[edit]

As her first release as an independent artist, Ward wanted to be able to have complete control and freedom, saying that "you can get sidetracked trying to please other people, or label and what they want from you or what they see from you."[3]

The phrase "dirty shine" means to be embrace your authentic self and while being dirty and rough around the edges. It was started when Ward released her first album Til the Casket Drops.[4]

Singles

[edit]

The lead single, "Tin Cups" with Aloe Blacc, was released on October 14, 2022, with a music video released November 16. It is her first song in two years following "Giant" in 2020. Ward stated that "the addition of Aloe elevated this song and added depth that only an artist of his caliber can."[5]

A second single, "Baby Don't" featuring DijahSB, was released March 10, 2023.[6] A music video for the solo version of the song was released March 24. The video is part one of a series of videos written, directed, and produced by Adam William Ward.[7]

The third single, "Ride or Die" featuring Vic Mensa, was released May 3, 2023.[8] It is part two of the music video series.

The fourth single, "Forget About Us", was released June 16, 2023.[9]

The fifth single, "On One" featuring Jean Deaux, was released July 28, 2023.[10] The music video omits Deaux's verse and includes a solo verse from Ward. It is the finale of the music video series.

The sixth and final single, "Evil on the Inside" was released on October 13, 2023. It was included in the Dirty Deluxe edition of the album.

Critical reception

[edit]

Dirty Shine received widespread critical acclaim. Critics praised Ward's versatility in blending the blues rock and hip-hop genres and her overall performance. Pete Francis from Blues Rock Review called the album "different in a great way", giving it an 8.5/10. He also named "Ride Or Die", "Dead Or Alive", "Baby Don't", "Tin Cups", and "Don't Let Me Down" standout tracks.[11]

Track listing

[edit]
Dirty Shine[12]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Welcome to Dirty Shine"
  • Aossey
0:42
2."Ride or Die" (featuring Vic Mensa)
3:51
3."Fadeaway"
  • Aossey
  • Symbolyc One
  • Epikh Pro
3:46
4."On One" (featuring Jean Deaux)
  • Bassett
3:03
5."Slow Hum Hymnal"
  • Aossey
  • Aossey
1:07
6."Dead or Alive"
  • Elizondo
3:17
7."Forget About Us"
  • Jackson
  • Scott
2:43
8."Friends Like These"
  • Ward
  • Bogart
  • Tom Peyton
  • Ryan Spraker
  • Frederik Thaae
  • Spraker
  • Thaae
3:28
9."Baby Don't"
  • Bassett
3:09
10."North Bank Blues"
  • Charles Ward, Jr.
  • Epikh Pro
0:42
11."OverdoZZe"
  • Göransson
3:16
12."Cut Me Loose"
  • Ward
  • Aossey
  • Bogart
  • Griffin, Jr.
  • Lowery
  • Aossey
  • Symbolyc One
  • Epikh Pro
3:02
13."Tin Cups" (with Aloe Blacc)
  • Kiriakou
3:00
14."Don't Let Me Down"
  • Ward
  • Bogart
  • Bassett
3:08
Total length:38:20
Digital Dirty Deluxe Edition[13]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Evil on the Inside"
  • Bassett
3:31
16."The Mend"
  • Ward
  • Bassett
3:37
17."The Dark (Dirty Shine Mix)"
  • Ward
  • Bogart
  • Bassett
2:51
18."Ride or Die (Demo)"
  • Ward
  • Burdon
  • Chandler
  • LeMay
  • Lomax
  • Mensah
  • Parker
 3:10
Total length:51:30

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "ZZ Ward Announces Her First Independent Album 'Dirty Shine,' Out 9/8". Onstage Magazine.com. 2023-07-28. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  2. ^ Ehrenclou, Martine (2023-07-30). "ZZ Ward Announces New Album 'Dirty Shine' Shares Video". ROCK AND BLUES MUSE. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  3. ^ "INTERVIEW: ZZ Ward polishes up the 'Dirty Shine' on new album". RIFF Magazine. 2023-11-06. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  4. ^ Ehrenclou, Martine (2023-07-30). "ZZ Ward Announces New Album 'Dirty Shine' Shares Video". ROCK AND BLUES MUSE. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  5. ^ "ZZ Ward Releases Soulful Single 'Tin Cups' Featuring Aloe Blacc". JamBase. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  6. ^ McIntyre, Aliyah (2023-03-10). "ZZ Ward & DijahSB release the "Baby Don't" single & lyric video". HipHopCanada. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  7. ^ ZZ Ward - Baby Don't [Official Music Video], retrieved 2024-03-11
  8. ^ Pettit, Conner (2023-05-10). ""Ride or Die" (feat. VIC MENSA) - ZZ Ward". Pop Passion Blog. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  9. ^ ZZ Ward - "Forget About Us" [Official Music Video]. Retrieved 2024-03-28 – via www.youtube.com.
  10. ^ Rosa, Vanessa De La (2023-08-01). "ZZ Ward Releases "On One" Music Video to Support New Album 'Dirty Shine'". V13.net. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  11. ^ Francis, Pete (2023-09-08). "ZZ Ward: Dirty Shine Review". Blues Rock Review. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  12. ^ "Dirty Shine by ZZ Ward". Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  13. ^ "Dirty Shine by ZZ Ward". Retrieved 2024-02-02.
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