The Storm is the second studio album from American singer-songwriter ZZ Ward, released on Hollywood Records on June 30, 2017. The album reached number 1 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart.
Production Ward has said The Storm is influenced by the music of blues artists including Howlin' Wolf, Robert Johnson and Big Mama Thornton.Laura B. Whitmore, "ZZ Ward Puts a Fresh Spin on Her Classic Blues Influences with 'The Storm'," Guitar World, July 11, 2017. Prior to the album's release, on March 2, 2017, Ward released the single "The Deep", featuring Chicago MC Joey Purp. The track is built around a sample of "As Long As I've Got You" by The Charmels, which is also sampled in "C.R.E.A.M." by Wu-Tang Clan.Myles Tanzer, "ZZ Ward And Joey Purp Pull From A Classic For 'The Deep'", The Fader, March 2, 2017. The track "Ride" featuring Gary Clark, Jr. was originally featured in the 2017 Pixar film Cars 3.Jon Pareles, Jon Caramanica and Giovanni Russonell, "The Playlist: J Balvin Displays His Global Savvy, and St. Vincent Keeps it Local," New York Times, June 30, 2017. Ward performed the song on Dancing with the Stars on April 17, 2017."Cars 3 Soundtrack First Listen: ZZ Ward & Gary Clark Jr's Energetic Track, 'Ride' and Dancing With The Stars Performance", Pixar Post, April 14, 2017. The music video for the single "Cannonball" was released in July 2017;Kaitlin Reilly, "Video Premiere For ZZ Ward's 'Cannonball'," Refinery29, July 6, 2017. it features blues singer Fantastic Negrito, with Ward playing harmonica on the song.Leslie Michele Derrough, "ZZ Ward Steps It Up a Notch With 'The Storm'," Glide Magazine, July 3, 2017.
Track listing
Personnel
ZZ Ward – vocals, guitars, harmonica, drum programming, percussion, engineering Trevor Brown – guitars, bass, background vocals Erick Walls – guitars Jonathan Keller – guitars, bass, drum programming, percussion, engineering Theron "Neff U" Feemster – piano, keyboards, guitars, drum programming, string arrangements, engineering Rich Parry – drum programming, percussion, engineering Gary Clark, Jr. – guitars Fantastic Negrito – vocals Michael Fitzpatrick – vocals, keyboards, drum programming, engineering Ludwig Göransson – programming, keyboards, guitars, bass, vocal engineering Bianca McClure – violin Thomas Drayton – bass Zaire Koalo – background vocals Warren "Oak" Felder – programming, engineering, background vocals E. Kidd Bogart – engineering, background vocals Jabari Tawiah – engineering Kyle Mann – engineering Paul Redel – engineering Gavin Paddock – engineering Bobby Holland – engineering Tyler Beans – engineering Rich Costey – mixing Neal Pogue – mixing Dave Bassett – mixing, vocal recording Chris Gehringer – mastering
Chart history Chart (2016) Peakposition US Billboard 200 75 US Billboard Rock Albums 12 US Billboard Blues Albums 1
References