ZZ Ward has a snotty, brassy, sultry, husky vocal quality, like she was meant to be sassing some douchebag man (it’s a good kiss-off timbre), but maybe also crooning a torch song in a slinky red dress. Her music has a roots-rocking blues-and-R&B-splashed style of AC pop rock that I don’t hate. The singer, songwriter, and harmonica blower hasn’t dropped a new album since 2017’s sophomore effort The Storm, but she has released a few singles, the heartachey made-for-radio minor-chord ode “Break Her Heart,” and the much sexier, swankier “Sex and Stardust.” by Leilani Polk