Album – Kerosene
Release Date – 3rd May
Reviewed by Linda McDermott
Ted Z and the Wranglers are a Southern California outfit who mix up Americana, rockabilly, and roots rock into something raw, soulful, and real. Fronted by Ted Zakka, whose voice sounds like it’s lived a few good stories, the band has been doing their thing since 2012. With Jackson Leverone, Marcos de la Cruz, Henry Clift, and James Hamilton backing him up, they bring tight grooves, big guitar moments, and thick harmonies that hit you right in the chest.
They’ve shared stages with legends like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Steppenwolf, building a reputation for live shows. Their first label release ‘Ghost Train’ got a lot of love and was calling a “foot-stomping honky tonk revival.”
Ted of the band confides, “The new album “Kerosene” is a continuation of the evolution of our songwriting. We think that this album is our best work so far. It offers moments of contemplation but is also fun. We want our listeners to be able to spin the entire album and feel a full gamut of emotions. It took a few years to finish this project, but that let us road-test these songs and grow together as a band, and I think you can hear that in the arrangements and performances.”
Songs
Right That Wrong
First Time
Let Me Be Your Sin
Bobbi Don’t Mind
Anyway
Sadie
Williamsburg
Lovin You Today
Baltimore
Mercy
Ted Z and the Wranglers deliver an album packed with laid-back, melodic songs that feel perfect for cranking up loud on a road trip or just cruising with the windows down. These tracks tell real, relatable stories about love, mistakes, redemption, and everything that comes in between, all wrapped up in a summery, easygoing vibe that’s hard to resist.
The album opens with “Right That Wrong,” a smooth and heartfelt track that spins a classic love story into a reminder to live fully in the moment. It takes its time, never rushing, and that relaxed feeling pulls you right in.
“First Time” keeps that same smooth groove going, and I absolutely love the guitar work here, it gives the whole song a gentle push forward. Then comes “Let Me Be Your Sin,” a deeper, more emotional tune about wanting to be someone’s sweet temptation, hoping that love can break through. Ted’s voice really shines here, and the song picks up the pace a bit while still holding onto that easygoing feel.
“Bobbi Don’t Mind” leans into a rock and roll vibe and is an absolute foot-tapper. By this point, I am completely hooked, but it is “Anyway” that hits me the hardest, with its lyrics about not feeling loved. The heartbreak in the words is lifted by the gorgeous harmonies and the driving beat, and I catch myself singing along with the chorus every time. “Sadie” comes in with a bluesy swing that I just love, and the songs flow so naturally together that the album feels like one continuous journey.
“Williamsburg” brings a raw, emotional moment, as Ted opens up about his past mistakes and the hope that future generations will learn from them. The guitar solos here get stuck in your head and the honesty in the storytelling leaves a real mark. Every track on this album feels alive and full of feeling.
“Lovin’ You Today” and “Baltimore” keep the focus on love and relationships but dig even deeper into the emotional side, pulling at the heart a little more with every line.
The single “Mercy” is the perfect closer, wrapping up the album with beautiful harmonies, soulful vocals, and gentle guitar picking. It’s a song about living fast, losing love, and trying to find meaning in the mess left behind.
When I step back and look at the album as a whole, it feels like a collection of songs aching with the sadness of love found and lost, tracing the fragile beauty of relationships that never last quite long enough. But at the same time, the music itself lifts the spirit with bright melodies and beats that carry a happy, hopeful edge. It’s bittersweet in the best way, leaving me caught between happy and sad.
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