Dork
  • Music News
    • Latest News
    • Album Release Schedule
  • Features
    • Features & Interviews
    • Artist Guides
    • In Photos
  • New Music
    • Hype
    • Hype News
    • Hype Features & Interviews
    • Hype Reviews
  • Reviews
    • Album & EP Reviews
    • Live Reviews
  • Radio
    • Home
    • Shows
      • Down With Boring
    • Playlist
    • Listen Again
    • Podcast
      • Apple Podcasts
      • Spotify
      • Google Podcasts
      • Stitcher
      • aCast
      • TuneIn
  • Dork Presents
  • Magazine
    • Latest Issue
    • Back Issues
    • Print Subscriptions
    • Print + Digital Subscriptions
  • Shop
  • Supporters
    • Support Dork
    • Supporter Only Content
    • Digital Library
HTML5 RADIO PLAYER PLUGIN WITH REAL VISUALIZER powered by Sodah Webdesign Dexheim
Dork
  • Music News
    • Latest News
    • Album Release Schedule
  • Features
    • Features & Interviews
    • Artist Guides
    • In Photos
  • New Music
    • Hype
    • Hype News
    • Hype Features & Interviews
    • Hype Reviews
  • Reviews
    • Album & EP Reviews
    • Live Reviews
  • Radio
    • Home
    • Shows
      • Down With Boring
    • Playlist
    • Listen Again
    • Podcast
      • Apple Podcasts
      • Spotify
      • Google Podcasts
      • Stitcher
      • aCast
      • TuneIn
  • Dork Presents
  • Magazine
    • Latest Issue
    • Back Issues
    • Print Subscriptions
    • Print + Digital Subscriptions
  • Shop
  • Supporters
    • Support Dork
    • Supporter Only Content
    • Digital Library
  • Album & EP Reviews

Zuzu – Queensway Tunnel

  • Steven Loftin
  • November 10, 2021

Label: Planet Z Records
Released: 12th November 2021


It’s finally here! Zuzu’s long-awaited debut album has flown in from Planet Z. Still chockfull of her sing-along anthems, head boppingly grand tunes, and charmingly Scouse inflexions, expanding her arsenal to a brand new set of ten tracks is a chance for her to properly spread her wings. 

There’s a venerable sense of growing and understanding about ‘The Queensway Tunnel’. Where her singles previously have been loaded with witticisms and tongue-in-cheek chewing on the eye-rolling explorations of love, and the harder life stuff, there’s an air of lamentation that leaves a space yearning for that level of punch-on-the-shoulder knowing here.

‘Toaster’ is a wandering musing number, dealing with growing up and receiving the titular appliance as a gift (pass the marmalade?), while on the flip side ‘Bevy Head’ is Zuzu reckoning with her road-weary band-on-the-run lifestyle. The bops are boppy, there are lessons to be learned (‘Never Again’) but there’s a certain sparkle that feels missing. Last year’s ‘How It Feels’ EP was laden with a tangible wink, following irresistibly catchy tunes. 

That doesn’t detract from the overall joy that Zuzu brings. It feels like sitting down with a mate (who’s very good at writing songs) and the honest tea being spilt. It’s filled with growing pains, and Zuzu genuinely sounds like she’s reaching for an ambitious point even beyond ‘The Queensway Tunnel’. It’s heartwarming and sincere. These are songs that will be there when you need them to be but rarely offer a celebration. Points for the cat purring intros throughout, too.

Steven Loftin
3.0 rating
3/5
Total Score
Related Topics
  • Hype
  • Zuzu
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Music News

Parklife has signed up The 1975, Aitch and more

  • February 1, 2023
View Post
  • Music News

Olivia Dean has just dropped a new single, ‘UFO’

  • February 1, 2023
View Post
  • Music News

Jamie T has added IDLES, Biig Piig and more to his huge London Finsbury Park show

  • February 1, 2023
Latest issue
Latest
    • In Photos
    Priestgate kicked off the Dork Hype List Tour 2023 last night in Glasgow, and it looked like this
    • Music News
    Yonaka have dropped a new single, ‘PANIC’
    • Music News
    Nia Archives has announced her new EP ‘Sunrise Bang Ur Head Against Tha Wall’
    • Music News
    Standon Calling has announced this year’s late night headliners, including Katy B
    • Music News
    Claire Rosinkranz is teasing her debut album with new single, ‘Sad In Hawaii’

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get pop nonsense to your inbox.

Dork
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Privacy
© 2016-2021 The Bunker Publishing Ltd

Input your search keywords and press Enter.