Cruise Around with Zach Ritter

Attaboy Tapes out of Athens, Georgia, sent me Zach Ritter’s album Sweet Songs earlier this year, and I enjoyed it. That said, at the time, I struggled to find something interesting to say about it. Let’s face it, no one wants to read a review that simply says, “This is a good record.” Where’s the fun in that?

Recently, I decided to revisit Sweet Songs, and I'm glad I did. It’s clear that Zach knows how to find a bedroomy groove. And his melodic continuity makes for a near seamless listen. That consistency also makes it a bit hard to pinpoint a single song or standout moment, though. The whole thing feels so woven together. I think that’s why I wrestled with writing about it back in March. I couldn’t find a good entry point. But, this time around, it caught me in a different way.

It’s probably a timing thing because I’m currently listening to a nostalgic playlist featuring decade-old songs from bands like Jerry Paper, Mild High Club, and Homeshake — all of which pioneered a specific chorusy, skewed indie sub-genre during the mid-aughts. In a way, I think Zach’s breezy music exists on a parallel plane and evokes a similar mood.

I’m not suggesting he sounds exactly like those bands (although there are moments where the slapback on his vocals and the chorus effect on his guitar might prompt more direct comparisons). Instead, it just seems like his music is a natural fit for the playlist, which, by the way, is a compliment.