M Ward - Hold Time

  by Benjamin Howarth

published: 2 / 3 / 2009

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Review

To followers of the Americana scene, M Ward has been a name to note for a decade now. His debut album, 'Duets for Guitars #2', was lauded by Giant Sand main-man Howe Gelb, who released it on his own label. But, it seems that for the first time, the release of an album has caught the attention of the wider indie market. It is hardly a surprise, as Ward has become the go-to man for singer-songwriters wanted to add that elusive timeless quality of country to their musings. Conor Oberst has been performing with Ward for years, and even went as far as to tell 'Mojo' that he should be President. Last year, he produced and played the music on an album by actress Zooey Deschanel, which raised his profile to its highest level. Furthermore, he has worked with Jenny Lewis, Cat Power, Beth Orton, Norah Jones and My Morning Jacket. But his own work as a performer is the real reason to get interested. In a manner not dissimilar to Richard Hawley, he is a master of taking the sounds of the pre-rock ’n’ roll era and setting them in music that sounds natural and modern. Indeed, like Hawley, he was first noted for his guitar ability and has since improved his song writing and production to the point where guitars only embellish his music, rather than dominate it. ‘Hold Time’ is not a radical departure from his previous albums, but it is a distinct improvement. Just as he did on ‘Transistor Radio’ (2005) and ‘Post-War’ (2006), Ward combines a cover, a graceful instrumental with a set of original songs that sound like covers. Some may lament the decreased focus on Ward’s exquisite finger-picked guitar, but they will sure be assuaged by the fact that the occasional tendency to drift on previous albums seems to have been excised. In fact, the gorgeous ballads that made previous albums so enjoyable are still in place, but now come with more imaginative lyrics. ‘Blake’s View’ is perhaps his finest song, using the words of the poet to comfort a mourning friend, it is both affecting and tuneful, "Death is just the door, you’ll be reunited on the other side, by and by>" But the improvement has come in the areas where he experimented a little more. A song like ‘Sweethearts On Parade’ from ‘Transistor Radio’ was impressive enough, but four years on, Ward’s attempts to strike out into classic pop territory are now far more impressive, none more so on ‘To Save Me’, where Jason Lytle (he who was Grandaddy) adds his love of ELO to a song that would already have sounded entirely right in the middle of a seventies compilation. As a sign of Ward’s good taste, he is confident enough in his music to keep most of the songs short. They don’t need another run through the chorus to stick in the mind. The one exception to this is a majestic, six-minute cover of ‘Oh Lonesome Me’, where Lucinda Williams duets with Ward on the alt-country standard bearer. This song is the icing sugar on what had already been a delicious treat.

Track Listing:-

1 For Beginners
2 Never Had Nobody Like You (Featuring Zooey Deschanel)
3 Jailbird
4 Hold Time
5 Rave On (Featuring Zooey Deschanel)
6 To Save Me (Featuring Jason Lytle)
7 One Hundred Million Years
8 Stars of Leo
9 Fisher of Men
10 Oh Lonesome Me (Featuring Lucinda Williams)
11 Epistemology
12 Blake's View
13 Shangri-La
14 Outro (AKA: I'm a Fool to Want You)

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