Artist: M. Ward Album: Hold Time Genre: Folk/alt-country 95 Decibels Sounds Like: Andrew Bird, Wilco, Iron & Wine
Matt Ward - better known as M.Ward - is much more than the other half of She & Him.
His newest album (he has previously released five full albums and an EP) "Hold Time," due out Feb. 17, carries a pop-y and accessible Bob Dylan vibe combined with a little bit of the Shins' dreamy, introspective feel.
With his uplifting and folksy rock style, M. Ward does a much more convincing job than many of the artists out there who are trying to cover the same beat, so to speak.
The emotional reaction evoked by the title track, "Hold Time," is similar to the feelings evoked by "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
Both songs are whimsical and meditative, leaving the listener with a sort of melancholy feeling; one feels hopeful and helpless all at the same time from hearing M. Ward's lyric "if only I could hold time."
The universality of the wish (along with the impossibility of the idea) is particularly powerful.
Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward swap roles this time around; while M. Ward plays back-up for She & Him, Deschanel provides the background vocals for M. Ward's solo effort. The actress/singer/songwriter actually sounds a bit like June Carter Cash on "Never Had Nobody Like You," with her sweet and jazzy notes.
The only problem that arises upon listening to the full album is "Oh Lonesome Me." Whoever Ward chose to accompany him in this song was obviously a wrong decision, because she sounds as if a lifetime of smoking has left her at her last rasp. If he had recorded this song with band mate Deschanel, or almost anyone else for that matter, it would have been a cover that required the replay button.
Ward recovers from that unfortunate detour with "Blakes View," an interesting combination of the tragedy of death, with everlasting optimism.
M. Ward also does mellowed passion to the max. In "One Hundred Million Years," he sings the "love between you and I is older than the burning ball of fire in the sky" to a tune that sounds as if it matches "This Little Light of Mine."
All in all, while it is brand spankin' new, "Hold Time" sounds like a true classic.
smorgens@syr.edu
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