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M. Ward
Ok, don't tell anyone, but I think M. Ward deserves to inherit the Rick Danko/Bob Dylan/Gram Parsons savior-of-roots music mantle more than Conor Oberst, more than Ryan Adams, more than Jeff Tweedy. Oberst's spread too thin and has a tendency to ring hollow, Adams' songs, though full of sparkle and bombast, are ultimately too derivative and unambitious, and Tweedy's bordering on the edge of becoming a bit too introspective.
But M. Ward falls squarely in between all three somewhere. His songs are tinged with traditionalism, but they're never dull; they're breathtakingly wide-angle while remaining sweetly intimate. His faux whiskey-and-cigarettes rasp is completely unaffected and it's perfectly augmented by pleasant surprise appearances of theremin and violin and plinky piano scattered into the mix with voice and guitar.
2003's The Transfiguration of Vincent was a perfect document of what has become Ward's trademark style -- tempered, literate, understated original songs that draw from a myriad of genre-hopping popular music influences interspersed with intricate solo guitar instrumentals. And if that's not enough, the album's topped off with a brilliant, heartbreaking cover(and oft-blogged) cover of David Bowie's "Let's Dance."
I have to admit, I didn't really get Ward's music at first. I saw him open for Rilo Kiley, and was not impressed with his set (it was kind of hot that night, so maybe that had something to do with it). But then I couldn't shake the song he performed with Rilo Kiley during their set, a jaunty tune entitled "Room Eight." (Which, unfortunately, did not show up on More Adventurous -- I've only ever heard them do it live.) His voice isn't really my thing -- I don't usually go for that gravelly, mumbling type (cf. Will Johnson of Centro-matic), but sometime during "Room Eight," a lightbulb went off. It all came clear to me, and I've been devoted to Ward ever since.
[I've just got to plug Ward's forthcoming album, Transistor Radio, as well -- due out on 2/22, it's an album full of beautiful songs and lyrical storytelling that pays homage to the music Ward grew up with, and it's just fantastic.]
M. Ward - Vincent O'Brien
M. Ward - Helicopter
M. Ward - Let's Dance
M. Ward - So Much Water
M. Ward - Silverline
M. Ward's official webpage is currently under redesign, but it will redirect you to the apporpriate label site for your geographic area. Buy The Transfiguration of Vincent or pre-order Transistor Radio from Amazon.
Posted by Little Miss Rock'n'Roll at 02.15.05 at 12:01 PM
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