M. Ward

VIMTV Album Review #464: M. Ward – A Wasteland Companion

Jake: 67/100

Tom: 67/100

Verdict:  Sub-par, short and lacking the inspiration M. Ward’s previous works possessed.

Overview:  A Wasteland Companion, like its title, is a morose and reflective listening experience.  M. Ward’s age is starting to be reflected in his tunes as he hearkens back for an older sound.  However, most of these tracks are simpler, less moving versions of previous M. Ward tracks; still well written, but they are definitely less moving and awe inspiring. This lack of inspiration weighs on the album causing it to seem weak in comparison to his releases from earlier in his career.

Jake’s Track Picks: 

  • 3. Me and My Shadow
  • 7. A Wasteland Companion
  • 11. Wild Goose
  • 12. Pure Joy

Tom’s Track Picks: 

  • 2. Primitive Girl
  • 3. Me and My Shadow
  • 6. The First Time I Ran Away
  • 7. A Wasteland Companion

Primitive Girl

Me and My Shadow

VIMTV Album Review #462: M. Ward – Transistor Radio

Jake: 94/100

Tom: 92/100

Verdict:  The strongest album in M. Ward’s discography and a great example of fantastic folk rock songwriting.

Overview:  Transistor Radio is M. Ward’s magnum opus.  Whereas his first few releases showed the iconic indie folk artist establishing and subsequently experimenting with his sound, this record shows M. Ward presenting the end product of that experimentation in a fluid, end-to-end album.  These quiet tracks show subtle beautiful and are littered with lyrics paining of heartbreak and despair.  Simply put, this is an album that needs careful study if you want to truly appreciate the brilliance of M. Ward’s masterful songwriting style.  If you take the time to dig a little deeper into this dusty album, you will be rewarded with a modern day folk masterpiece.

Jake’s Track Picks: 

  • 2. One Life Away
  • 13. Oh Take Me Back
  • 14.  I’ll Be Yr Bird
  • 15. Lullaby + Exile
  • 16.  Well-Tempered Clavier

Tom’s Track Picks: 

  • 2. One Life Away
  • 4. Hi-Fi
  • 5. Fuel for Fire
  • 8.  Big Boat
  • 14. I’ll Be Yr Bird

Fuel for Fire (Live)

One Life Away

Lullaby + Exile

VIMTV Episode #16: M. Ward – Hold Time

Jake: Recommended, 78/100

Tom: Recommended, 73/100

Overview: ”Hold Time” is the fifth release for the indie-lo-fi-folk-rock king, M. Ward. This album is much brighter, a little poppier, and more religiously themed than his past work. The songwriting is still classic M. Ward on the average, but it’s a little more hit and miss.

Recommended Similar Artists: Devendra Banhart, Bright Eyes, Monsters Of Folk, Andrew Bird

Jake’s Track Picks: 

  • 7. One Hundred Million Years
  • 11. Epistemology

Tom’s Track Picks: 

  • 1. For Beginners
  • 3. Jailbird
  • 13. Shangri-La

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  • Widipia
    #1 written by Widipia  10 months ago

    My personal favorite M. Ward album is Post-War, his most complete, eclectic, happy & sad at the same time, & full of great songs : Poison Cup, Right in the Head, Requiem, Post-War, Magic Trick, Rollercoaster, Afterword/Rag… After i would say Transistor Radio, Hold Time, Transfiguration of Vincent, A Wasteland Companion & End Of Amnesia.
    And I assume I like She & Him too, I think Deschanel has got great pop songwriting skills.

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