M. Ward

[September 3rd, 2008]

[HOMETOWN HERO] There’s a timeless quality to M. Ward’s songs. His best work could have been recorded during almost any decade of the 20th century—Ward’s distinctive raspy, honeyed drawl wouldn’t appear out of place atop jazz or folk records from the ’60s—but he’s no throwback act. Nostalgia has a way of finding him—which might be the reason the dude is so sought after these days.

Ward is one of contemporary music’s more prolific musicians, finding time to collaborate with many of his friends, and part of the charm of his latest album, Post-War, is in how he incorporates guest musicians while maintaining an afternoon-jam-session-with-close-friends aesthetic. This year alone, Ward has released a gorgeous slice of AM-radio pop with actress-turned-singer Zooey Deschanel as She & Him, recorded his own forthcoming solo album and managed to fit in studio time with Jim James of My Morning Jacket and Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst.

But Post-War was Ward’s first unequivocal masterpiece—12 songs of moving, understated musical subtlety. It’s as if Ward had found an old scrapbook of dusty photos and decided to pen a collection of folk-rock songs based on each wilting scene. The tunes vary from the simple guitar and barroom piano number (“Rollercoaster”) to the shuffling classic “Chinese Translation,” perhaps the best single capture of Ward’s aesthetic to date. You can expect to hear plenty of Post-War at Ward’s MFNW appearance—though he loves to surprise audiences with covers and new material as well.