Cut of the Day: M. Ward, "Primitive Girl," A Wasteland Companion

By Casey Jarman

It's good to have M. Ward back. After years galavanting with Hollywood types and teaming up with other Monsters of Folk, the Portland songwriter has returned to that thing he does best: Writing time-displaced pop songs with plenty of reverb on the vocals. 


"Primitive Girl" is the first single from his forthcoming disc A Wasteland Companion. That is an excellent album title. The record features M. Ward's handsome profile—silhouetted by the moon—on the cover. The single is, in every respect, a real single. It consists of two piano parts and the chorus sounds just like the verses. It would do well as the opening credits of a television show...say, one starring Zooey Deschanel. Or not.

It's a good single, as singles go. I'm very, very excited to hear Ward's full album. It comes out on April 10, so I reckon I can track down an advance copy real soon. We'll talk more then.

WWeek 2015

Casey Jarman

Casey Jarman

Casey Jarman is a freelance editor and writer based in East Portland, Oregon. He has served as Music Editor at Willamette Week and Managing Editor at The Believer magazine, where he remains a contributing editor. He is currently working on his first book. It's about death.

Willamette Week’s reporting has real-life impact that changes laws, forces action by civic leaders, and drives compromised politicians from public office.

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