anybody heard M.Ward?

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curious. i haven't bought a record on merge since I don't know when, but we're supposed to be playing with him next month, wanted someone to direct me toward a good downloadable track or album to pick up.

roger adultery (roger adultery), Friday, 7 March 2003 04:52 (twenty-three years ago)

you again. m. ward is really great--you're up against some tough competition. his new album 'transfiguration of vincent' is amazing and is released on march 18--you might be able to find it on soulseek. otherwise, pick up his album 'end of amnesia,' which is really great as well. a couple of tracks are on www.epitonic.com

david covetousness, Friday, 7 March 2003 05:43 (twenty-three years ago)

i wouldn't dream of competing! It's us, M Ward and a band called Orso. While I'm at it - anyone know of good record spots to hit while in the Windy City?

roger adultery (roger adultery), Friday, 7 March 2003 05:47 (twenty-three years ago)

gygax! to thread. what is m ward like?

Aaron A., Friday, 7 March 2003 05:52 (twenty-three years ago)

mmm... m ward. very good.

j.a.e., Friday, 7 March 2003 08:37 (twenty-three years ago)

he's someone i've known about for over a decade... and also someone who even then i found to be one of the most captivating, jaw-droppingly talented musicians i've ever seen. these days he plays acoustic guitar and piano, his guitar technique is rooted in country blues picking(fahey, hopkins, bukka white) but he also writes songs similar to Howe Gelb, Cat Power, or Vic Chestnutt (incidentally, all of whom he's toured with).

as a solo artist, he's released a couple small print records but his new one was picked up by Merge in North America, Matador in Europe not to mention a French and a Japanese label for fans of his in those countries.

gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 7 March 2003 15:33 (twenty-three years ago)

i have a feeling i shed little to no light on the original RFI. it is hard for me to remain objective.

if/when you get to see him play, i strongly recommend getting up close to see him... it is really worth it.

gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 7 March 2003 19:18 (twenty-three years ago)

ok...now i'm VERY psyched to play with him - fahey / white / chesnutt, man, those are three heroes of mine. I'm also gonna buy whatever they have at Kims next time I'm there. Thanks for the tip!

roger adultery (roger adultery), Friday, 7 March 2003 19:30 (twenty-three years ago)

m ward: the best live act these days, and a really nice guy.


kephm, Friday, 7 March 2003 19:42 (twenty-three years ago)

i think his old band was GOmez.

kephm, Friday, 7 March 2003 19:43 (twenty-three years ago)

five months pass...
well i saw him again last night...

he's doing a lot of rearranging of songs, piano to guitar, guitar to piano... it's pretty funny to see him sort of work things out on-stage but in the process turn in a shockingly warm and technical performance.

i don't know if any of you got to see him with a band or playing electric guitar, that's pretty neat too.

kephm, his old band was called "rodriguez"... they put out a cassette, a 7", and a CD.

gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 16:06 (twenty-two years ago)

for all your technical guitar fetishists, he's got the whole double thumb five finger "country blues" picking style going overtime. i saw kottke at a workshop once and he's as good as he remember he was.

gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 16:10 (twenty-two years ago)

hmm, I guess I heard the wrong stuff then (the main thing I remember was the cover of "Let's Dance" which wasn't all that). Most of what I heard just sounded like simple downstroke action. Then again, that was in a van, so it wasn't like the most optimum listening environment. Can you recommend any Fahey-esque stuff, gygax!

hstencil, Tuesday, 19 August 2003 16:15 (twenty-two years ago)

"duet for guitars #2" (the song) is about as fahey-esque as it gets.

but that's just the thing: he's a vocalist too, he writes pop songs, ballads, blues, soul, a 30s, 40s "pop-standard" sensiblity... and that's where the fahey comparisons end. some songs call for a certain technique and when he's really banging it out, I imagine it would hard to sing.

A long time ago, I saw him (non-public) do some extremely complex jazz stuff, and I've seen him do d.boon's guitar parts pretty effortlessly... he has a extensive musical breadth and vocabulary.

gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 16:29 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm not huge on that cover.

gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 16:42 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah I didn't think it was the best intro to his stuff.

hstencil, Tuesday, 19 August 2003 16:44 (twenty-two years ago)

m ward is v good, seen him play twice here in london, once supporting yo la tengo and once playing on his own. both very good performances. and i really like "lets dance" too. have all his albums, seems like transfiguration is the best, (although the other 2 are good too), transfiguration really shows him as very good and individual songwriter. he could fast become a favorite of mine.

Bob Shaw (Bob Shaw), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 17:50 (twenty-two years ago)

oh he also played bob dylan's "buckets of rain" the second time i saw him with his own great guitar craziness going on, and it was lovely and strange cos i had just been listening to that song over and over again that day, and then when i went to the gig, he played it. strange coincidence, but a great one too.

Bob Shaw (Bob Shaw), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 17:56 (twenty-two years ago)

gygax-rodriguez! thanks, where the hey did i pull "gomez" out of...

kephm, Tuesday, 19 August 2003 19:20 (twenty-two years ago)

he's great. Check out "Vincent O'Brien" and "Color of Water" if you haven't heard him. Great stuff.

King Kobra (King Kobra), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 20:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Kate Silver to thread

M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 20:54 (twenty-two years ago)

three months pass...
matt is playing tomorrow @ 2pm EST with josh rouse(?) on world cafe which is picked up by NPR in select markets.

gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 00:01 (twenty-two years ago)

oh and you can click on that link to tune in via streaming.

gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 00:02 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...
oh this guy is good.

kinda how i imagine pw long would sound if i ever heard him.

cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 19:21 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...
my review of 'transfiguration' on neumu.

cozen (Cozen), Saturday, 13 March 2004 00:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Some guy put me on the M. Ward mailing list. His attitude has been noted.

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Saturday, 13 March 2004 01:03 (twenty-two years ago)

eleven months pass...
new album out (in the states, at least) next week. I'm hyped about this "...Vincent" may not have seemed, at the time, like my favourite album of that year but in retrospect it definately was. I still listen to it at least once a week.

anyway.....

http://www.mergerecords.com/catalog.php?item_id=323&method=item

M. Ward - Transistor Radio

Portland, Oregon's M. Ward describes his fourth full-length release, Transistor Radio as a collection of songs "about childhood memories of a utopian radio power…" and dedicates the album to "the last of the remaining independent radio stations." Opening with a beautiful John Fahey-esque instrumental rendition of the Beach Boys' "You Still Believe in Me," Transistor Radio continues down a dusty well-worn road full of timeless, uniquely American stories. Ward's distinctly weathered voice and intricate guitar playing are helped along with an impressive group of guests incuding Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley), Howe Gelb (Giant Sand) and Jordan Hudson (The Thermals).

1 You Still Believe In Me 2 One Life Away 3 Sweethearts On Parade 4 Hi-Fi 5 Fuel For Fire 6 Four Hours in Washington 7 Regeneration No. 1 8 Big Boat 9 Paul's Song 10 Radio Campaign 11 Here Comes the Sun Again 12 Deep Dark Well 13 Oh Take Me Back 14 I'll Be Yr Bird 15 Lullaby & Exile 16 Well-Tempered Clavier


jed_ (jed), Thursday, 17 February 2005 15:22 (twenty-one years ago)

ten months pass...
According to itunes, "Deep Dark Well" is my #11 song of the year!

remy (x Jeremy), Sunday, 25 December 2005 23:11 (twenty years ago)

...

cozen (Cozen), Sunday, 25 December 2005 23:13 (twenty years ago)

(I have a secret theory Transistor Radio is a soundtrack to Wind-Up Bird Chronicles)…

remy (x Jeremy), Sunday, 25 December 2005 23:19 (twenty years ago)

i saw him open up for the white stripes in september and he was extremely boring.

Christopher Costello (CGC), Monday, 26 December 2005 01:27 (twenty years ago)

extremely boring

agreed.

Stephen C (ihope), Monday, 26 December 2005 01:32 (twenty years ago)

seven months pass...
I rather liked the song he played on Letterman tonight. I'd never heard him before.

Marmot (marmotwolof), Friday, 25 August 2006 07:43 (nineteen years ago)

Saw him live a year ago after being a big fan for years. Get End of Amnesia, it's his best. Do you know the song he played?

If you have some program that allows you a five finger discount on individual tracks check out "Let's Dance" off of 'The transfiguration of Vincent' One of the best covers I know.

Kv_nol (Kv_nol), Friday, 25 August 2006 08:00 (nineteen years ago)

Do you know the song he played?

Nope. I'd like to know the name, if anyone else does. It's off the new one, "Post-War" and one of the lines was something like "If life is short, then why is the night so long". Had a really pretty fingerpicked outro.

Marmot (marmotwolof), Friday, 25 August 2006 08:15 (nineteen years ago)

Ha, found it already. It's "Chinese Translation" and here is the music video (not the Letterman performance) on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToEPFDIzhNA

Marmot (marmotwolof), Friday, 25 August 2006 08:19 (nineteen years ago)

So what's the verdict on Post War? Worth picking up?

Jim Reckling (Jim Reckling), Sunday, 27 August 2006 01:42 (nineteen years ago)

Listening to it now. It's nice. Laid back, so far. Of course I can't compare it to the other albums. Track 2 is a Daniel Johnston cover (To Go Home) and he makes a pretty good job of it. Plus, I love that "Chinese Translation" video I linked there. I must have watched it ten times since I posted it.

Marmot (marmotwolof), Sunday, 27 August 2006 05:55 (nineteen years ago)

npr had a segment on him yesterday - from that evidence (his new record i'm guessing) i'd say mediocre at best.

timmy tannin (pompous), Sunday, 27 August 2006 18:54 (nineteen years ago)

"Right In The Head" has been floating around a few months and it really got me excited to hear the rest. Now, after a few spins, I think Post-War has a chance to be one of my favorite releases this year - it grabbed me on first listen much more than his last one, Transistor Radio. It has a richer sound, with a few almost foot-stompers. I haven't had enough time with it to pass judgement, but I don't see myself putting it aside any time soon.

EZ Snappin (EZSnappin), Sunday, 27 August 2006 19:15 (nineteen years ago)

the good reviews of "post war" are totally justifiable.

it is one of 2006 best and smells like a little classic record of post modern lo fi country americana.

emekars (emekars), Wednesday, 30 August 2006 16:14 (nineteen years ago)

montgomery ward used to have this wagon I wanted like bad

and PappaWheelie, author of Have You Ever Been Poxy Fuled? (PappaWheelie 2), Wednesday, 30 August 2006 16:18 (nineteen years ago)

I don't really get all the hype about this album. I loved Amnesia thru Transistor. They grabbed me right away and have stayed with me, but this new album, so far, is a disappointment. there are a few tracks that show promise. I'll give it a few more spins before I make up my mind, but all in all, I just don't detect that delicate attention to detail that I'm used to hearing from M. Ward.

marbles (marbles), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 15:02 (nineteen years ago)

all what hype?

jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 15:28 (nineteen years ago)

yeah? What hype?

I've listened to it twice, am liking it very much, but I like all his stuff in an uncritical way. DEVILlage Voice had a piece there on him and how it was political music for so and so reasons. I hope he passes through this neck of the woods for a gig, never seen him.

Major Alfonso (Major Alfonso), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 16:02 (nineteen years ago)

i'm liking this record i just think he's subject to diminishing returns.

jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 16:05 (nineteen years ago)

I got Transistor last weekend - its a nice little record.

Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 16:07 (nineteen years ago)

The first song ("Poison Cup") is one of my favorite songs of his, that one really knocked me out. Right now, I'm preferring the first side/half of the album, the second half is going to be more of a grower because it sounds a little same-y (not that i have a problem with that, if there's enough subtlety that uncovers itself after a few-many listens).

He's touring with Mike Watt at the end of the month. I'm hoping for some collaboration because Matt is a huge Watt fan and he can play many Minutemen songs note-perfect.

Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 16:08 (nineteen years ago)

I'm talking about the new record in case that wasn't clear.

gygax! wrote this upthread:
I've seen him do d.boon's guitar parts pretty effortlessly... he has a extensive musical breadth and vocabulary.

Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 16:12 (nineteen years ago)

hype, praise, whatever... this record has count a lot of attention, not only with indie sources, but mainstream as well.

"...the mother of all front porch records"
Boston Globe
"...a moment-defining record"
Vanity Fair
"...his best and most hopeful record to date." - Interview Magazine
"....grade: A"
Entertainment Weekly
"...beautiful" -
Rolling Stone
"...sneaks up on you and catches hold...3 1/2 out of 4 stars"
People Magazine
"...not only Ward's best effort yet, it's one of the best records of the year...4 1/2 out of 5 stars.
All Music Guide
"an exemplary guitarist and distinctive vocalist, ["Post-War"] represents the flowering of a major talent"
The Sun (UK)
"[M. Ward is] making folk music cool for a new generation of listeners"
Toronto Life
"[M.Ward is] our generations greatest folk lyricist"
Daily Nebraskan
"a triumph and one of the years best releases"
The Oregonian
"..[Post-War is] M. Ward's masterpiece"
Seattle Weekly
"FOUR STARS" -
Mojo, The Guardian (UK), The Times (UK), The Independent (UK), Blender, Houston Chronicle


Vanity Fair? People? ET? not to mention NPR! see also http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/wardm/postwar

and then of course, there's the blogs....

marbles (marbles), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 16:54 (nineteen years ago)

yeah but that's wide spread attention based on previous work. "Hype" is unfounded expectation founded on nothing more than promotion. Though I have to admit I'm a tiny bit surprised at the amount of positive reviews. Seems to be a bit more of a consensus than I'd imagined.

Major Alfonso (Major Alfonso), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 17:17 (nineteen years ago)

I don't find that all that surprising - he's a totally accessible and inoffensive songwriter, which is always endearing to mainstream media crit. there's nothing particularly weird or challenging or obscure about his work, its all very comfortable and endearing.

Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 17:39 (nineteen years ago)

It wasn't that I didn't think his music was palatable. In Ireland/UK I didn't expect him to have as much of a footprint. I knew he had "the NPR crowd" in the US within his grasp as long as he turned out a record that represented at least 75% of his capabilities. But what surprised me more that there weren't more rejections like Stylus. I was expecting a few "too accessible, too inoffensive, no progression" reviews and everything I've come across has been welcoming/positive.

Major Alfonso (Major Alfonso), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 18:11 (nineteen years ago)

I was expecting a few "too accessible, too inoffensive, no progression" reviews and everything I've come across has been welcoming/positive.

I'm a bit surprised as well. While not typically my thing, I do enjoy him. Save for Lambchop, M. Ward might have been the best thing I saw at the Merge 15th blowout.

Will (will), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 18:24 (nineteen years ago)

But what surprised me more that there weren't more rejections like Stylus.

re: that review. you should see the comments that review got! a virtual lynching. well, the review wasn't that well written, I agree, but the backlash is really something.

marbles (marbles), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 19:12 (nineteen years ago)

its all very comfortable and endearing.

ah yes: suicide, betrayals, death... sweet dreams are made of these.

Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 19:59 (nineteen years ago)

yes, even the bourgeois has had their fare share of suicide, betrayal and death.

marbles (marbles), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 20:15 (nineteen years ago)

I'm not knockin him at all - and I'm referring more to the overall sound than the specific lyrical content. Over time I've become convinced that 9/10ths of the general listening public has no clue whatsoever what any given song is about and really couldn't care less.

Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 6 September 2006 20:19 (nineteen years ago)

oh this one is really a grower. i guess all his albums are.

jed_ (jed), Sunday, 10 September 2006 10:50 (nineteen years ago)

I hope he passes through this neck of the woods for a gig, never seen him.

He was great in Crawdaddy last year.

I am really liking this album! There are backing singers and oh look he's rawking out! It's a real grower, what I like is that he has moved on from the crackly sound that formed the entirety of Transistor Radio and has welcomed back tunes and stuff.

Loving it, sorry that it's too late for summer but there are a couple of tracks on it that I look forwards to listening to on the autumn walks in to work.

Kv_nol (Kv_nol), Monday, 11 September 2006 08:09 (nineteen years ago)

I liked his first album a lot. And would love all his albums if they were the only one I'd heard of his. I'm just tired of him releasing album after album of more of the same songs and chord progressions.

boonah (boonah), Monday, 11 September 2006 12:17 (nineteen years ago)

Here's the Letterman performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNPWGnUIqoA

Marmot (marmotwolof), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 23:16 (nineteen years ago)

Does it have anything to do with Montgomery Ward as the Beaver? Or is it like a psycho ward or something?

Butt Dickus (Dick Butkus), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 23:37 (nineteen years ago)

Nah, it's just the guy's name, Matt Ward. Letterman actually made a Montgomery Ward joke ("M. Ward! Was that Montgomery Ward? I always wondered what he looked like!"), but it's cut off from the youtube clip.

Marmot (marmotwolof), Wednesday, 13 September 2006 00:07 (nineteen years ago)

four weeks pass...
this one really crept up on me. i would never have thought i'd say this a few months ago but this could be my record of the year. "poison cup" is incredible - like many of his best songs ("get to the table on time", "fool says", "sweethearts on parade") it's so brief that you find yourself pressing the repeat button; listening to that one tune 4 or 5 times in a row. also, his voice sounds better than ever on this wonderful record.

jed_ (jed), Thursday, 12 October 2006 21:42 (nineteen years ago)

five months pass...
Jed_ OTM. It is a fantastic rekkid. I'm also loving the backing vocals on "Magic Trick". There doesn't seem to be anything out there of him live and that's when I think he really shines!

kv_nol, Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:35 (nineteen years ago)

(Longest wait for an OTM ever?)

kv_nol, Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:35 (nineteen years ago)

i'm afraid i'm not so keen on the "let's dance" cover. sorry.

the next grozart, Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:53 (nineteen years ago)

I suppose it depends, I know it a lot more than Bowie's and as it suits walking in cold etc it works quite well for me. It also is quite reminiscent of the quieter parts of End of Amnesia (an album I seem doomed to forever big up!)

kv_nol, Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:57 (nineteen years ago)

About the name, there's already a Matt Ward and a Matthew Ward (both are Christian Contemporary singers funny enough).

Steve Shasta, Thursday, 15 March 2007 21:06 (nineteen years ago)

I dunno, Post-War disappointed me a little--in fact, my least favorite thing about it is "Magic Trick." I kinda hate those backing vocals. Another complaint is that he's running the whole "songs about songs" schtick into the ground. Don't get me wrong, I think he's a pretty major talent (the title track on the new one is fantastic and "Transfiguration" is a wonderful album). But there are some areas where he's missing the mark.

tylerw, Thursday, 15 March 2007 21:21 (nineteen years ago)

magic trick is great though!

the next grozart, Friday, 16 March 2007 03:21 (nineteen years ago)

For real foo'

kv_nol, Friday, 16 March 2007 10:25 (nineteen years ago)

...she disappears!

jed_, Friday, 16 March 2007 13:14 (nineteen years ago)

kv_nol, the wait was worth it.

jed_, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:34 (nineteen years ago)

Glad to hear it. I went to see Howe Gelb a few months ago not actually having heard him before. It was the Giant Sand/M Ward connection that I was interested in. He was amazing, great guitar playing and a lot of piano. It's always class to see someone that can really interact and have fun with the crowd!

kv_nol, Monday, 19 March 2007 10:04 (nineteen years ago)

There's a version of "Buckets of Rain" with Beth Ortin that sounds well good!

Mark G, Monday, 19 March 2007 10:05 (nineteen years ago)

Oooo which album is it on?

kv_nol, Monday, 19 March 2007 10:23 (nineteen years ago)

Sorry, what I actually mean is where was it released? On a compilation?

kv_nol, Monday, 19 March 2007 10:24 (nineteen years ago)

live track, look on hype machine

jergincito, Monday, 19 March 2007 10:29 (nineteen years ago)

ahh but both the blogs i tried don't actually have it! damn

jergincito, Monday, 19 March 2007 10:30 (nineteen years ago)

See what I can do...

Mark G, Monday, 19 March 2007 10:37 (nineteen years ago)

[Removed Illegal Link]

Mark G, Monday, 19 March 2007 10:40 (nineteen years ago)

hah! First time!

http://roughmix.livedaily.com/blog/index.php/aquarium/comments/495/m_ward_beth_orton_live_seymour_centre.html

Mark G, Monday, 19 March 2007 10:41 (nineteen years ago)

Cheers.

kv_nol, Monday, 19 March 2007 10:41 (nineteen years ago)

Cheers Mark G.

kv_nol, Monday, 19 March 2007 10:44 (nineteen years ago)

Tragedy! The link is dead :( Will have a look myself. Really looking forwards to it because I think a female voice could work really well in reaction to his. Or something!

kv_nol, Monday, 19 March 2007 22:22 (nineteen years ago)

four months pass...

http://img.mp3sugar.com/artist/artist_10917.jpg
http://www.buddytv.com/articles/hot-list-zach-braff-2.jpg

Just sayin'.

Z S, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 05:08 (eighteen years ago)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b361/tapestore/2222copy.jpg

Tape Store, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 05:16 (eighteen years ago)

Nice to see Mastercard don't always get what they want... I'm still not going to see him supporting Norah Jones though!

kv_nol, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 15:02 (eighteen years ago)

three months pass...

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/47290-bright-eyes-oberst-forms-band-with-m-ward

I'm not sure what to make of this...

*shudder*

Yr thoughts?

stephen, Friday, 30 November 2007 17:31 (eighteen years ago)

well that's the end of me paying attention to M. Ward I guess

Shakey Mo Collier, Friday, 30 November 2007 17:32 (eighteen years ago)

srsly?

stephen, Friday, 30 November 2007 17:33 (eighteen years ago)

terrible news.

jed_, Friday, 30 November 2007 18:00 (eighteen years ago)

srsly

Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 4 December 2007 16:48 (eighteen years ago)

Classic.

I hope Bright Eyes doesn't do any singing and just writes the song. I've always felt M. Ward could use a bit more wit in his singing to counterpoint his luscious, heavy voice. (It would be like having a Tom Waits who was actually enjoyable to listen to.)

Mordechai Shinefield, Tuesday, 4 December 2007 17:55 (eighteen years ago)

but... Colon writes terrible lyrics

Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 4 December 2007 18:07 (eighteen years ago)

I don't know who this Colon fellow is... But Conor Oberst is pretty damn good sometimes. (Lifted, for one.)

Mordechai Shinefield, Tuesday, 4 December 2007 18:59 (eighteen years ago)

Colon O'Burst

Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 4 December 2007 19:06 (eighteen years ago)


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