Search - M. Ward :: Duet for Guitars #2

Just OK

Rushmore | CHICAGO, IL United States | 07/19/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is an interesting CD. Unmistakably M. Ward, but not so melodic or polished. It seems funny to use that word for a guy who records in his attic, and wants his music to sound like it, but later M. Ward has a fuller sound, more instruments, and the occasional song you want to hum along to. None of that here. He seems to be channeling early Neil Young but more whispery. This would make good background music, but if I want the full M. Ward experience I am more likely to put End of Amnesia, Vincent, or Post-War on the turntable."

Absolutely love it

M. Janssen | San Diego, CA USA | 10/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After having thoroughly familiarized myself with M. Ward's more recent albums, I happened upon this little gem from the early days of his solo musical career. Ward, with his husky voice and a musical style that evokes a certain nostaligia for lazy early evenings on a front porch, has, for a while, been one of my favorite contemporary artists. And so I overcome much embarassed hesitancy to state that this may very well be my favorite album of his.



One of the things that makes M. Ward's work distinctive as a whole is its organic raw quality; but this album is, well, rawer. Tracks like "Scene from #12" and ""He asked me to be a snake and live underground" are notably less polished than what Ward produced in his later albums, but roughness, here, indicates neither a lack of skill nor a soundness of intention. And the songs "Good news" and "It won't happen twice" are certainly as poignantly beautiful as anything found on Transistor Radio, End of Amnesia, Transfiguration of Vincent, or Post-War.



Overall, I highly recommend this album to anyone who is a fan of M. Ward's later work, or even anyone who is remotely interested in hearing a bit more of what this highly tallented artist has to offer. There isn't a single track on this album I don't like!"