M. Ward

Duet for Guitars #2

2007-08-06

Touring with Nora Jones has gained M Ward some popularity (evidently too much to thank WYCE in his liner notes this time). Regardless this album is terrific. ‘Beautiful Car’ is wonderful. There are a few nice esoteric acoustic blues instrumentals (1, 6,12, and 15). For something a little stranger and a little more upbeat listen to ‘Look Me Over.’ Also great are nine and ten. I believe this to be Ward’s first album since relocating to New Hampshire from the Portland scene he was an essential part of but don’t worry Portland still exists in his scratchy-gentle voice and the arpeggio rambles of his classical guitar. Oh, also don’t forget to play track thirteen like I almost did. –Derrick Mund