Album Reviews

M. Ward

Transistor Radio

2005-03-01

Impressive.
Ward's previous album, End of Amnesia was a big step in the right direction, but this one is the destination. The songs have just the right balance of thoughtful songwriting, fine musicianship, unplugged beauty, electronic meddling and haunting vocals.

The songs have a sort of distant, aged feel to them, as if they'd be playing when you walked into an abandoned building in a ghost town. They're like an old-fashioned folk-pop, if there is such a thing.

Cleverly, the record is dedicated to "the last of the independent & open format community radio". How did he know we'd go for that?

12 original tunes and covers that include Brian Wilson's "You Still Believe in Me", The Carter Family's "Oh Take Me Back" and a hushed album-closing take on J.S. Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier".

Quick Links:

all reviews | all folk reviews

More reviews tagged #Folk

reviewed 01/2006
ANNIE GALLUP
Half of my Crime
reviewed 03/2008
The Belleville Outfit
Wanderin'
reviewed 05/2011
BLACK JAKE AND THE CARNIES
Where The Heather Don't Grow
reviewed 05/2008
LUKE SAYERS AND THE LAST TO KNOW
Radio Flower
reviewed 03/2014
THE 23 STRING BAND
bangin' and clangin'
reviewed 10/2013
THRIFTSTORE MASTERPIECE
Lonesome Town

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.