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:

More reviews tagged #Folk

  • reviewed 08/2007

    JOE HENRY
    Civilians

  • reviewed 10/2010

    JASON ROSEBOOM
    Kalamazoo

  • reviewed 07/2011

    LIZ LONGLEY
    Hot Loose Wire

  • reviewed 05/2007

    SONNY SMITH
    Fruitvale

  • reviewed 03/2007

    Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, & ray Price
    Last of the Breed

  • reviewed 10/2015

    The Waxies
    Down With The Ship

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.