M. WARD “Hold Time”
It’s difficult to gaze at Hold Time outside the shadow of Post War, M. WARD’S 2006 solo-offering. That record took me from a winter haze, blending reverb-ladled folk-twang with 50′s doo-wop, tied by a pop-sensibility that kept the songs roaming tirelessly through my mind; his gruff whisper harked to the sorrow of NICK DRAKE, but the songs felt strangely uplifting and instantly unforgettable. After I heard it, I sang it everywhere, on foggy beach walks and while sorting my socks from my shirts in the dead of November, rain tapping on the laundry mat roof above me. Hold Time is not as instantly memorable, and at first it seems lacking in comparison to Post War‘s wonderment. But after a few listens, Ward’s thoughtful lyrics and optimistic sincerity brings those same feelings flooding back.
M. WARD is like a collage of musical years past; muggy roots-blues from the deep south, to golden-era Motown soul, all underlined by dissonant orchestral overtures derived from his parents love of classical music. “Rave On” is a perfect example of Ward’s love of amalgamation. Featuring the lovely harmonies of Zooey Deschanel from his other incarnation SHE AND HIM, the tune is a breezy acoustic-folk cover of the song BUDDY HOLLY once made famous; the nostalgia is palpable when listening to the head-bopping, rolling Keith Richard-esque solo, but far-away guitars and the dreamy croon of Ms. Deschanel keeps the cover fresh, highlighting aspects of the melody I hadn’t noticed in the BUDDY HOLLY version. “Fisher of Men” is a lively spiritual, driven by a JOHNNY CASH inspired walking bass-line; inspirational string-flourishes cradle the classic country tune, bringing the song from nice to almost tearful.
Thematically, Hold Time is less bemoaned than Post War, letting go of earthly woes in exchange for the permanence of spiritual riches. On Post War, M. WARD looks at death with a sad-eyed optimism: “God it’s great to be alive / takes the skin right off my hide / to think I’ll have to give it all up someday.” But on Hold Time death’s bite is subdued, and Ward let’s go of the notion that death is merely a tragic end: “Death is a door / Blake said it first / It’s just another room we enter / It’s a threshold that hurts,” crooned over the quiet-waver of an organ.
If you like M. Ward, you will love Hold Time. It didn’t sweep me off my feet like Post War, but that won’t stop it from lulling me into countless midday naps, or providing me an aural rest from the loud streets of San Francisco. In times like these, it’s nice to have artists like M. WARD providing such warmth, whether it’s sheltering you from the overcast muck, or making you look forward to the bright, coming Spring.
Merge
