Typically after listening to any of M. Ward's past studio albums, I will swoon, I will admire, I will even Google his name to try and find where he hides in Portland making his old-soul music, hoping that he'll invite me to join in. But when I gave M. Ward's most recent release a listen, no such reactions were inspired. It may be that Ward is moving on, taking a slightly more performer pace in today's rapid momentum that is music. As a follow up to both 2006's POSTWAR and 2007's TO GO HOME EP, HOLD TIME just does not hold the same time as Ward's past lyrical motifs and nostalgic melodies. For this album, Ward collaborated with such artists as Tom Hagerman of Devotchka, Peter Broderick from Horse Feathers, Zooey Deschanle of She and Him, and Lucinda Williams. Paradoxically, most of Ward's collaborations pick him up when he sings of being down. On track "Oh Lonesome Me," Lucinda William's man-haggard honky-tonk voice is a glaringly shrill comparison to Ward's swimmingly lush and soothingly sorrowful vocals. The combination makes for the worst track of the album. As critical as my word's have been, amazing and enjoyable still are Ward's tantalizing guitar skills and groovy timpani beats. Just simply being touched by M. Ward makes HOLD TIME a cut above the rest, but for my own M. Ward expectations this album falls short.
rating: 7
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