See More Your browser does not support the audio element. © James Christopher Monger /TiVo More info Bach's "The Well-Tempered Clavier," it's become apparent which fork in the road this eccentric troubadour has chosen, and it's generously dotted with pregnant storm clouds. While the rest of Radio plays out like a sequel to 2003's excellent Transfiguration of Vincent, with standout cuts like "Sweethearts On Parade," "Hi-Fi," and "Paul's Song" echoing that record's marvelous title track ("Vincent O'Brien"), there's a subtle optimism at work here that was only hinted at on previous recordings, and by the time he wraps the whole thing up with a gorgeous rendition of J.S. Transistor Radio begins with a lovely instrumental version of the Pet Sounds classic "You Still Believe in Me," then drops the needle on "One Life Away," a lo-fi shout-out to the radio towers of old that centers around the sly and condemning lines "To all the people in the ground/Listening to the sound of the living people walking up and down the graves/Well one of them is mine/I'm visiting my fräulein/She's only one breath away." Many have used the "fake old 78" approach before, but in Ward's hands it sounds truly genuine, and his falsetto harmonizing is as spooky as the song is sweet. singer-songwriter's fourth album includes contributions from members of Rilo Kiley, My Morning Jacket, The Decemberists and Gian. Ward's voice is a slap-delayed pastiche of Ron Sexsmith's easygoing croon and Andrew Bird's closed-mouth drawl, and like his front-porch fingerpicking, it's as effortless as it is effective. Metacritic Music Reviews, Transistor Radio by M. Ward's breezy ode to radio's forgotten heydays is a lot like taking in a huge breath of dust-bowl wind - however, its charms are rooted in the hazy lemonade-sipping of summer rather than the great depression-obsession of the post-O Brother, Where Art Thou? mainstream. Ward is ranked number 1,751 in the overall artist rankings with a total rank score of 727. You almost wonder if The Shadow is going to pour out of the speakers after it’s over.Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs. Ward is Post-War which is ranked number 6,771 in the overall greatest album chart with a total rank score of 190. It’s excellent rainy day, fire in the hearth, ear to the radio music. If you missed it the first time around, go ahead and pick it up. Ward bookends a masterful collection of songs that represent the art of radio. Ward outdoes himself on this album, hitting various genres of radio music before he wraps it all up with a cover of none other than Johann Sebastian. By the way, besides the two Bright Eyes releases from earlier this year, this is one album featuring the talents of My Morning Jacket’s Jim James.įew can master the art of old time music, fewer still can maintain their own independent singer / songwriter style while trying to play old time music. “Big Boat” features pals Vic Chesnutt and Jenny Lewis on backup vocals for a Jerry Lee Lewis / Elvis Presley pastiche. “Fuel for Fire” is like an indie version of Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman” and I mean that in the best way possible. “Hi-Fi” is a stunner which was echoed by later songs by John Vanderslice. “Sweethearts on Parade” seems to marry Lindsay Buckingham’s guitars from “Second Hand News” with Pixies-esque songwriting and Nick Drake vocals. This subtlety may have made this album easy to overlook, but the listener was deprived for the lack of it. Ward’s voice lilts and swoons over his light guitar work making one of the most delicate albums of the year. Listening to this album made me think of the things in my head I variously associate with the turn of the century to the 20’s, HBO’s Carnivalé, Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, and Sam Mendes’ The Road to Perdition. Pops, scratches, and hollow tin can vocals abound on this tribute to radio songs of old. The album could have easily been called The Golden Age of Wireless had that title not already been taken by Thomas Dolby. Opening with a gorgeous acoustic guitar cover of the Beach Boys’ “You Still Believe In Me,” Transistor Radio is one of the hidden gems of 2005.
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