Tag Archive: M. Ward
[video] M. Ward // The First Time I Ran Away
Best of 2009: 38 & 37
38. M. Ward – Hold Time
Andy: 26 :: Dave: 39
M. Ward’s black and white approach to indie folk calls to mind music from an era that has been long forgotten. The latest in a career that has now spanned a decade, spawned a pairing with Zooey Deschanel in She & Him, and cemented his status as one quarter of the supergroup Monsters of Folk, Hold Time continues Ward’s winning formula – understated, smoky vocals paired with a feeling of timelessness.
Combining an American approach to gospel themes of God and death with the sunny view of someone who can’t be bothered with either, Ward’s easygoing songwriting is comfortable – almost familiar. And while at first blush that description may turn some listeners off, those in search of something more pure than the latest dubstep remix will find a refuge in M. Ward.
M. Ward – For Beginners (mp3) from Hold Time
37. Silversun Pickups – Swoon
Andy: 37 :: Dave: 27
Silversun Pickups, a now moderately famous Indie Rock band from California, have steadily gained more notoriety in their relatively short career thus far. Their latest effort, Swoon, finds the band in the usual follow-up mode: slightly more experimental though not too much swaying from what has, for them, been a good thing. There are a few well thought out wrinkles, though much is similar to what we became accustomed to with debut Carnavas. The Pickups play a more straightforward rock than is usually appreciated by us here at Tympanogram, though with good reason. It’s better than the usual straightforward rock. Bands that fall in this category are at time dismissed by the indie music/blog arena, viewed as naturally inferior. We clearly feel that to be a mistake.
Silversun Pickups – Substitution (mp3) from Swoon
New Releases & 50th Birthdays
I’ve always wondered about why new releases come out on Tuesdays; I’ve read that it was as simple as a process of elimination thing – Mondays and Fridays were too close to the weekend, while Wednesdays and Thursdays were busy at the labels or that radio stations wouldn’t play new music enough if it came out on either of those days, leaving only Tuesday. That all seems like ridiculous nonsense so it’s probably true. The fact that new media is released on Tuesdays is the only redeeming quality to what I consider to be the worst day of the week.
Here are some of the new releases for Tuesday, February 17, and check Amazon for a much more complete list:
…And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead – The Century of Self
Architecture in Helsinki – That Beep
Beirut – March of the Zapotec EP
M. Ward – Hold Time
Morrissey – Years of Refusal
Various – Dark Was the Night
Vetiver – Tight Knit
And, here’s a song from the release I’m most looking forward to:
M. Ward – Never Had Nobody Like You (mp3) from Hold Time
Finally, and most importantly, Happy 50th Birthday to my mother. I love you, and here’s a song for you.
Chris Trapper – Birthday Song (Live)
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002: Old Tapes - Farewell/What I Need Tonite 7" -
001: Joywave - Ridge/Traveling At The Speed Of Light 7"
