Susannah Brinkley
Matt Ward is a musical time traveler.
Known for his old-fashioned songwriting, his prodigious guitar talent and his deep, raspy voice, the tunes on Ward’s new album Hold Time offer a nostalgic look back to folk, rock ’n’ roll and Americana roots. The Oregonian’s sixth full-length album is a true step back in time.
At first listen, Hold Time sounds a lot like its predecessor, Post War. The tracks offer the same crooning voice and wistful, poignant lyrics that can be heard on Ward’s other albums from the last decade. While Ward has focused on themes like love and wartime in his previous albums, this time he’s focusing on God, mortality and mainstream Western religion.
The songs seem to run together, though, and only a few seem to stand out, but not by much. “Jailbird” is classic Ward, which is full of his trademark guitar playing. “For Beginners (AKA Mt. Zion)” and “Epistemology” both have foot-tapping beats reminiscent of those on Post-War and Volume One, Ward’s delicious, 70s-esque collaboration with actress Zooey Deschanel as the charming duo She & Him.
However, Hold Time brings in some new talent for the mix. Ward is known for his covers and collaborations, and it is welcoming to hear guests Lucinda Williams, The Decemberists' Rachel Blumberg, Grandaddy's Jason Lytle and DeVotchKa's Tom Hagerman in addition to Deschanel.
The charming “Never Had Nobody Like You,” featuring Deschanel, evokes the saccharine sounds of She & Him, making one’s mouth water for a Volume Two. On “Lonesome,” Ward pairs with Williams for a very long and awkward tune. Deschanel drops in once more for a lush cover of Buddy Holly’s “Rave On,” and Lytle steps in for “To Save Me,” whose fast pace seems out of place among Ward’s more quintessential melodies.
Though it’s been almost three years since Matt Ward put out a solo album, he’s still been quite the busy guy. After the release of the esteemed Post-War in 2006, Ward toured the States. Then, in 2007, he teamed up with Deschanel to record and release Volume One, with which he (and Deschanel) followed another tour.
And the release of his new album Hold Time last month coincided with the launch of yet another tour, which unfortunately won’t be coming to North Carolina like the previous ones.
But that shouldn’t prevent anyone from listening to Ward’s latest. Whether you’re a sucker for old-time melodies or just looking for something different, Hold Time is worth the time travel.
88.1 WKNC DJ Pick of the Week is published in every Tuesday print edition of the Technician, as well as online at technicianonline.com and wknc.org.
It is time for WKNC to change. It seems like the people that pick the music are forcing us to like what they like instead of giving listeners a choice. Basically no different than commercial radio telling us what we should listen to. In a nut shell the daytime music at WKNC is substandard and has been for several years. It is time for change!!
ReplyDeleteJust because you win some local awards that is no different than a communist election. Only one or two to choose from. WKNC must get on board with better diverse music selections. I have even overheard that staffers at WKNC censor music because some select people in the staff dont like it. It is NOT your choice. It is the listeners. WKNC needs change and not pander to about 30 listeners during daytime rock.
Well, Sean Miller, what do you have in mind?
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, the comment makes no sense.
ReplyDeleteAllow me to elaborate, with help from our very well versed critic:
"Daytime music at WKNC is substandard and has been for years"
-"Substandard" in this example, I assume, means below the standard set by other non-commercial stations (which is not usually a reliable slide rule). The author is either completely out of touch with what is widely considered "good" or "standard" musical selection (as we play some pretty damn good music) or with our standing in the court of public opinion. WKNC boasts the highest listener ratings in the triangle and inclusive municipalities: higher than any other station (commercial and non commercial), which includes Duke U's WXDU and UNC's WXYC. WKNC is consistently on top of new, good artists across many subtle genres in the wide ranging "indie" sector. Suggesting an alternative to current and past daytime practices is stupid, and without an ounce of merit.
"Just because you win some local awards that is no different than a communist election"
-Grammatical elements aside, our well-phrased author is deft of a real grasp on the issue at hand here: the Independent Weekly's "Best in the Triangle" isn't "some local award" coequal to a communist election. There are many radio stations in the triangle, and no preferential treatment is or has been given to WKNC in these "elections." Reader/listeners vote for WKNC because we, as mentioned earlier, play damn good music. It's no sham that WKNC has beaten out every commercial and non commercial station for (what is it now?) 6 or so years.
"WKNC must get on board with better diverse music selections"
-Really? He/she must be joking. The contrary is almost too clear for argument: WKNC offers an extremely diverse musical selection. Within daytime playlists, you are assured an array of specific musical styles; in the specialty shows, you are inherently presented with many distinct, very listenable genres and artists that do not get radio play many other places. Take a look at the schedule: Geet Bazaar, Afterhours, Americana, Underground, etc.: pretty freaking diverse.
"I have even overheard that staffers at WKNC censor music because some select people in the staff don't like it. It is NOT your choice. It is the listeners. WKNC needs change and not pander to about 30 listeners during daytime rock."
-He/she HAS to be joking here. The only censoring that gets done at WKNC is to prevent FCC violations, not to make a song more appealing to someone. And, "wrong", it is our choice what to play. We take input from the listeners and then decide what we want to play: THAT IS THE FUNCTION OF A RADIO STATION. And it's been working, too (see above). WKNC is very, very, VERY listener friendly. We are not a bunch of elitist hipster zealots cooped up in 3rd floor Witherspoon, making ill-advised, completely private decisions about our selection: we take, and play, many listener requests throughout the day (check the playlist: asterisks denote a requested artist).
-My two cents: this person (a.) has bad musical taste, (b.) is completely out of touch with what WKNC has accomplished (and continues to accomplish) everyday by playing very palatable and listener-friendly music in such a way that gets us noticed, in good ways, by many people, and (c.) got bored and just wanted to stir some shit up. I really hope this was a joke, because the presence of someone this stupid in or around the station is pretty daunting.
Thomas McKee Anderson
DJ, Personnel Director
and yes, M Ward rocks socks off
ReplyDeleteHow about putting some of the specialty shows on during the week? The only time we get decent music is late night or on the weekends?
ReplyDeleteIMO, WKNC is the best radio station in town - I don't get into all the music but where else locally are you going to find the variety offered here? Sean if you don't like it stop listening, and don't bother posting non-helpful comments. Do you have an opinion about this particular article, or M. Ward, or anything relevant to the discussion here? Or are you just a troll?
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying listening to a stream of M. Ward from Merge records right now, thanks to WKNC for pointing me in that direction.