Record Dept. is a longtime fan of M. Ward in his many incarnations: solo artist, supergroup member (Monster of Folk), and boy/girl duo (She & Him). The incredibly multifacted and talented artist (singer, songwriter, producer, musician) continues to raise the bar with his seventh solo studio effort, A Wasteland Companion. While an M. Ward solo production, there is nothing small about this, from the massive scale of collaborators (18 artists including the usual suspects as well as members of Sonic Youth, Dr. Dog, Devotchka, and The Cardinals) to the multitude of recording studios (8 including his launching pad of Portland, OR and Bristol, UK). Working with different musicians throughout the globe lends Ward’s vintage sound more openness while remaining richly crafted and highly polished. Ward consistently creates high-quality releases, and his latest (whose title references T.S. Eliot’s modernist poem) is his best yet. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Bright Eyes, Dr. Dog, Monsters of Folk, Josh Ritter, Rodriguez, She & Him