Exclusive First Listen: M. Ward's 'Hold Time'
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Our Thursday live chat with Matt Ward has been postponed. Check back later for a new time.
NPR.org, January 12, 2009 - The songs of singer-guitarist M. Ward seem to drift in on the crackling radio waves of a distant time. Warm and intimate, his largely acoustic and usually spare arrangements are a tribute to what Ward sees as the greatest era for American music: the 1950s and early '60s, when singers like Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison infused country-rooted pop with honesty and romance. Ward's latest album, Hold Time, continues this tradition, with a gorgeously produced mix of finger-picked guitars, upright bass and shuffling rhythms, all tied together by his achy voice.
Hold Time won't be released until Feb. 17, but listeners can hear the entire album here on NPR Music as an exclusive preview.
The new disc was mixed by producer and multi-instrumentalist Mike Mogis, with guest appearances by Lucinda Williams, Zooey Deschanel (She & Him), Rachel Blumberg (The Decemberists) and others. Though it mostly features all-new songs, Hold Time includes a handful of cover tunes, including Don Gibson's "Oh Lonesome Me" and "Rave On," made popular by Buddy Holly.
"I think the songwriting style of (Buddy Holly's) period was superior," Ward says in an interview with All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen. "There was a certain amount of joy in it, no matter how sad the song is. You get joy in listening to these Buddy Holly or Roy Orbison sad lyrics. I'm attracted to songs that have balance between the darks and the lights and giving them all equal opportunity."
Exclusive First Listen: M. Ward's 'Hold Time'
For Beginners
Artist: M. Ward- Listen[2 min 44 sec]
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- "For Beginners"
- CD: Hold Time
- Artist: M. Ward
- Label: Merge
- Released: 2009
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Never Had Nobody Like You
Artist: M. Ward- Listen[2 min 23 sec]
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- "Never Had Nobody Like You"
- CD: Hold Time
- Artist: M. Ward
- Label: Merge
- Released: 2009
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Jailbird
Artist: M. Ward- Listen[2 min 26 sec]
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- "Jailbird"
- CD: Hold Time
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- Released: 2009
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Hold Time
Artist: M. Ward- Listen[3 min 0 sec]
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- "Hold Time"
- CD: Hold Time
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Rave On
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- "Rave On"
- CD: Hold Time
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- Released: 2009
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To Save Me
Artist: M. Ward- Listen[3 min 6 sec]
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- "To Save Me"
- CD: Hold Time
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- Released: 2009
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One Hundred Million Years
Artist: M. Ward- Listen[2 min 5 sec]
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- "One Hundred Million Years"
- CD: Hold Time
- Artist: M. Ward
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- Released: 2009
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Fisher of Men
Artist: M. Ward- Listen[3 min 8 sec]
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- "Fisher of Men"
- CD: Hold Time
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- Released: 2009
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Oh Lonesome Me
Artist: M. Ward- Listen[5 min 58 sec]
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- "Oh Lonesome Me"
- CD: Hold Time
- Artist: M. Ward
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- Released: 2009
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Epistemology
Artist: M. Ward- Listen[3 min 44 sec]
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- "Epistemology"
- CD: Hold Time
- Artist: M. Ward
- Label: Merge
- Released: 2009
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Blake's View
Artist: M. Ward- Listen[2 min 25 sec]
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- "Blake's View"
- CD: Hold Time
- Artist: M. Ward
- Label: Merge
- Released: 2009
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Shangri-La
Artist: M. Ward- Listen[2 min 14 sec]
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- "Shangri-La"
- CD: Hold Time
- Artist: M. Ward
- Label: Merge
- Released: 2009
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Outro
Artist: M. Ward- Listen[3 min 41 sec]
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- "Outro"
- CD: Hold Time
- Artist: M. Ward
- Label: Merge
- Released: 2009
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