M. Ward , A Wasteland Companion, 2012 on Merge.

M. Ward’s 7th studio album, including a cover of Daniel Johnston’s “Sweetheart.” He’s joined by Mike Coykendall, Mike Mogis, Jordan Hudson, Adam Selzer and others, including vocals from Zooey Deschanel. M. Ward produced.

I just love M. Ward’s voice and his approach to songwriting and production – across his solo work and She & Him. (No, the “Me and My Shadow” is not the Irving Berlin/Al Jolson tune but a new song).

My copy—via Magnolia Record Club—is a signed 2024 reissue on metallic swirl vinyl with lacquer cut at Chicago Mastering Service by Jason Ward.

🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on #KEXP's #DriveTime

M. Ward:
🎵 Blake's View

#MWard

https://open.spotify.com/track/7eWCVooYvVDr86eUPvqAOU

🎶 show playlist 👇
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2KW4FxNKVGpVTgIJYolnNY

🎶 KEXP playlist 👇
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6VNALrOa3gWbk794YuIrwg

M. Ward, Migration Stories, 2020 on Anti-.

Tenth studio LP from Portland OR’s M. Ward, released on 2020 as his first on Anti-. (Think of Spring came out at the end of 2020; Migration Stories in April).

Produced by Craig Silvey in Montreal with contributions by Richard Reed Parry and Tim Kingsbury of Arcade Fire (and others). There is a “migration story” here somewhere, based in M. Ward’s grandfather’s journey to the US, but it’s not super literal.

My copy, which I got from the merch table at an M. Ward show in Rockport MA, is on “coke bottle clear” vinyl. Ironically it required multiple rounds of cleaning to get clear sound from it – I should have held out for a black vinyl version. (But it sounds good now).

#2020s #anti_ #ArcadeFire #CraigSilvey #MWard #MontrealQC #RichardReedParry #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

M. Ward, Supernatural Thing, 2023 on Anti-

M. Ward‘s 12th solo album and followup to his Billy Holiday covers album Think of Spring. He’s joined by First Aid Kit on “Too Young To Die” and “Engine 5,” by Jim James and Kelly Pratt on “For Good”, by Shovels & Rope on “Mr. Dixon,” and by Neko Case on “Dedication Hour.”

Includes a wonderful rendition of Daniel Johnston’s “Story of an Artist”:

Everyone, and friends and family
Saying, “Hey! Get a job!”
“Why do you only do that only?
Why are you so odd?
We don’t like what you do
We don’t think anyone ever will

My copy direct from the merch table at a 2024 M. Ward show in Rockport MA – which included a great piano rendition of that song.

#2020s #2023 #anti_ #FirstAidKit #JimJames #KellyPratt #MWard #NekoCase #ShovelsRope #vinyl #vinylcollection

🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on #BBC6Music's #GuyGarveysFinestHour

M. Ward:
🎵 O'Brien

#MWard

https://cancerwithanl.bandcamp.com/track/m-ward-obrien-obriens-nocturne

https://open.spotify.com/track/1ja9EKNYQOGhjdrmZxM4qY

🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on #BBC6Music's #GuyGarveysFinestHour

M. Ward:
🎵 O'Brien's Nocturne

#MWard

https://cancerwithanl.bandcamp.com/track/m-ward-obrien-obriens-nocturne

https://open.spotify.com/track/5j6D8PhcLI7hGvt5wFW9QH