M. Ward — Post-War

M. Ward follows up the conceptual Transistor Radio with a stunning, reverb-drenched collection of new old-world sounds. Neko Case and Jim James drop by to lend their unique voices to their friend's ingenious songs. "To Go Home" is a pulsating dose of heady imagery and propulsive instrumentation, while "Right In The Head" is an infectious, space-aged honky-tonker. Much like James' "What A Wonderful Man," "Requiem" is a majestic elegy to a departed soul, featuring inventive percussion. If not for its clattering rhythms, "Chinese Translation" might come close to the folk approach of Al Tuck. On "Eyes On The Prize," Ward pays homage to country's golden age by quoting Johnny Cash and enacting Bob Dylan's sugary Nashville Skyline voice. Melding innovation with reverence, Ward remains an artist of the highest calibre with the remarkable Post-War.