M. Ward- Hold Time
The story has been told a million times. A singer-songwriter is critically acclaimed in indie circles, but is largely unknown by the mainstream. They finally hit paydirt with a side project or in a band. When the band goes on break, they release another solo record, but it doesn’t really have the same impact. This is the crux of M. Ward’s new album, Hold Time.
Hold Time isn’t a bad record by any means. Ward is a decent songwriter and a very talented guitarist. Unfortunately he’s not very charismatic, so his songs tend to bleed into each other. The reviews are fawning over this record, and it’s understandable. It’s very well made, with lots of attention to little details. There are shuffling Tennessee Three-style backbeats and morose pianos. The guitars twang and slide, accentuated by an organ or two. This is designed to make Hold Time sound older than it really is. Unfortunately there are a million indie bands going for the same exact sound. Acoustic guitars are cool and all, but it’s getting old.
The reason She and Him were able to transcend the indie bubble is because of Zooey Deschanel and her Wall of Sound Style vocals. Not many people were making girl group pop, so She and Him were unique. Ward’s quiet, slightly raspy vocals fit the music perfectly He sounds like a mixture of Chris Isakk, Jeff Buckley and Roy Orbison. However, unlike those three, Ward does not know how to change his vocal style. There are no peaks and valleys; he delivers each song the exact same way.
The cover songs were the best part of the She and Him album. Ward doesn’t fare as well. To be fair to Ward, he knows how to interpret a cover. Unfortunately, he chose Buddy Holly’s “Rave On” and sucks the rock right out of it. Buddy’s jittery hiccup is replaced by Ward’s monotone. Holly’s breezes by and Ward meanders. Some things are meant to be left alone. The highlight of the album is the outro, a somber instrumental. It would fit well with a lonely night alone at the bar. Ward isn’t a virtuoso guitarist, but he knows the right note to play at exactly the right time. He has a wonderful sense of feel, which is more important than technique. He’s a student of the genre that he is trying to recreate.
Again, there is nothing specifically wrong with Hold Time. It’s just so profoundly pleasant that it leaves no effect. A lot of the appeal of indie music lies in the mellow nature of the music, but there’s a point where you ask yourself, “Where’s the grit?” That’s the problem, there’s not really any grit here. To be a successful male singer-songwriter, you need heart-wrenching passion. It’s just not here. He is a very pleasant singer/songwriter, and that’s fine. Hopefully the new She and Him record comes sooner rather than later.
