M. Ward "The Transfiguration of Vincent"

[Patrick]

Shamelessly lifted from the Merge site:

"Transfiguration of Vincent is the third solo album from M. Ward, who cut his musical teeth in the San Luis Obispo based trio Rodriguez. In composition and style his music has been compared to such luminaries as Tom Waits, Granddaddy, Sparklehorse and Howe Gelb (the Giant Sand front man has been one of Ward's strongest champions, releasing the young songwriter's debut CD, Duet For Guitars #2, on his own Ow Om label. Gelb also co-wrote the track 'PoorBoy' included on Transfiguration of Vincent.). Ward's seemingly effortless finger picking guitar conjures the elegance of the late John Fahey. Critics and fans on both sides of the Atlantic were sent swooning over his 2001 collection, End Of Amnesia."

Patrick

[bitterfruit]

For anyone who didn't rush out and buy the Merge release already, you should consider this one a gem to add to your collection. It may be like nothing you've ever owned.

[johansen smith]

it's been on my list for a while. damn not having money!

[jt. r]

i'd get that one as well.
for those of you in the philly area, there's a used copy of transfiguration upstairs at spaceboy. i'm fascinated that he can put a radio playable track on each record and have the restraint not to just produce those trax. both are really great recordings.
he's playing in support of rilo kiley here in philly and i'll go just to see him.

[DefenderOfPants]

i would like to see m. ward, but i'm not so sure about rilo kiley. are they any good?

[SirPatrickSpens]

This is a very nice record even if the (fucking) Bowie cover makes me cringe... Sorry I have absolutely no nostalgia for that part of the '80s, but just so folks people don't get the wrong idea, the John Fahey comparisons are way (way) off-base, misrepresenting the accomplishments of both the dead and the living. I think it's because so few "indie" (for lack of a better term tonight) dudes and ladies actually play fingerstyle guitar that the reference keeps coming up. I'm confident that Ward has heard and enjoyed some Fahey records somewhere along the way but when I picked up "Duets for Two Guitars" hoping for some of the old Takoma magic, I was pretty disappointed. Ward is not, nor does he try to be (I don't think) a composer like Fahey. The closest, not totally absurd comparison is maybe a lighter, less freakishly facile child of Michael Chapman's Harvest records. (And one free beer to anyone who knows what the hell I am writing about.) Ward makes interesting, well crafted and sometimes sustains genuinely effecting moods but he hasn't written his "Pink Moon" or "Trout Steel" (Mike Cooper) yet. A double-bill with Iron And Wine, however, would be very welcome.

SPS

[johansen smith]

Originally posted by DefenderOfPants
i would like to see m. ward, but i'm not so sure about rilo kiley. are they any good?

Rilo Kiley's pretty good, very much in the vein of their label-mates at Barsuk and Saddle Creek.

[Patrick]

Nice nick!

Patrick