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M WardTransistor Radio Spunk!/Inertia At some points it seems like 'Transistor Radio' is drifting around Nashville; but at others it seems to head towards Pacific, then the Caribbean, then at other times there are nods to the Californian dream (most obviously on the opening cover of Brian Wilson's You Still Believe In Me). Ward goes on to extend the run of covers he started on 'The Transfiguration Of Vincent', with The Carter Family's Oh Take Me Back, and Bach's Well-Tempered Clavicle (one of the best album closers I've heard for a long time). There is even a surf guitar homage in Regeneration #1. It sounds schizophrenic, but that's the trouble - it's so hard to describe how coherently good this record is. 'Transistor Radio' has the same great feel of Ward's previous records, but develops its own personality. As the title suggests, this is a tribute to the vanishing era of music untainted by commercial constraints and trendiness. It's refreshing and comforting at the same time. Most attempts to resurrect the 78rpm Americana sound are either too obvious, or get lumped with a hokey 'Oh Brother Where Art Thou' image (nothing personal, I loved the music in that movie, just trying making a point here). My Morning Jacket's Jim James joins in on this album, as does Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis and Vic Chesnutt, who both sing along on the rollicking Big Boat. There are many highlights over the sixteen tracks offered here, but my pick is Hi-Fi, a song that manages to seem high in energy yet mellow in character.  |
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