M. Ward - Hold Time

I put off listening to the new M. Ward album for the past few days now, hoping that a better rip of it would come around then the 128 kbps version that was circulating. Thankfully, a 320 kbps leak has finally surfaced and can be downloaded below. Hold Time is M. Ward's sixth full length album and features guest appearances from Jason Lytle of Grandaddy, Lucinda Williams, and, of course, Ward's She & Him BFF, Zooey Deschanel. At first listen, Hold Time appears to be a bit more laid-back and organic sounding than Ward's last album, 2006's Post-War. There's a romantic duet with Zooey ("Never Had Nobody Like You"), Ward's charming vocals and brilliant guitar-picking ("Rave On"), boppy and fun as fuck piano ("To Save Me"), and handclaps and more handclaps ("Stars Of Leo"). I don't know if it's his best album, but it's certainly not bad by any means at all. Ward continues to impress and Hold Time will definitely appeal to any and all fans that were hoping for a little more "him" on She & Him last year.

DOWNLOAD: M. Ward - Hold Time [Merge]
Recommended Tracks: "Never Had Nobody Like You," "Jailbird," "Rave On," "To Save Me," "Stars of Leo," "Epistemology."