Andrew Bird and M. Ward (Listen To New Albums From)

I don’t know how they were able to intuit my music listening desires so well, but it turns out that NPR is streaming new albums in their entirety before they are even released, and they just so happen to be the exact albums I’ve been wanting to hear.  I guess it could just be that my tastes fall in with a key market demographic for public radio, but I’d rather not spoil the magic too much with those sorts of thoughts.

I just listened to the beautiful new album by singer/songwriter/violinist/guitarist/whistler Andrew Bird, entitled Noble Beast.  I think it will take a few more listens for me to truly digest it and describe it fully, but I’m definitely picking this one up when it comes out next week.

Now I’m listening to M. Ward’s album Hold Time, which doesn’t come out until Feb. 17.  Ward continues to write songs that sound like classic folk/country/rock n’ roll sides, all performed in his easy, seemingly effortless style and recorded with his signature old-timey, atmospheric production.  This album adds some occasional strings and keyboards to his usual mix of acoustic guitar and reverb, as well as some classic T. Rex-styled stomp on a few tracks.  All in all, it’s a bit of a Jack White meets Jack Johnson kind of album, and another one I’ll be looking for in February.

As of Monday (1/19), these good folks will also be streaming Animal Collective’s latest noise celebration masterpiece Merriweather Post Pavilion (which I’ve been listening to repeatedly since I purchased the early release vinyl version last week), and Bruce Springsteen’s soon to be released Working on a Dream.

0 thoughts on “Andrew Bird and M. Ward (Listen To New Albums From)”

  1. Thanks for letting me in on ABird — I’m enjoying him. Thanks also for alerting me to Chatham County Line. I got one of their albums from the library & am enjoying it too.

  2. Yes, I do like Fleet Foxes as well, and hav been enjoying them too. I like all the groups you put on our computer but one– I can’t remember which one. I’m doing this from my raspberry. Oh here’s Mom so I need to go.

  3. Further now that I can really type: I do like Fleet Foxes and have listened to their tracks that you left several times now. The one group I didn’t care much for at first was T Rex, but I have just listened to them again and it is growing on me — kind of reminds me (don’t be insulted) of Donavan and there is really some inventive stuff going on. Actually Delta Spirit also reminds me of Donovan somewhat also. Bon Iver is really interesting too with the mostly instrumental tracks. See an old man can learn to appreciate new stuff if pushed into it.

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