A folksy 'companion'

M. Ward dropped his newest album, “A Wasteland Companion,” earlier this week after a three-year dormancy period with his solo career.

Ward might have spent most of that time collaborating with fellow musicians such as Bright Eyes and Zooey Deschanel, but the delay for his most recent solo production is certainly worth the wait. These folk tunes are a wonderful sort of fuzzy that enhances Ward’s lyricism and musicianship.

“A Wasteland Companion” encapsulates a wide spectrum of styles from blues to classic folk to a sound that flirts with the idea of being poppy. The track “Sweetheart” drips a saccharine sweetness reminiscent of a 1950s pop-ballad with none other than Deschanel, his favorite female counterpart. 

The title song, “A Wasteland Companion,” feels like a track that would accompany a person through a desolate trek, with its hollow-stringed fade out. Some of these tracks just amble along with Ward’s dependable folk quality, which makes them a satisfactory listen all around.

Ward’s release is the ideal fix for someone searching for some quality folk with definite breadth and range.