Ward was previously with the band Rodriguez, which included bassist Kyle Field (of Little Wings fame) and drummer Mike Funk. They recorded and released on cassette Box Plots and Cash Crops and then the album Swing Like a Metronome in 2000. Duet for Guitars #2 was released on Howe Gelb's Ow Om record label. Ward's 2001 album, End of Amnesia, was released by Future Farmer Records, and his subsequent albums have been released on Merge Records. A collection of live recordings, Live Music & the Voices of Strangers, was a self-released disc that was sold at his shows. His next album, Transfiguration of Vincent, was released in 2003, followed by Transistor Radio in 2005. A year later, Post War was released.
In 2006, he contributed a song to, and helped produce, the John Fahey tribute album, I Am the Resurrection. He also contributed the song "Transfiguration #1" from Transfiguration of Vincent to the Brushfire Records soundtrack for A Brokedown Melody, a Jack Johnson surfing film.
His album, Hold Time, was released in 2009. The album A Wasteland Companion followed in 2012. The album title alludes to T.S. Eliot's 1922 modernist poem, The Waste Land. In 2016, he released More Rain. On June 8, 2018, M. Ward released What a Wonderful Industry.
Side Projects
In 2008 M. Ward combined forces with Zooey Deschanel and became She & Him. They have released two albums so far, Volume One in 2008 and Volume Two in 2010. He is also one fourth of the folk supergroup, Monsters of Folk, alongside Jim James from My Morning Jacket, and Conor Oberst & Mike Mogis from Bright Eyes. Their self-titled release, Monsters of Folk, was released in 2009.
* Official website
Transfiguration #1
M. Ward Lyrics
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As this song is an instrumental piece, there are no lyrics to be interpreted. However, one can still analyze the musical elements present in the song to provide some insight into its meaning and messages. The opening chord progression, for example, is a slow, mournful melody played on an acoustic guitar, creating a sense of introspection and contemplation. The addition of electric guitar and drums in the following section adds a sense of urgency and tension, hinting at a coming transformation or metamorphosis. The song builds to a climax with soaring electric guitar solos and crashing cymbals, before eventually winding down to a peaceful, reflective conclusion.
Given the title of the song, "Transfiguration #1," it's reasonable to assume that the piece is meant to be interpreted as a musical exploration of the concept of transfiguration - a metamorphosis or transformation from one state to another. However, as with many instrumental works, the interpretation of this song is ultimately left up to the listener's subjective experiences and emotions. Some may find that the opening guitar progression expresses a sense of regret or nostalgia, while others may hear it as a hopeful or optimistic melody. The ambiguous nature of instrumental music allows for a wide range of personal interpretations and emotional responses.
Line by Line Meaning
Contributed by Peyton O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.