Hold Time - M. Ward
  • Band Name: M. Ward
  • Record Label: Merge
  • Release Date: Feb 17, 2009
Hold Time Image
Metascore
79 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.8 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 21 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Summary: The singer-songwriter releases his latest solo album featuring guests such as The Decemberists' Rachel Blumberg, Lucinda Williams, DeVotchKa's Tom Hagerman, and Zooey Deschanel.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    Hold Time does, in fact, feel timeless, a musical wanderer's dusty, train-hopping tour through folk, blues, and country.
  2. Dot Music
    80
    While its thoughtfulness prevents it from getting carried away with itself--he's not exactly doing the can-can here--there is a definite sense of optimism and personal brightness radiating from all four corners of this record. It will be a difficult one to top.
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    Enter deal-breaking title-track ‘Hold Time’, which is (and let’s not understate things here) a career-defining ballad even on its own, masterfully striking “You were beyond comprehension tonight/But I understood...”
  4. Dusted Magazine
    60
    Hold Time, Ward’s latest batch of songs, seems slighter, happier and louder than those on 2006’s "Post-War," but also distinctly complacent.

See all 31 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. MichaelH
    10
    Rave On is one of M. Ward's most cherrished works, the beautiful soul-toned singer mixed with the backing vocals of Zooey Deschannel creates this airy, summery album with songs of sweet moving melodies and beautiful instrumentation with numerous tracks envoking something beyond breathtaking in the listener. Almost sounding like the album built specifically for lovers, there's nothing flirtatious about the album that keeps you listening from start to finish, waiting for the next summer adventure M. Ward has in store.… Expand
  2. BobP
    10
    A funky Buddy Holly - awesome!
  3. MarkS
    8
    Ward continues to be a consistent Americana artist who doesn't know how to write a bad song. His duet with Lucinda Williams is beautiful.
  4. JesscoW
    6
    You know, I found this album to be really bland, and I thought maybe I'm just not a big M. Ward fan. But then I listened to Transfiguration of Vincent, which was amazing, and I realized that Hold Time just kind of sucks.… Expand

See all 11 User Reviews

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