ARTIST: M. Ward ALBUM: “Hold Time” LABEL: Merge M. Ward (the âÄúMâÄù is for Matt) sounds like heâÄôs got a mouth full of whiskey-flavored marbles, crooning with a voice that seems like it would only be possible if Jeff Buckley had mated with Roy Orbison. Fresh off the success of She & Him, his collaboration with husky-voiced actress Zooey Deschanel, Ward strikes off on his own again with âÄúHold Time.âÄù It sticks to his tried-and-true formula of earnest little poem-songs, but this is a record full of rock âÄônâÄô roll homage, as though heâÄôs rediscovered the Dylan back catalog and incorporated the folk iconâÄôs scruffy-boot, âÄúNashville SkylineâÄù period into his aesthetic. The influence is evident in the presence of twangy, shuffly rock injected into the sweet and earnest indie ballads heâÄôs known for. M. Ward pulls Deschanel back to do some sublimely complimentary background vocals on âÄúNever Had Nobody Like You.âÄù ItâÄôs a strutting departure from WardâÄôs usual delicate songs, with lyrics that pay homage to Dylan in one verse [âÄúSince time out of mind IâÄôve been lazyâÄù] and Pink Floyd in another [âÄúI saw the dark side of the moonâÄù]. DeschanelâÄôs honeyed, dulcet tones mesh perfectly with WardâÄôs and donâÄôt distract, only enhance, making it the standout track of âÄúHold Time.âÄù Ward tries his hand at a few upbeat tunes, like âÄúFisher of MenâÄù and âÄúTo Save Me,âÄù which incorporates a âÄúBe My BabyâÄù thump of a backbeat. The album includes two covers: an adorable rendition of Buddy HollyâÄôs âÄúRave OnâÄù and a duet with throaty country icon Lucinda Williams to Neil YoungâÄôs melancholy âÄúOh Lonesome Me.âÄù Their cover could never be as emotionally affecting as YoungâÄôs plaintive wailing, but WilliamsâÄô and WardâÄôs scratchy back-and-forth plays out alongside a slide guitar for six minutes of sadness. âÄúEverybodyâÄôs going out and having fun/IâÄôm a fool for staying home and having none,âÄù they sing. âÄúI bet sheâÄôs not like me/sheâÄôs out and fancy free.âÄù Much of âÄúHold TimeâÄù sticks to the guitar-strumming formula WardâÄôs become associated with: unassuming, pretty indie-folk sung in that unmistakable voice. But thereâÄôs nothing wrong with that.