Several times, as I listened to M. Wards Supernatural Thing, I asked myself what year itwas. Was it 1952, and was I listening to a track from the Harry Smith Anthology? Was it1972, and was I eavesdropping on the recording session for After the Gold Rush?No, its 2023, and M. Ward is one of the special contemporary artists who invite suchquestions. Ward has clearly mastered the whole vocabulary of American popular musicand made serious decisions about how to employ it for his own ends. What Ward shareswith Harry Smiths artists and Neil Young is a context of musical and human values:authenticity and intimacy. Supernatural Things original songs sound freshly pulled fromthe ground, with a little earth sticking to them. Wards lyric delivery has that slight rawnessthe ear loves, and his voice has quiet dignity and great tenderness. Supernatural Thing isan open-hearted, inviting album.

The albums guest stars First Aid Kit, Shovels & Rope, Scott McMicken, Neko Case,Jim James, others enliven the album with surprises. On Too Young to Die, the womens voices in First Aid Kit spread a light frosting over the melody, and their Beach Boys-like chorus on Engine 5 makes the song sound like an instant hit. Eight of the albumsten songs are Ward originals. Theres an unusual Bowie choice, I Cant Give EverythingAway from Blackstar, and a live rendition of Daniel Johnstons Story of an Artist.-By James Cushing

Both as a solo artist and as one-half of She & Him, M. Ward became one of the definingvoices of the American indie landscape in the 2000s, earning fans and critical acclaimfor his distinctive brand of breezy West Coast Americana which pulled from folk, country,blues, pop, and experimental indie rock elements. Ward established himself with warm,analog-minded releases like 2003s Transfiguration of Vincent and 2006s Post-War before joining forces with singer/actress Zooey Deschanel to form the highly successful indiepop duo She & Him in 2008. Over the following decade, Ward split his time between projects, releasing a 2009 album with indie supergroup Monsters of Folk, several high-profilealbums with Deschanel including She & Hims Columbia-issued 2014 set Classics, andcritically acclaimed solo releases like 2009s Hold Time, 2012s A Wasteland Companion,and 2018s What a Wonderful Industry. Ward kicked off the next decade with a deeplyatmospheric set called Migration Stories and a Billie Holiday covers album Think of Springmost recently.

Tracklist:

1. Lifeline
2. too young to die (feat. first aid kit)
3. supernatural thing
4. new kerrang (feat. scott mcmicken)
5. dedication hour (feat. neko case and gabriel kahane)
6. i cant give everything away (feat. jim james and kelly pratt)
7. engine 5 (feat. first aid kit)
8. mr. dixon (feat. shovels & rope)
9. for good
10. story of an artist

UPC: 045778796021
Label: Anti
Release Date: 6.23.23
Format: CD