Jim Ward

Jim Ward is best known for his role in the progressive rock band Sparta. However, this new release finds the singer (mostly) playing the acoustic troubadour. One moment, he sounds a little like Rufus Wainwright. Other times, he’s more in the Leonard Cohen mode. Whatever the handy artist comparison, however, Ward comes off sounding stressed and woebegone most all the time.

On “Mystery Talks,” for instance, acoustic Spanish guitar lines are interspersed with Ward’s sincere strumming and singing. The additional “The Electric Six” is actually six of these new songs electrified. However, for the most part it is, indeed, quiet in Ward’s personal musical valley.

Although there isn’t one solid lyrical theme running throughout, the concept of travel and time come up repeatedly. Songs such as “Coastlines,” “My Town,” “Lake Travis” and “On My Way Back Home” give this album a sense of place, whereas “Decades” and “The Beginning of the End” insert a kind of open ended timeline.

On the plus side, Ward is a passionately sincere singer/songwriter. Each of these songs will more than likely lead you to believe that the artist is fully invested in them. On the downside, however, there is a bit of sameness that sets in before too long.

Ward is at his Leonard Cohen-ist during “Easier Said than Done,” which finds him pleading in a musical way that is so associated with Cohen.

If you want to see an entirely different side of Jim Ward, this album will do that for ya – and then some. However, if you particularly enjoy Sparta’s usual instrumental fireworks, this album will likely offer up a trying experience. You may thirst for a time signature that gives you a Picasso face. You might want something really loud, too. No go, though. The Rolling Stones once famously sang that you can’t always get what you want. That song could very well apply to you while listening to this work. But hey, maybe you just need to chill a bit. This album will give you a great opportunity to do just that.