A Wasteland Companion
M. Ward · 2012
36 min · 12 tracks · folk music
A warm blend of rustic melodies and introspective lyrics, evoking a sense of nostalgia and personal reflection.
Top tracks — play these first
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Primitive Girl — This track encapsulates the album's essence with its infectious melody and poignant storytelling about longing and connection in an uncertain world.
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Clean Slate — Opening the album, this song sets a reflective tone, exploring themes of renewal and the desire to start fresh with a catchy yet contemplative rhythm.
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A Wasteland Companion — The title track serves as a thematic anchor for the album, weaving personal narrative with broader existential musings that resonate deeply throughout the record.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and production, with varied tempos and cohesive themes.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of acoustic instrumentation, with guitar and piano leading most tracks.
- Several songs incorporate layered vocal harmonies that create a rich, textured sound.
- The tempo varies throughout the record, with a noticeable shift to slower ballads in the latter half.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo reflective moments
- introspective storytelling with warmth
- for cozy afternoons
- melodic tunes for gentle contemplation
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy tracks
- prefer standalone singles
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released as M. Ward's sixth studio album, A Wasteland Companion followed his critically acclaimed album, Hold Time. At this stage in his career, Ward was solidifying his reputation as a distinctive voice in indie folk, showcasing an evolved sound infused with greater lyrical depth.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Iron & Wine· Sufjan Stevens· Nick Drake
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Clean Slate 2:51
- 2 Primitive Girl 3:10
- 3 Me and My Shadow 2:36
- 4 Sweetheart 3:31
- 5 I Get Ideas 2:39
- 6 The First Time I Ran Away 3:17
- 7 A Wasteland Companion 2:54
- 8 Watch the Show 3:40
- 9 There's a Key 2:52
- 10 Crawl After You 3:40
- 11 Wild Goose 2:35
- 12 Pure Joy 2:57
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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