{"product_id":"supernatural-thing","title":"Supernatural Thing","description":"\u003cp\u003eSeveral times, as I listened to \u003cstrong\u003eM Ward's\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eSupernatural Thing\u003c\/em\u003e, I asked myself what year it was. Was it 1952, and was I listening to a track from the Harry Smith Anthology? Was it 1972, and was I eavesdropping on the recording session for After the Gold Rush? No, it's 2023, and \u003cstrong\u003eM. Ward\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the special contemporary artists who invite such questions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWard\u003c\/strong\u003e has clearly mastered the whole vocabulary of American popular music and made serious decisions about how to employ it for his own ends. What \u003cstrong\u003eWard\u003c\/strong\u003e shares with Harry Smith's artists and Neil Young is a context of musical and human values: authenticity and intimacy. \u003cem\u003eSupernatural Thing\u003c\/em\u003e's original songs sound freshly pulled from the ground, with a little earth sticking to them. \u003cstrong\u003eWard's\u003c\/strong\u003e lyric delivery has that slight rawness the ear loves, and his voice has quiet dignity and great tenderness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSupernatural Thing\u003c\/em\u003e is an open-hearted, inviting album. The album's guest stars - \u003cstrong\u003eFirst Aid Kit\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eShovels and Rope\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eScott McMicken\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eNeko Case\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eJim James\u003c\/strong\u003e, others - enliven the album with surprises. On \"\u003cem\u003eToo Young to Die\u003c\/em\u003e,\" the women's voices in \u003cstrong\u003eFirst Aid Kit\u003c\/strong\u003e spread a light frosting over the melody, and their Beach Boys like chorus on \"\u003cem\u003eEngine 5\u003c\/em\u003e\" makes the song sound like an instant hit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEight of the album's ten songs are \u003cstrong\u003eWard\u003c\/strong\u003e originals. There's an unusual Bowie choice, \"\u003cem\u003eI Can't Give Everything Away\u003c\/em\u003e\" from \u003cem\u003eBlackstar\u003c\/em\u003e, and a live rendition of Daniel Johnston's \"\u003cem\u003eStory of an Artist\u003c\/em\u003e.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Anti","offers":[{"title":"Brown LP","offer_id":50441705455947,"sku":"2023715","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Clear LP","offer_id":50441706307915,"sku":"2204509","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50441704505675,"sku":"2023714","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/supernatural_thing_76e9c0fe_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726985529","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/products\/supernatural-thing","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}