End of Amnesia

End of Amnesia

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
As one might expect from an album called End of Amnesia, a dateless aura exists within, as if it could have been recorded 100 years ago or 100 years from now. Portland, Oregon, resident Matt Ward's often captivating sophomore CD fuses a bucolic folk sound with a postmodern lo-fi sensibility. Ward's intriguing tunes are sung in hushed tones, and his fragile voice has an offbeat beauty even when he whispers. The atmosphere here is stark and mostly acoustic (save for "Flaming Heart," an odd little rock rave-up that appears midway, like an intermission), and an eerie calm pervades the album. Ward's music features deft, poised guitar playing, vivid lyrical imagery, and melodies that burrow into your brain--as if they'd been there all along. --Marc Greilsamer

Tracks:

End Of Amnesia
Color Of Water
Half Moon
So Much Water
Bad Dreams
Archangel Tale
Silverline
Flaming Heart
Carolina
From A Pirate Radio Sermon, 1989
Psalm
Ella
Seashell Tale
O'Brien/O'Brien's Nocturne

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

As one might expect from an album called End of Amnesia, a dateless aura exists within, as if it could have been recorded 100 years ago or 100 years from now. Portland, Oregon, resident Matt Ward's often captivating sophomore CD fuses a bucolic folk sound with a postmodern lo-fi sensibility. Ward's intriguing tunes are sung in hushed tones, and his fragile voice has an offbeat beauty even when he whispers. The atmosphere here is stark and mostly acoustic (save for "Flaming Heart," an odd little rock rave-up that appears midway, like an intermission), and an eerie calm pervades the album. Ward's music features deft, poised guitar playing, vivid lyrical imagery, and melodies that burrow into your brain--as if they'd been there all along. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2007-03-22

I have tried to think of something to accurately convey how I feel about this album, but I've been backspacing for about 5 minutes now, so I'll just say that I own about 4,200 songs and this album, titled End of Amnesia, is the most beautiful collection of songs in my library.

The breathy voice, the vivid imagery, the light acoustic guitar, the occasional slide guitar, the subtle backing band that seems to fade in and out throughout, the immaculately arranged songs, the breezy, sometimes haunting, sometimes euphoric, never urgent feel of the entire album...

This is just a great collection of songs by one of the most talented songwriters/guitar players around these days. Also recommend the rest of M. Ward's discography (Post War, Transistor Radio, Transfiguration of Vincent, Duet For Guiter #2), Jim Noir's Tower of Love, Spoon's Girls Can Tell, and The Mountain Goats' Tallahassee.

#2 Ward Highway: Genius.......2005-04-02

If you are reading this then it is fair to presume you are out on the Ward highway and unless I miss my guess, traveling from Transistor Radio and Transfiguration back to the End of Amnesia. You have been hearing some fabulous sounds and incredible tunes on your way here and let me be the first to tell you that more of the same awaits you here in Amnesia-ville. In fact, this may be the best of his four solo albums and that in itself is a strong statement considering the one that preceded this one (Duet) and the two that followed (Transitor and Transfiguration). Ward is a musical genius, no doubt, and this collection of songs from a wholeistic perspective may be the clearest manifestation of that genius. His tune "half moon" simply has to be heard to be believed. "Carolina" is gorgeous and "seashell tale" defies description. But if I were standing in the front row of a Ward concert and calling for him to play a tune, it would be "bad dreams" (the opening chords to this song have to be heard to be believed: so subtle, so deep, so resonant). I think it is the best song Ward has ever written and immediately after he played it, I would yell up at him to play "fool says"(Transfiguration) and then "from debbie's stairs" (Duet) and then "here comes the sun again" (Transistor) and then "seashell tale" (Amnesia) and then "outta my head" (Transfiguration) and then "lullaby + exile" (Transistor). But if Ward leaned down to me and said that he would play only one of his four albums for us tonight from front to back, I would pick End of Amnesia. Everything Ward touches shines with a depth and beauty that has been missing from modern music for far too long but like I said, End of Amnesia would be my pick. It might well be the best complete album ever keyed and picked and sung by a man whose best musical work (if this is even conceivable) may well lie ahead of him. He is 31 years old; he is an incredible musical genius; and he has a talent and a musical muse that seems to be just getting untracked.

Highly reccomended........2005-01-11

"End Of Amnesia" makes you feel like you're sitting on the back porch of some log cabin in the mountains, and after hearing this cd, I wouldn't mind feeling that way all the time. This is a collection of serene, melodic, acoustic tunes, which blends country, folk, bluegrass, and modern abstract rock all together. This is a cd that makes itself appear sparse on the surface, but is actually maticulously composed. It is sophisticated, but not inaccessible or overly abstract. The albums' energy peaks with "flaming heart", a catchy, upbeat country song featuring a rare instance of electric guitar. Mellowness peaks on "O'Brien"(part 1 of track 15), where he is just about whispering the lyrics. I find this cd to be extremely enjoyable and relaxing, and I highly reccomend it for anyone looking for some good chill out music.

Beautiful.......2002-11-16

End of Amnesia is a modern folk rock classic. From the first line sung in the album to the very last, Ward's mellow raspy voice conveys a immense sense of feeling and emotion which perfectly compliments his acoustic guitar playing. While the songs on this album are typically quite mellow and relaxed, it is extemely capable of holding a listener's attention for an infinite amount of plays without getting boring. There are also tracks on the album which are very upbeat and more fast paced, so it never lacks in energy.

While there seems to be an emphasis in modern music to convey a complication and strength in musical arrangement, Ward finds a point that combines perfect simpicity with stunning technicality in each of his songs. Not only is his song writing wonderful, but his entirely captivating stage presense as well. Not many modern artists can hold an entire audience's attention through a ten+ minute guitar solo. Ward's energy and humbleness on stage is unmatched by any other artist. If you have the opportunity to see Matt Ward live, or pick up one of his albums, you will not be disappointed.

disappointing compared to the live show.......2002-10-15

I saw ward open for bright eyes and was amazed by his charisma, technical virtuosity, and fascinating revival of the blues. in a way, his crazy look and vocals reminded me of isaac brock, though musically you could say they have little in common. however, when i listened to the cd on the way home i got vaguely interesting acoustic and folk noodling, like a much better mason jennings. it's still a pretty good album but i would recommend seeing him live instead. the man clearly has some soul.

Average customer rating:

M.Ward makes ýthat string buzz like it was 1989ý

End of Amnesia
M. Ward
Manufacturer: Saidera
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Brazil | South & Central America | International | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000066JDI
Release Date: 2001-06-24

Tracks:

3001
2001
Voce Vem
Erva Venenosa
Mentiras
Rebeldade
Pagu
O Amor Em Pedacos
Cobra
Entre Sem Bater
Aviso Aos Meliantes
Historia Sem Fim

Album Description

Mercury. 2000.

Album Details

Japanese Version featuring Two Bonus Tracks

Customer Reviews:

M.Ward makes ýthat string buzz like it was 1989ý.......2003-07-10

First off - Thank God Howe Gleb has the good taste to get behind this guy. Matt Ward puts out some of the best guitar music I've heard since Michael Hedges, OR Leo Kottke (Check out "Psalm" track 11). But Ward has great pop sensibility on top of his vast technical skill.
With a scratchy voice culled from Gonzo The Great (compare Ward's wonderful "Carolina" to the classic "Someday") and all the latent emotion and urgency that entails, Matt Ward sings from the edge of everything important. Even if it is just a high school reunion ("So Much Water" track 4). I'm not sure how much of a hand Gleb had in the sculpting of this album, but it is very consistent. I loved all the soft background found-recordings throughout. They were inserted with such taste that they always add to the texture and never annoy like they are apt to do in lesser hands. And just like the O'Brien of the last track (14) Matt Ward quietly and humbly "blew my mind."