More Rain

As comfortable as corduroy, M. Ward’s gravelled croon leads the way for him to roam across America’s musical past. His eighth album marries slow-burn balladry (the doo-wop daydream “Little Baby”) with ringing, countrified indie rock (the Wilco-esque “Girl From Conejo Valley”). The breathy harmonies on “I’m Listening (Child’s Theme)” evoke Ward’s popular She & Him duo with Zooey Deschanel, while “Phenomenon” is exactly the kind of wafting, twangy lullaby he does so well. These songs are cozy time machines, cherry-picking the best sonic souvenirs from bygone eras.