M. Ward has been championed by Howe Gelb, who released Ward’s 2000 debut disc Duet for Guitars #2 on his Ow Om label, and by Conor Oberst, who brought Ward on the road with Bright Eyes. In 2001, Ward earned some small measure of acclaim for his sophomore effort, End of Emnesia, and if the Portland, Oregon-based songwriter keeps making records as inventive and thoroughly rewarding as this third album, he won’t be unknown long.