Guitarist and producer M. Ward, otherwise known as the mild-mannered Matthew Stephen Ward, might be more famous for being the second half of the glittery indie duo She & Him—the “She” being Zooey Deschanel. However, M. Ward deserves high praise for his songwriting talent. Beyond that, the unique sonic aesthetic of albums like his Post-War demonstrate a sophisticated grasp of musical production. On the first track from that record, “Poison Cup,” he sings:
If love is a poison cup
then drink it up