M. Ward's latest album, "Post-War," has been hailed by All Music Guide as one of the best records of the year.

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Listening to M. Ward's music is a time-traveling affair.

His raspy whispered vocals and fingerpicked or piano-plunked tunes evoke bygone sepia-tone eras of antique radios and dusty vinyl. His 2004 album, "Transistor Radio," gave a nod to pre-World War II American compositions. His new album, "Post-War," is slightly more modern.

"A lot of the music we listened to as inspiration for the record was music that was produced in America in the middle part of the last century, post-war production styles," the singer/songwriter said from a Milwaukee tour stop.

"Post-War" pays homage to joyful post-WWII music, but it also reflects modern events. Ward said the desire to either escape or transcend the things he reads about in the newspapers inspires many of the songs on the album, which All Music Guide said "is not only Ward's best effort yet, it's one of the best records of the year."

"I feel like my job is to experiment with songs and musical ideas, and if it ends up crossing some sort of line where people start to look at it in a political realm or a social realm is not really for me to say," he said. "I've never been someone who makes music a tool to get something off my chest. I've never been convinced that anyone really needs to hear my angst. I'm more interested in creating something that's good. I think if you create something that good, then it's going to eventually trickle into these other social realms."

"Post-War" comes after Ward took a year off from touring to co-produce Jenny Lewis' debut, "Rabbit Fur Coat," as well as "I am the Resurrection: A Tribute to John Fahey," which includes tracks by Tucson luminaries Calexico and Howe Gelb. Ward loves Tucson (he said so several times in the interview) perhaps because his solo career received a boost here. Gelb released Ward's debut, " Duet for Guitars #2," on his Ow Om label in 2000 and then took Ward on tour with Giant Sand through Europe and America.

As a soloist, Ward used to grab an assortment of backing musicians for each song on past recordings. The bands he was touring with, including Giant Sand, Rilo Kiley and My Morning Jacket, backed his live performances.

"Post-War" is his first full band effort. Ward kept the same lineup throughout the recording, and the result is his most cohesive as well as percussive and grounded album to date.

Ward's "Post-War" band includes percussionist and producer Adam Selzer, drummer and former Decemberist Rachel Blumberg, producer Mike Coykendall and Jordan Hudson, formerly of the Thermals. Neko Case, My Morning Jacket's Jim James and producer Mike Mogis also make guest appearances though are not touring with Ward, who relishes having his own band.

"This is the first time I've had the chance to bring the big band on tour and the same band I recorded the record with, so it's been really great," he said. "There's just a lot more depth and a lot more colors at your disposal."