Duet for Guitars #2

Released in 1999, Duet for Guitars #2 is the debut studio album by M. Ward, marking the arrival of a distinct voice in American indie folk. Recorded in Portland by Adam Selzer, the album established Ward's signature 'sandpaper whisper' vocal style and his virtuosic, blues-inflected fingerstyle guitar technique. While Ward would later move toward more expansive, chamber-pop arrangements on albums like Transistor Radio and Post-War, this debut remains his most skeletal and intimate work. The record is notable for its heavy use of tape saturation and lo-fi aesthetics, which Ward used to create a 'timeless' sound that bridges pre-war blues and modern indie sensibilities. Critically, it is viewed as a cult classic that helped define the quiet, introspective wing of the late-90s folk revival, characterized by its short track lengths and inclusion of evocative instrumentals.