After a six-year stint with the trio Rodriguez, M. Ward began sketching out songs deeply rooted in the classic traditions of American country-folk. Rodriguezs home was in San Luis Obispo, CA, and they eventually recorded Swing Like a Metronome with Granddaddys Jason Lytle. Wards first solo effort came in the form of Duet for Guitars #2, which was written and recorded with the help of John King while Ward was living between Chicago and various locales on the West Coast. Eventually, Duets for Guitars #2 was placed in the hands of the ever-enigmatic Giant Stand mastermind Howe Gelb, who released it on his own Ow Om Recordings in the fall of 2000. The record enjoyed favorable reviews and a considerable amount of attention in underground rock circles and Ward supported it with a handful tours throughout the United States and Europe. His follow up, End of Amnesia, was released on Future Farmer in 2001. In 2003 he signed with Merge and released Transfiguration of Vincent, followed by Transistor Radio in 2005.