THINK LIKE A KEY MUSIC

The Album That Threw Genre a Curveball (And The Bull Missed)

Ladies and gentlemen, step right up to the musical corrida of the century! It's been a decade since Ward White donned his sparkling traje de luces and dared to face the raging bull of musical conventions. "Ward White Is The Matador" isn't just an album; it's a 14-track spectacular where genres clash like cymbals and styles blend like the finest sangria. From Scott Walker-esque noir crooning that'll make you want to solve crimes in black and white, to glam rock swagger that puts platform boots on your eardrums, this album is more unpredictable than a caffeinated matador on a unicycle.

But wait, there's more! Just when you think you've got this musical bull by the horns, White throws in "The Olde Days," 21-minute Grand-Guignol fever dream that defies description. It's like David Bowie and the Zombies decided to crash a Spanish fiesta, with Scott Walker DJing and the ghost of Federico García Lorca writing the setlist. New York Magazine called it a "bright-hued sprawl," which is like calling the Running of the Bulls a "brisk jog." Elmore Magazine praised White's "mellifluous high tenor," proving that even in the midst of this psychedelic art-rock rodeo, the man can still hit notes high enough to make your wine glasses nervous.

As we celebrate this album's 10th anniversary, it's clear that "Ward White Is The Matador" hasn't just aged well; it's matured like a fine Rioja, getting bolder and more complex with each passing year. It's still "as arch and distinctive as a rock song can hope to be," according to Fingertips Music, and we couldn't agree more. So grab your most flamboyant cape, leave your musical preconceptions at the door, and prepare for an album that's part bullfight, part fever dream, and all brilliant. Olé!