Album Review

She & Him – Volume Two

• 6th Apr 2010

Zooey Deschanel, better known as an indie actress from such films as (500) Days of Summer and Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy has been making a strong argument here that her career as vocalist and songwriter can be equally as enticing as her screen career.

As Volume 1 has proved – both Deschanel and her musical partner M.Ward have a penchant for the golden oldies period. And it’s a something she emulates very well. But having heard her sing in film as well it is clear that she is quite capable of hopping genre should she wish to – But for now she is content with the do-bop world and fleetingly the folk and country world.

She probably wasn’t wearing a pink dress and sporting a beehive hair cut – but she may as well have been. The album wastes none of its dreamy time starting right off with “Thieves” which is probably a song that tells you what you are in for as far as album content goes.
“In The Sun” and “Don’t Look Back” remain in similar territory affirming the artist’s grasp on the music. The tonal shift happen largely in the middle of the album
“Me and You” and “Make It Better” take on a very country edge but “Over It Over Again” brings them back to the OOlalalalalalala world of the 50’s again.

Deschanel has a fairly distinctive voice that seems tailor made to be seeing these songs – but it is also one that could wind non-believers up the wrong way. Her vocal tone and accent are strong enough to be a love it or loathe it sound. But hearing her take on this period of music is perhaps what allows her echo to get away with more than others would be warranted.
What will be interesting is to see if they work on a Volume 3 – or if the music career will go in a completely different direction. After 2 volumes surely all that could be said has been said.