Disco de She & Him: “Volume Two”

Rating-wise, I'm with customer Klapper on this one - 3 & 1/2 stars for Zoey & Matt's 2nd release(or "7/10," as he put it). It's a seamless continuation of what the duo did on Volume One, the same style (a throwback to the 50s and 60s), with a child-like simplicity to the melodies, but all very sweet and cheery. M Ward has designed lush backdrops for Ms Deschanel's wistful singing, full of strings, pedal steel, pillowy backing vocals, etc. As for Zoey's singing, she's got a soft touch reminiscent of Nancy Sinatra or Astrud Gilberto. (Again, we're back in the mid 20th Century.) As a songwriter, she has described her creative impulses as being present for many years, the songs just pouring out of her. She writes pretty songs that are light and breezy, but they're also relatively low-impact, forgettable tunes - about two or three tiers below the hit-making songwriting examples she emulates (King & Goffin, Mann & Weil, etc.). In other words, I might find myself vaguely humming bits of one or two of these songs, but I won't know WHAT I'm humming. Overall, Volume One AND Volume Two are both very pleasant listening, but more as background music than as engrossing or involving songs.

I've been really resistant to the She & Him project. Why? Here's Why: Ever since Zooey sang so sweetly while showering in Elf, I knew a recording contract was heading her way. I just didn't know if I'd be interested when she put her clothes on. I waited until volume two to give She & Him (Matt Ward) a fair shake. I'm glad I came on board. The record is a pleasant mixture of sixties sunshine pop, Nashville country/folk and Girl band harmonizing bliss.

Talented singer/songwriter/producer Ward stays in the background allowing Ms. Deschanel to put his shine to shame (sorry bout stealing a Belle and Sebastian lyric; it fit so well.) Zooey, as other reviewers have mentioned, has a soft shimmering vocal style reminiscent of Nancy Sinatra. Ward adds layers of smart musical values and vocal harmonizing producing enough happy moments to enhance one's mood and outlook. Like the glimmer of light on a small stream, the music here is pretty but not deep.

The obvious highlights include the first single, In the Sun and the equally infectious Over it Over Again. I actually prefer the quieter Nashville/folk influenced moments presented in songs like Me & You and Sing.

With the weather getting warmer and car tops going down, She & Him provide a perfect soundtrack for spring and the rapidly approaching heat waves of summer. In these tough economic times there's nothing wrong with finding the simpler pleasures in life and enjoying them. Add She & Him to your list of inexpensive yet effective ways to put a smile on your face.

This isn't a great album but it is delicious.It is a pleasure to listen to and I think pleasure is an underated element in musical appreciation.Zooey isn't Dusty Springfield or for that matter her friend Jenny Lewis.As one of the reviewers points out her singing is a a little wobbly at times .However as a singer she has great verve and charm.The quasi Phil Spector production works against her voice.This is pre Beatles girl group pop filtered through a contemporary more middle class, artsy sensibility.In other words no leader of the pack, no uptown, more Tales of Upscale LA.It is absolutely delightful.

M. Ward's pristine production and clean unobtrusive guitar lines provide the perfect backdrop for the sensationally cool and talented singer-songwriter(and part time actress ha) Zooey Deschanel.ZD has a honeycombed singing voice than runs the gamut form cheery to droll to sultry lower registers. In some ways she reminds me of the purity of Sandra Dee and individuality of early Nilsson. She is offbeat,whimsical and has a superb ear for lilting melodies along with impeccable timing. From "Rose Garden" catchy country to pre-Beatles girl soda pop ZD has the ability to pull in infants and grandparents and everyone in between. The sun tinged hue of the songs are counterbalanced by an only the lonely melacholic undertoe giving the songs unexpected heft.

The girl from Ipanema approach and clever retro compositions are light on their feet but never cloying. On the heels of an eye opening debut this followup expands their horizons. One of the two covers "Gonna Get Along Without You", originally a near novelty like hit back when, is a momentous slice of lemon meringue pie featuring warm nimble Johhny Marresque acoustic strumming as ZD sings witty but telling throwaway lines that can't fully disguise the heartache at the core of the song. The gorgeous country twang of "Lingering Still" casts a haunting spell. Insanely catchy tracks like "Don't Look Back" and "Over It Over Again" are classic top down head to the beach summer car tunes. And "Sing" positively bubbles with optimism. The closing track "If You Can't Sleep" is an a capeella cousin to the Beach Boys' "In My Room." Memorable from beginning to end, endlessly listenable and perfectly precocious,She And Him Volume Two is quite possibly the album of the year!

The first word that comes to mind while listening to this album is "charming". What makes this release more enjoyable than Volume One is its more fluid & uplifting songwriting.

Save for 2 or so songs on the album, Ms. Zooey herself was responsible for penning some of the sweetest and melodic track pieces ever compiled into one CD.

It's great for driving through those in-between seasons with the windows rolled down, and it'll never fail to put a smile on your face. All ears for Volume Three!