She & Him - Volume One [2008] M Ward - WITH REVIEWS
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She is actress Zooey Deschanel, Him is alt-singer/songwriter M. Ward. The two met on the set of a movie, found some musical common ground, and began working together. Volume One is the resulting album and it's one of the better albums ever made by a movie star, male or female. Good enough that it even heads off the obligatory suspicions that she only got to make a record because she was a Hollywood star. After a few spins of the album one could make a compelling case that Deschanel could quit her day job, or at least justifiably call herself an actress/musician. The common ground that the duo found and explore on Volume One is a kind of magical place where light-'60s pop meets strummy country tunes and candy-coated folk, a mythical meeting place between Sandie Shaw and Tammy Wynette with cameos by Richard & Linda Thompson. Deschanel's songs are simple and sad tales of heartbreak and missed connections, with hooky melodies and not a single artless moment to be found. For sure there's not a single instance that sounds like she got the gig because of who she is, instead of what she can do. Even if her songs were weak, her strong, assured vocals would carry the day. Sweet and rich with no annoying folky warble, she can croon ("Take It Back"), cry ("Sentimental Heart"), be playful (the bubblegum snappy "I Was Made for You"), or just sweep you off your feet with sweetness ("Sweet Darlin'," which she co-wrote with another artist who overcomes his Hollywood roots, Jason Schwartzman). As for Ward, he keeps his quirks mostly to himself, providing sympathetic backing unadorned by the kind of tricks and gimmicks that make his own albums slightly uneven. The occasional whistle here or slightly unconventional string arrangement there are the only traces of his artistry on Volume One. The rest of the time he and the band (which includes the ubiquitous Mike Mogis) create a soft, gentle feel equally inspired by the Brill Building and the Countrypolitan sound of Nashville in the late '50s. The only place the album falters is on the two covers the duo attempt. Deschanel doesn't add much to "You Really Got a Hold on Me," and Ward's backing vocals are just the kind of affected, arch singing she avoids elsewhere. Their take on the Beatles' "I Should Have Known Better" is better but still awfully close to a novelty. The album would have been more successful without both tracks, but even with them stands as a lovely coming out party for Deschanel. If you run screaming at the thought of singing actresses, give She & Him a chance and it might calm your fears. You may even forget the origins of the singer and simply be charmed by the singing, the songs, and the sounds found on Volume One.
4 Stars
- allmusic.com
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"She" is Zooey Deschanel, indie boys' movie-star crush of choice. "Him" is M. Ward, the rootsy guitarist. Together they pose as a great lost Seventies AM-gold couple. Their acoustic vibe conjures up a time-travel fantasy of key parties, hot tubs and Chablis-crazed groping behind the spider plants. If this is your kind of thing, you will love this record, because Deschanel and Ward definitely know their mellow. In every song, they sound like they wish they were cruising in their Le Car, hitting the beach at Martha's Vineyard with James and Carly to pound strawberry daiquiris and sing "Mockingbird." Whoops — don't want to be late for that Mo Udall rally!
Deschanel's vocals are so Carly Simon it hurts, especially on country-flavored tunes like "Got Me" and "Take It Back." Lazy souls will compare her to Dusty Springfield, but the more accurate touchstone is soft-rock goddess Rita Coolidge. Deschanel's voice also has sweet country curves that evoke Lynn Anderson, Jennifer Warnes and Linda Ronstadt. "Change Is Hard" is a loving homage to Ronstadt's "Different Drum" — Ward even plays the harpsichord solo on steel guitar. Deschanel's songs are simple, which is a smart move — what a drag if she were trying to sing serious torch songs — but She and Him don't fare so well with covers. Smokey Robinson is over their heads, judging from the flubbed chords and notes in "You Really Got a Hold on Me." And they do the Beatles' "I Should Have Known Better" as giggly camp. It's more fun to hear them do their own laid-back thing on "This Is Not a Test," with its EST lyrics and L.A. malaise. Deschanel doesn't go for the sassy comic edge she brings to her movies. In these songs, she's just a girl standing in front of a boy asking him to love her. And if Ward could resist, he must have a heart of stone, or maybe just a switchblade-packing girlfriend.
4 Stars
- rollingstone.com
Artist: She & Him
Album: Volume One
Date Of Release: 2008
Genre: Bedsit, Indie Folk, Anti-folk, Indiepop, Pop
Bitrate: VBR --alt-preset extreme
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