She & Him - Volume One
by Brandon Miles ~ May 20th, 2008. Filed under: .
As I’ve said in previous posts concerning She & Him, I’ve been waiting a long time for Zooey Deschanel to release a record of original music. With such a truly unique voice, which is somehow cute and haunting and the same time, I was ready for her to setting acting aside almost completely and get in the studio. Usually when an actor or actress decides to have a music career on the side, it turns out to be a complete disaster. From Paris Hilton’s “Nothing in the World” all the way back to Eddie Murphy’s “(My Girl Wants to) Party All the Time” collaboration with Rick James. Heck, I don’t even really dig this new Scarlett Johansson does Tom Waits stuff. Not sure what it is. I just don’t see what all the fuss is about. Sorry if that costs me some hipster cred.
But Zooey did something interesting. Instead of spending millions of dollars on a glittery, wreaks-of-hollywood type of album… it seems she just wrote some genuinely good songs inspired my the music she actually listens to. Maybe the others did that too, but if so then the difference is that Zooey likes good music. When I first heard her sing with M. Ward (mostly known as the side man to Norah Jones or Bright Eyes, although quite an amazing songwriter on his own merit), I wanted her to record even more. Little did I know that the project that was up her sleeve all along would be a collaborative effort with Ward himself called She & Him “Volume One.” And let me tell you, this thing sounds good!
First off, if you aren’t familiar with M. Ward… become so. Post War is a definitive release of original modern indie folk music. Ward has a voice that sounds of ghost tales and heartbreak. Salvation and hard living. Haunted and broken. Innocent, but with a guilty conscience. “A perfect combination for Zooey,” I thought to myself, but save for a cover of Smokey Robinson’s “You Really Gotta Hold On Me,” Zooey mostly sings solo. She is backed by Ward and company on harmonies. Mainly Rachel Blumberg (M. Ward, The Decemberists) on drums and Mike Coykendall (M. Ward, Bright Eyes) on the pedal steel. Live you may see any slew of indie giants backing them up, often Yo La Tango. They are also really good, in case you’re missing out.
My absolute favorite songs are “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” and “Sentimental Heart” which are the first two tracks on the record (although not in that order). Other notable tracks are “Change is Hard,” “I Should Have Known Better” (a Beatles cover), and “Sweet Darlin’” (co-written by Jason Schwartzman, oddly enough). The production sounds as if Ward tracked this thing through the portal of some homemade time machine. It truly has the warmest, and most sincere, vintage tone I have ever heard. Rarely do records come off this genuine when attempting this sort of sound. The record feels really comfortable, and the songs will take you through many (older) decades of style without coming across as contrived or arrogant. Very natural.
Get it on vinyl if you have a good way to play it. But make sure you get it at all. She & Him’s “Volume One” is sure to be one of this year’s best.
Buy it from Amazon.com.