She & Him :: Volume 2

Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward return this year with the follow-up to Volume 1, the album that put Deschanel on the map as a musician. Volume 2 is a good continuation of the debut, but more heavily laced with country influences.

The album’s first single, “In The Sun,” is very poppy and pretty mainstream-esque with the hoppy piano melody and strings in the background. M. Ward’s muffled guitar is there and the echo effect definitely gives the song a bit of a country sound, but you can tell that it’s toned down. It’s not a bad song, it just sounds very tailored-for-the-radio. But who can complain with a music video as cute as that!?

“Lingering Still” is a great track that fuses country with a sort of tropical theme. I don’t know how they did it, but Ward and Deschanel totally pulled it off here. The guitar melody in the beginning gives you that country feeling again, but when that ukulele kicks in during the verses with her voice, you all of a sudden feel like you’re on some breezy island. The acoustic is still there and soon light strings/synths envelope the background. The chorus brings in some very wavy, whiny synths while Ward joins in (which doesn’t happen often enough). During the bridge, there are so many instruments and styles brought in that you almost don’t know what to do with yourself! “Lingering Still” is definitely a highlight of the album and displays the vast range of this duo’s influences.

There aren’t enough harmonizing hums in our lives and She & Him must be aware of that because of their final track on Volume 2, “If You Can’t Sleep.” This song is so full of hums, you’ll think you walked into a funeral at a church somewhere in Europe. To me, it sounds beautiful but I can see it becoming overwhelming to some. It definitely has a solemn church choir feel to it. The only instrument heard here other than humming and Deschanel’s singing is the string section. It’s a short track to finish off the album, but one that puts a nice finishing touch to this array of influences.

Volume 2 is 13 tracks of Zooey goodness that you just can’t deny! Though it’s not a GREAT album, it’s perfectly enjoyable. I love Zooey’s voice because it’s not too flashy and she sounds real. Ward’s musical talent and producing skills compliment Deschanel’s voice perfectly and create a light and breezy summer album.

Buy the album at our record store on Amazon
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