Jared Leto’s 30 Seconds to Mars, Keanu Reeves’ Dogstar, Russell Crowe’s…and The Ordinary Fear of God.Actor’s bands, as you can see, have somewhat of a chequered past.
I mention this as She & Him are actress Zooey Deschanel (Elf, (500) Days of Summer) and sometime Monster of Folk; M.Ward.
“Sometimes lonely isn’t sad” sings Deschanel on ‘Thieves’ which opens ‘Volume 2’ (shockingly, their second album), this sets the mood for the rest of the album, lyrically rather melancholic, but musically, irresistibly cheerful.
Her “mmm-hmm’s” and “uh-huh’s” make the cover of Skeeter Thompson’s ‘Gonna Get Along Without You Now’ more infectious, and downright joyous than it has any right to be. Ward’s role is a subtle one, so much so that when his vocals arrive on ‘Ridin’ In My Car’ (another cover) it comes as somewhat as a surprise, like bumping into an old friend that you haven’t seen in years. His guitar playing and arrangements compliment Dechanel’s voice (not the strongest, but used to great effect throughout) incredibly well, and the bridge of ‘Home’, when the song delicately and majestically changes direction, is just gorgeous.
Mike Mogis (another Monster of Folk and member of Bright Eyes) has done a sterling job with the production on this record, restrained, but effective. For much of the album Deschanel’s vocals are backed up by a trio of Deschanels, giving them somewhat of a Supreme’s-esque quality.
‘Volume 2’ is an absolute triumph, unashamedly nostalgic (they wouldn’t have looked out of place performing at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance at Hill Valley High School in 1955) more than a little twee (as fuck), it combines Deschanel’s love of country music and Ward’s alt.folk credentials to great effect. I’ll be very surprised if I hear a pop album quite this perfect for some time.
Roll on Volume 3!
“Sometimes lonely isn’t sad” sings Deschanel on ‘Thieves’ which opens ‘Volume 2’ (shockingly, their second album), this sets the mood for the rest of the album, lyrically rather melancholic, but musically, irresistibly cheerful.
Her “mmm-hmm’s” and “uh-huh’s” make the cover of Skeeter Thompson’s ‘Gonna Get Along Without You Now’ more infectious, and downright joyous than it has any right to be. Ward’s role is a subtle one, so much so that when his vocals arrive on ‘Ridin’ In My Car’ (another cover) it comes as somewhat as a surprise, like bumping into an old friend that you haven’t seen in years. His guitar playing and arrangements compliment Dechanel’s voice (not the strongest, but used to great effect throughout) incredibly well, and the bridge of ‘Home’, when the song delicately and majestically changes direction, is just gorgeous.
Mike Mogis (another Monster of Folk and member of Bright Eyes) has done a sterling job with the production on this record, restrained, but effective. For much of the album Deschanel’s vocals are backed up by a trio of Deschanels, giving them somewhat of a Supreme’s-esque quality.
‘Volume 2’ is an absolute triumph, unashamedly nostalgic (they wouldn’t have looked out of place performing at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance at Hill Valley High School in 1955) more than a little twee (as fuck), it combines Deschanel’s love of country music and Ward’s alt.folk credentials to great effect. I’ll be very surprised if I hear a pop album quite this perfect for some time.
Roll on Volume 3!
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