She’s not exactly what you’d call an “actress turned vocalist”.. Or a “vocalist turned actress,” for that matter. She is Zooey Deschanel,  a talented young lady who has starred in such films as Elf, Yes Man, and Almost Famous, and has performed with a jazz cabaret act known as If All the Stars Were Pretty Babies.

He is Matt Ward, a.k.a., M. Ward. He is an accomplished songwriter and musician, sharing the studio with such acts as My Morning Jacket and Bright Eyes, as well as performing and promoting his own popular solo material.

Together, they are She & Him, literally and otherwise. Their first compilation of recorded music together is appropriately titled Volume One and was released in early 2008 on Merge Records.

“Cried all night ’til there was nothing more / What use am I as a heap on the floor? / Heaving devotion, but it’s just no good.” You can easily picture the cute and charming Deschanel singing these words innocently into a vintage microphone; her tone is truthful and her control is flawless. Oh the beauty, the careful arrangement in Volume One’s opener, “Sentimental Heart,” and it’s only the beginning.

Starting with the first track, the album leads listeners through nostalgic pop territory and gradually rolls over into a folkier variety of tunes. The album leads up to its change very cautiously, incorporating more and more folk techniques until the transformation is complete in “Black Hole.” Before the switch however, there are several standout tracks. The thoroughly retro “I Was Made For You,” the gripping “Take It Back,” the harmony-driven “This is Not a Test,” the Dido-esque “I Thought I Saw Your Face Today,”  and the salty single, “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” all display incredible musicianship and arrangement knowledge, as well as instantly memorable melodies and equally refreshing lyrics. Deschanel’s vocals have an inexplicable timeless quality to them, which are complimented smoothly by M. Ward’s skilled strings and and keen keys.

“Black Hole” and “Got Me,” the two Deschanel-penned songs on the folkier side of Volume One, are admittedly slow-paced when compared to previous tracks; but regardless, they are still fantastic compositions and help balance out the album in terms of rhythm and sound range. Expressive covers also bring out the best in the duo, including The Beatles’ “You Really Got a Hold on Me” and Smokey Robinson’s “I Should Have Known Better.” The colorful Deschanel-Schwartzman collaboration “Sweet Darlin’” is likewise noteworthy for its strong melody and professionally-executed vocal performance.

The album closes with an indelible interpretation of the traditional tune, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” As many times as it’s been re-recorded over the years, I can’t think of any other recording that stands out as much as She & Him’s short, but humbly sweet take. It’s a subtle arrangement, so angelic and peaceful, relying mainly on Deschanel’s solid voice and some fitting musical decorations (i.e. harmony and keys). It additionally ties up the album nicely.

When it comes down to it, She & Him’s Volume One is a amiable attempt at an indie/folk/Beach Boys-type treasure, and it overwhelmingly succeeds in all aspects. For many Deschanel fans, I would consider this her official debut into the music scene, and a solid one at that.

/ Posted: Jan 08, 2009
/ Written by: Matt S.
/ Category: Album Reviews
/ Artist(s): She and Him