reax music magazine :: music + culture » Reviews » She and Him - Volume One

I was never into M. Ward. I never understood what he was all about, but I never really took the time to investigate. He keeps company with all the right people: Yo La Tango, Jenny Lewis, My Morning Jacket and Neko Case, to name a few collaborators. Enter: Zooey Deschanel. I wasn’t sure who she was either – name sounded familiar. Whatever obscurity they shared independently in my narrow view was obliterated with the formation of their joint effort, She and Him.

Volume One is a wonderful collection of music. Deschanel’s voice is fragile, haunting, and versatile throughout the album. Although one can hear the jazz crooner within her on every song – especially “Take it Back” – she moves comfortably from '60s/'70s pop in the vein of Carole King (as in “Sentimental Heart” and “This is not a Test”) to the Patsy Cline-ish “Change is Hard.” Deschanel’s angelic voice brings an elegant charm and whimsy to M. Ward’s dignified, low-fi production.

“Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” is my early frontrunner for the best song of 2008. The simple, driving melody accompanied by the Spector-ish hugeness of Zooey’s echoed voice and wall-of-sound approach to her own back-up vocals make an undeniable pop gem which begs to be heard over and over. Volume One is a sweet surprise, Ward and Deschanel seemingly come out of nowhere with a brilliant soundtrack for spring. – John Prinzo