Customer Reviews

Volume Two [Vinyl]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Lately there's been a Renaissances of actresses becoming singers. But while Scarlett Johansson has the soul, Zooey Deschanel has the indie cred & the great music. But while Deschanel provides the sunny vocals, M. Ward is the true master of the album, creating all the complex harmonies and complementing the sunny vocals with equally sunny music. Some duos were just meant to be together, and She & Him are one of them. If anything, it establishes Zooey as a 70s AM Pop Gold Goddess in the 00s/10s.

Highlights Include:
Thieves
In The Sun
Ridin' In My Car
Home

She & Him are great at establishing the mood and feel of this album. It has a classical feel, while still sounding current, and it still knows how to maintain its charm throughout the whole project. But still, if I had a criticism, it would be that the album has an extreme lack of variety. But though the case may be, the album does it perfectly. Plus, M. Ward does a pretty good job distracting you with his complex & layered harmonies, at which he is a master with.

Overall, Volume Two could be one of the greatest Spring albums of all time, or at least for this Spring. It carries all the feelings of the season, from the carefree sunniness, to the quest and joy of Love. Of course, I'll admit it right now, I'm kind of partial since Zooey Deschanel is my favorite actress, and I've always appreciated M. Ward's work. But in any case, the two come together perfectly again, even if there is a lack of variet. But rest assured, She & Him have flashes of briliance, and they're well worth a listen.

Real Score: 4.5

I've already written a separate review of the music, this is just a short review of my vinyl purchase of this music.

I am very pleased with the quality of the sound of She and Him on vinyl. While I have listen to this CD regularity since its release last March, giving the vinyl a spin last night, I could hear details in the music that I did not detect before. Overall the the vinyl seems to give the music a much richer sound. The vinyl is quite and clean sounding with no surface noise in the music even at the quieter moments of the music and no popping sounds in the silence between the songs. 180 gram vinyl is how I am going to buy new releases in the future and build a nice little collection.

One suggestion if you should pick up the vinyl copy of this release. Becaue of the tickness of the vinyl, the packaging is a little tight going and coming out of the inner jacket which I was afraid might cuase marks effecting the clean sound of the vinyl. Solutuion, take a traditional inner jacket from one of my old albums and house the disk in there.

I don't know if others would agree with my review title, but I think Volume Two outdoes Volume One.
I love that She & Him's music is so uncomplicated. Its simplicity is its strength, and the straightforwardness that shines through in the lyrics are perfectly matched up with the music.

My favorite would have to be 'In the Sun'. Its spunk and brightness always reminds me of 'Lilo and Stitch', and it's awfully fun to play on the ukelele.

I felt this album was very tight and compact compared to She & Him Vol 1. Tight and compact in a good way that is, the album is very polished is what I guess I'm trying to say from the last. Anyway it is a great album nonetheless and M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel seem to be playing these songs and covers so effortlessly (sort of like in a Simon and Garfunkel way I suppose). With that said you should, NO, you must purchase this on vinyl!!! I swear listening to the album on vinyl is just 10 times better than in CD or Digital music. Zooey Deschanel's voice is amazing and M Ward's guitar shimmer so much more brightly on vinyl. It makes listening to the album a much more delightful experience.

I am a huge fan of volume One. this album just seemed to fall short, while still enjoyable, it didn't quite hit the spot in the same way.

saw them perform and she is the real deal. Although her stage presence needs some sharpening. she seems a uncomfortable on the stage, and it seems like she's putting a tremendous effort to stay on the song. In short her voice sounds just like the record.

With mainstream "billboard" music being plagued with countless instances of autotone and electronic sounds, this album is a fresh breath of air.
Going back to more simpler times, this album delivers solid & vintage songs. M. Ward orchestrates great instrumentals while Zooey Deschanel brings her sweet sounding voice. I have listened to this vinyl over a hundred times and It still never seizes to put a smile on my face.
I have seen She & Him in concert and they just create an overall great musical experience.

Some will say this album is the most retro sounding thing they've heard in years or the freshest. I think it's a nice combination of both. The abundance of good memorable tunes make this a wonderful LP to spin, and on vinyl is definitely the ultimate way to experience it's great 60's style production. Side One is the stronger of the 2 sides, great from start to finish. Zooey D. does'nt posess the technical firepower of many of today's "over the top" female vocalists, but she plays it simple and hearfelt. And she wrote most of these songs which makes it all the more impressive. Her approach, along with great backing vocals and solid instrumentation suit these songs well. Laying the needle down in these sumptious grooves is like taking a trip back in time when melody and feel meant everything. This album is pure excapism. Most importantly, the songs seems to be stuck in your head for days after listening, which is what great record making is all about.

A weak purchasing moment. What was I thinking......ugh! Please god don't let any of these songs get stuck in head.

Quite simply it doesn't work this time. The first LP was enjoyable although as I said in another review it under-utilized Ward. Well this is the case here and now I can add to the criticism that Deschanel doesn't have what it takes. The songs are sophomoric and barely alive. Go it alone Matt, please.