1. Thieves
2. In the Sun
3. Don't Look Back
4. Ridin' In My Car
5. Lingering Still
6. Me and You
7. Gonna Get Along Without You Now
8. Home
9. I'm Gonna Make It Better
10. Sing
11. Over It Over Again
12. Brand New Shoes
12. If You Can't Sleep
3. Don't Look Back
4. Ridin' In My Car
5. Lingering Still
6. Me and You
7. Gonna Get Along Without You Now
8. Home
9. I'm Gonna Make It Better
10. Sing
11. Over It Over Again
12. Brand New Shoes
12. If You Can't Sleep
Finally. Yes finally, I got my hands on 'Volume Two'. She & Him's 'Volume One' was released in 2008 and received both positive reviews in the press but also great support from me. So, it was a long anticipated wait for 'Volume Two'. Zooey (Deschanel) and M.Ward are back as the sweet duo making time-warped classics that will leave you feeling like you are listening to music from the 60's. An era Zooey is clearly a fan of.
The one thing that stands out on this album compared to 'Volume One' is Zooey's voice. Prior to this is always seemed somewhat broken, but always worked with the style of music. Before she was an actress turned singer while now she seems to have taken the singing crown. The overall production sounds better and more professional, but never losing the feel of the previous album. Zooey once again takes the song-writing mantle, bar a few covers in the album, and M.Ward accompanies the vocals beautifully as always with his soft guitar and piano.
The album opens with 'Thieves'. Immediately I was amazed by the difference in the opening to 'Volume One' where the vocals took centre stage and let the music come in. With 'Thieves' we are treated to some lovely uplifting guitar from M.Ward and shortly after Zooey joins in with the noticeably better voice than prior. The song is a warming introduction to the album and perfect for a summer afternoon. First release from the album 'In The Sun' follows and, with a little backing vocals from the Tilly and the Wall gang, sounds wonderful. Another upbeat summery song with piano (and various other instruments I can't fully decipher) layer the song together and make it the obviously single choice. 'Don't Look back' and 'Ridin' in My Car' (NRBQ cover) are next and would also be single contenders. Upbeat numbers which really capture the 60's summer feel with M. Ward even contributing some vocals in the process. We are treated to some mandolin in 'Lingering Still' which has Zooey singing in a more similar style to the first album, with a real country feel to the song. 'Me and You' is a downbeat number with slow strings, steel guitar and deep harmonies from M.Ward in the background. 'Gonna Get Along Without You Now', a Skeeter Davies cover, shows exactly the style I would associate with the band. Early 60's doo-wop music. 'Home' seems to be over-crowded with too many instruments during the verses but the choruses change into something music better with the guitar and mandolin sandwiching it all together well. 'I'm Gonna Make it Better' has the feel of the first album with lovely strummed guitar and some little solos on the pedal steel guitar. More doo-wop sounds from Zooey and shows this is the type of song to suit her well. One of my favourites on the album is the next song, 'Sing'. The voice I expect to hear on this album, good backing vocals and softly strummed guitar. 'Over and Over Again' fits in well with the end of album getting closer. Lots of piano on this one providing an upbeat number with backing vocals a plenty. The album ends with 2 slow songs, 'Brand New Shoes' and 'If You Can't Sleep'. As on the previous album it seems like a fitting way to end with Zooey's vocals taking centre stage and the softly playing music in the background to play it out.
I thoroughly enjoyed this album, but feel I was always going to. Fans of the first album will love this one also, as it is much the same. Credit though should be given to Zooey and M.Ward for keeping the feel of the first going. The vocals have been improved and sounds as new and fresh as before, whilst maintaining that 60’s feel. With summer fast around the corner, this is an album to have playing whilst driving down the coast in the sunshine. I now just hope that they don't take so long making 'Volume Three' as they did this one!
The one thing that stands out on this album compared to 'Volume One' is Zooey's voice. Prior to this is always seemed somewhat broken, but always worked with the style of music. Before she was an actress turned singer while now she seems to have taken the singing crown. The overall production sounds better and more professional, but never losing the feel of the previous album. Zooey once again takes the song-writing mantle, bar a few covers in the album, and M.Ward accompanies the vocals beautifully as always with his soft guitar and piano.
The album opens with 'Thieves'. Immediately I was amazed by the difference in the opening to 'Volume One' where the vocals took centre stage and let the music come in. With 'Thieves' we are treated to some lovely uplifting guitar from M.Ward and shortly after Zooey joins in with the noticeably better voice than prior. The song is a warming introduction to the album and perfect for a summer afternoon. First release from the album 'In The Sun' follows and, with a little backing vocals from the Tilly and the Wall gang, sounds wonderful. Another upbeat summery song with piano (and various other instruments I can't fully decipher) layer the song together and make it the obviously single choice. 'Don't Look back' and 'Ridin' in My Car' (NRBQ cover) are next and would also be single contenders. Upbeat numbers which really capture the 60's summer feel with M. Ward even contributing some vocals in the process. We are treated to some mandolin in 'Lingering Still' which has Zooey singing in a more similar style to the first album, with a real country feel to the song. 'Me and You' is a downbeat number with slow strings, steel guitar and deep harmonies from M.Ward in the background. 'Gonna Get Along Without You Now', a Skeeter Davies cover, shows exactly the style I would associate with the band. Early 60's doo-wop music. 'Home' seems to be over-crowded with too many instruments during the verses but the choruses change into something music better with the guitar and mandolin sandwiching it all together well. 'I'm Gonna Make it Better' has the feel of the first album with lovely strummed guitar and some little solos on the pedal steel guitar. More doo-wop sounds from Zooey and shows this is the type of song to suit her well. One of my favourites on the album is the next song, 'Sing'. The voice I expect to hear on this album, good backing vocals and softly strummed guitar. 'Over and Over Again' fits in well with the end of album getting closer. Lots of piano on this one providing an upbeat number with backing vocals a plenty. The album ends with 2 slow songs, 'Brand New Shoes' and 'If You Can't Sleep'. As on the previous album it seems like a fitting way to end with Zooey's vocals taking centre stage and the softly playing music in the background to play it out.
I thoroughly enjoyed this album, but feel I was always going to. Fans of the first album will love this one also, as it is much the same. Credit though should be given to Zooey and M.Ward for keeping the feel of the first going. The vocals have been improved and sounds as new and fresh as before, whilst maintaining that 60’s feel. With summer fast around the corner, this is an album to have playing whilst driving down the coast in the sunshine. I now just hope that they don't take so long making 'Volume Three' as they did this one!
No comments:
Post a Comment