She & Him: Volume Two Review

By Monica Nguyen, Staff Writer

She & Him return with their sophomore album, Volume Two,  released on March 23, 2010. The duo, consisting of the gorgeous, vintage-chic, and stylish actress Zooey Deschanel and indie musician rocker M. Ward, bring back their compositions filled with harmonious tunes intertwined with seraphic vocals in this new collaboration. This pair made a great comeback with this new album. Zooey Deschanel (She) wrote all the lyrics and melodies and used her sweet vocals to express them while M. Ward (Him) used his powerful, instrumentalist techniques to create the soft sounds.

Although the album is a bit similar to its predecessor, Volume One, Volume Two carries on a saccharine personality filled with lovely melodies and Deschanel\’s undeniable charming voice. The album opens with its intro song, “Thieves”. “There\’s thieves among us. Painting the walls. With all kinds of lies, and lies. I never told it all.” Deschanel\’s beautiful lyrics such as this, tugs the heartstrings of the listeners while Ward enhances that melodious voice through the soft, graceful and masterful skills of his instruments. The album also has the song “Gonna Get Along Without You Now”, a well-known piece that was originally written by Milton Kellem back in the early ‘50s. Deschanel made a cover for this song, and used the lyrics of Skeeter Davis, who covered the original.

Compared to Volume One, Volume Two brings a darker mood but it shows the progress Deschanel has made in her lyrics. The lyrics give a stronger impact and meaning, and sways listeners with its beautifully-crafted words. Each song carries a significant message. In the song, “Me and You”, Deschanel repetitively sings “You gotta be kind to yourself.” In another song, “Home” the lyrics from the chorus contain “I could be your welcome. I could be your greeter. I could be sweet and I could be sweeter. I want to be where your heart is home.” which Deschanel sings about home as a place where your heart feels most comfortable at. Through their teamwork, Deschanel sings the songs to give the listeners her simple, little message, and Ward plays his instrument to match the atmosphere of each song to bring “the mood” in.

The album closes with the song “If You Can\’t Sleep”. With its lyrics “If you can\’t sleep, I\’ll be there in your dreams. I\’ll be there in your dreams. If you can\’t sleep at all.” It gives each person a warm, safe feeling throughout the song. This soft and reassuring ending perfectly fits the conclusion of the album.

According to The Billboard 200, She & Him\’s album Volume Two placed #6  the first week the album was released. Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward woo their listeners again in this new album, and bring back a new Volume One, but this time with a different, messages seen in each individual song, and softer melodies heard through Ward\’s instruments. Listeners will be swayed by each composition, slowly intrigued by each little message contained in them.