Volume 2

She & Him’s lovely sophomore album provides the perfect soundtrack to chase away any lingering winter blues.  Volume 2 picks up where its predecessor left off, evoking the same mix of rockabilly tinged with vintage Southern California pop.  However, this time around, She & Him’s Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward add depth and polish to the recipe.

Deschanel’s distinctively cheery twang radiates the California sunshine she sings about.  Fans of the blue-eyed brunette will be happy to hear she hasn’t lost any of her vintage-flare or charm since becoming a newlywed.  She even managed to branch out, writing all of the songs on the album. 

While her voice could have grown tiresome, Deschanel is perfectly directed and supported by M. Ward’s melodies and soothing backup harmonies.  He manages to create full tracks from various Deschanel vocal recordings, steely guitars and purposeful piano melodies.   

Volume 2 also boasts relatable, heartfelt lyrics that evoke the musing found in a worn Moleskin diary.  Volume 1’s slow ballads give way to toe-tappers.  On “Gonna Get Along Without You Now,” Deschanel promises she’s “gonna find someone twice as cute, because I didn’t like you anyhow” emphasized by decisive uh-huh's and mm-hm's.  While icy on paper, these words are kept completely innocent by Deschanel’s girlish delivery.  On the standout opener “Thieves”, Deschanel crones “two broken hearts don’t beat/any less.”  Whether giddy or melancholy, Volume 2 creates an oasis where everything, no matter what you’re feeling, is “alright/it’s ok”.

She & Him know their strengths and don’t try to rebel against them.  They will never be as big as Lady Gaga, but that’s not really their style.  Their sincerity is what makes them standout, something that’s impossible to argue.  She & Him choose to relish in creating a perpetually sun-drenched getaway, one perfect for whiling away a spring afternoon.