Volume 2 by She & Him

She (Zooey Deschanel, 500 Days of Summer) is the indie chanteuse who is transforming a fledgling acting career into a serious acting career/fledgling music career with the help of Him (singer-songwriter M.Ward) who is undeniably the more talented one (see Post-War and Hold Time), but is less integral to Volume Two and for all his pathetic sensibility the less interesting of the two. Yes, Him’s production notes, guitar work, and occasional harmonies help define the sound of this recording, making it more interesting than your average folkie offering, but these are Zooey’s songs (two covers, both well-chosen) in Zooey’s voice (over-Appalachian, under-diverse, she can’t muster up a scream?), which means we must grapple with who She is.

Her film performances are so still and quiet - and so much intrinsically linked to her big-eyed charm - that it’s hard to pin whether they are understated or simply lazy. The record is much the same way: a harmonious blend of 60’s and 70’s-lite sounds which takes you away on a breezy vacation without ever really reminding you of why you left in the first place. Deschanel’s songs bounce melodically, and offer lines that are compact and appropriate for her aesthetic (“I’ve gotten over it, over and over again”) playing gentle puns against romantic insight. Her songs rarely come across sincere however: “Home” is a goofy come-on that turns a harp and dream-like vocal distortion into the crudely-drawn fantasy that I’m sure many people have of the singer. It seems like She knows what people want from her and is simply playing into that hand (don't even get me started on the closing number). She conceals her flaws, wanting to be liked, but ultimately people are likeable for their flaws. PJ Harvey is aggressive, Liz Phair is slutty, Brian Wilson is controlling: that’s kinda what’s great about them, and on their records they reckon with those traits. While things like “Thieves”, “In the Sun” and “Brand New Shoes” sport great hooks, they all play for sympathy.

What makes me question the lyrics is the same thing that makes me question the sound of the record itself. This isn’t a full-on cultural renaissance of 60’s harmonics like The La’s tried to be; it’s a charming if dangerous, attempt to exploit nostalgic romanticism for cash, fame, and all that jazz. Zooey’s album is a charming diversion from the real world of human relationships, a diverting fling that’ll tap your toes and flutter your heart, but she’s not the kind of girl you want to settle down with. 3/5