she and him - volume 1

On She and Him’s Volume One, actress Zooey Deschanel pairs up with under-the-radar Merge artist M. Ward to flesh out her songs and a few covers. The album drifts fluidly through mid-century pop and country, its cohesive force secured by Deschanel’s distinctive and malleable voice. It’s easy surprised when you first hear Zooey Deschanel’s textured twang. The doe-eyed actress best known as the sister in Almost Famous, voice is rich and knowing even when drenched in nostalgia.

The songs work best when a driving accompaniment is moving them forward, when Deschanel drifts toward nostalgia she often gets lost in the song. And while her voice conjures sentimentality with naivete and knowing, sometimes her vocals are awkwardly phrased and lack fluidity. “Sentimental Heart” has a charming bedroom feel, just a girl singing laments over a simple piano melody, but would benefit more from a faster tempo. Deschanel is more commanding in songs like “I was made for you” with its swinging 50s pop and rockabilly flutters and the bright Nancy Sinatra lilt of “Why do you let me stay here.” Deschanel’s lovely vibrato comes to the fore in “Change is Hard,” which is wistful as well, but her grit helps reign in the song. Change is hard” fares better by pursuing a straightforward country route with lo-fi picking and steel guitar solos.

None of the songs on Volume One fail but a few falter a bit. “This is not a test” tries to merge 60s pop background with country vocals and ends up with awkward phrasing. The covers either don’t fit the mood of the album, like the slow, haunting, “You’ve really got a hold on me” or come off as cheesy when ensconced in country-pop aesthetics like the Beatles’ “I should have known better.”

At times Deschanel’s vocals are overwrought and the pacing feels a little too wistful, but overall She and Him’s Volume One is compelling because of its unique sound and Deschanel’s rich, textured voice. Despite some of the decidedly inane flourishes from mid-century popular music, Volume One retains a bright, warm sound absent from most contemporary records. And though the duo would certainly benefit from a more mature sound, their charm is undeniable.