| She & Him - Volume Two |  | Artist: She & Him
Label: Merge Records
Category: Music
List Price: $15.98
Buy New: $9.47
as of 9/9/2010 13:50 CDT details
You Save: $6.51 (41%)
New (37) Used (7) from $9.47
Seller: cdtraderamazon
Rating:  43 reviews
Sales Rank: 453
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
UPC: 673855035420
EAN: 0673855035420
ASIN: B0036BDQ4W
Release Date: March 23, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Features:
|
| Tracks:
| • | Thieves | | • | In the Sun | | • | Don't Look Back | | • | Ridin' in My Car (NRBQ) | | • | Lingering Still | | • | Me and You | | • | Gonna Get Along Without You Now (Skeeter Davis) | | • | Home | | • | I'm Gonna Make It Better | | • | Sing | | • | Over It Over Again | | • | Brand New Shoes | | • | If You Can't Sleep |
|
| Similar Items:
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Music for an eternal springtime - where the saddest of songs feel as warm as sun showers; the rain may be coming down, but somewhere nearby, everything looks bright. ZOOEY DESCHANEL & M. WARD are as comfortable & complementary a musical pair as Les Paul & Mary Ford. Bittersweet, dreamy, & romantic!
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 43
 In the Sun August 22, 2010
Irishgal (Arizona, USA)
When I first heard She & Him's "Volume One", I was struck by their mix of '60s melodies and harmonies with a dash of old fashioned country. On "Volume Two", the sound has changed slightly. The country sound is gone, and in its place is simple, 1960s summer. It's appropriate that 'In the Sun' is the record's first single, as the phrase sums up this album pretty well.
Lead track 'Thieves' channels the magic of Peter, Paul and Mary with its bittersweet message and unique blend of guitars and orchestration. 'Lingering Still' is something that could have featured in a 1940s Hawaiian film, with its laid-back beat. 'If You Can't Sleep' is a rich, hymn-like ballad that evokes memories of Deschanel's vocals on "Volume One"'s 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'. And 'In the Sun' is pure retro candy.
Overall, there are some complaints that this record is almost identical to its predecessor. To my ears, it sounds different. The style on this one is much more focused, more like 'Why Do You Let Me Stay Here' than 'Sentimental Heart'. Sure, there are some covers on here - though rather than the Beatles or Smokey Robinson, they're more obscure songs that seem to fit in very well.
"Volume Two" isn't a particularly thought-provoking album, but She & Him aren't exactly a thought-provoking band. I've always looked at the duo as two people who simply enjoy making music. And this record is full of good, old-fashioned music.
 Hey, there, Georgy girl! August 15, 2010
John W. Dunner (Atco, NJ United States)
Hey, there, Georgy Girl. If the Seekers made you weak in the knees, please don't breeze past this one. On this second set of Brill Building guildings, actor / singer-songwriter Zooey Deschanel channels the early 60s' girl groups, while guitarist / producer M. Ward dutifully dubs in the surf guitar, bossa drums, picked bass, and cooed backups that take you right back to that pre-Beatles time of true love and yearning crushes. Deschanel's songs skip stones across the lake of profundity - all the way across: if there's another Georgy deep inside, you won't find her here. ***1/2
Orpheus Melted August 4, 2010
Neil A. Depuy
Saw She & Him on Spectacle. Boring. Heard Volume 1. Mediocre. Saw them play In The Sun on Letterman. Amazing. ZD brought these beautiful songs to Volume 2 and Ward produced and I imagine mostly arranged this perfect summertime record. You could make a lot of these arrangements, because it's all there; the Orbison crescendo on Thieves, the Pet Sounds break on Don't Look Back, Leiber and Stoller on Lingering Still. Phil Spector. Brill Building. Brian Wilson. Everything you would expect from a singer who told Wilson she cries when she hears Surfer Girl, whose favorite song is Wouldn't It Be Nice. Ward tracks ZD and verbs her in the 1950's cowgirl style that suits her husky voice. There's no irony in the performances, no showing off in the arrangements. It's the songs that make the record special and not just derivative. "A love like ours is terrible news(Thieves.") "Orpheus melted the heart of Persephone(Don't Look Back.")"I'm running away it makes me feel better(Brand New Shoes.") Deschanel is a terrific songwriter, and this 1960's/West Coast flavored record is the best thing in 2010. If you download it, drop in the B-side of In The Sun, the Beach Boys via Barry/Greenwich/Spector/Ronettes I Can Hear Music, and the soundtrack song, the oft-covered Smiths Please, Please, Please... They both fit perfectly.
Even Better! July 27, 2010
Donna Clemens (Scranton, PA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The second album to be released by the duo, She & Him, comprised of actress Zooey Deschanel and musician M. Ward was released on March 17, 2010 through Merge Records.
1. Thieves (4:08) - From the first notes, you know this album isn't much of a change from the previous. You also notice that Zooey Deschanel's voice has improved and flows more naturally than it did on the first album. The instrumentals seem crisper and M. Ward sings more on this album, as evident by his backing vocals.
2. In the Sun (2:51) - Immediately you know this song is going to be fun, and it is. It's the most upbeat song on the album, and my absolute favorite. Zooey's voice sounds so smooth and shines its way through the chorus, with background vocals, this time, being provided by special guests Tilly and the Wall. M.'s instrumentals provide most of the fun to the song.
3. Don't Look Back (3:23) - This has some of the best beginning notes out of any She & Him. Why? It's one of the best She & Him songs! While the chorus is far from the best, the verses absolutely shine, with the lyrics and Zooey's voice, along with M.'s instrumentals. Definite favorite!
4. Ridin' In My Car (3:15) - A cover of an NRBQ song from the 60's, She & Him spices it up a notch with their fiery composition. Not the best on the album, but not the worst. Unusually, it's better than the original!
5. Lingering Still (3:02) - This is a weird song, as the vocals are pop-influenced, but the instrumentals are definitely twanged with a heavy country vibe. It does, however, turn out to be a fantastic song, and earns its place as one of the best on the album. Towards the end, the song slows down for a few seconds and then regains speed as M. plays away it away, finally collaborating with Zooey on vocals until the end of the song.
6. Me and You (3:20) - Right off the bat, you can tell things are about to slow down a little. And they do. Zooey sings of a (I assume former) lover who has "Gotta be kind to yourself." M. provides background vocals yet again. It seems his voice is being used far more on Volume Two than it was on Volume One, and for the better.
7. Gonna Get Along Without You Now (2:32) - Things speed up a little here as Zooey harmonizes and then sings the title of the song. Zooey, herself, provides the background vocals here, giving M. a break. There's not really much to this song, but it's a relaxing tune.
8. Home (4:41) - The longest song She & Him have recorded so far, it's definitely a great one. The vocals and instrumentals seem to really shine during this number, as if She & Him are trying to prove something, which they definitely have. Nothing much else to say; good song.
9. I'm Gonna Make It Better (3:31) - The most country-like song on the album has some of the best lyrics on the albums. "It all comes full circle, yes it all comes crashing down on you" and "faces are not always what they seem" being some examples.
10. Sing (3:13) - The only reference in any of these songs is a modern one: "Sitting at home and watching Cribs" seems out of place in a song heavily influenced by songs of the 50's, before TVs were around, let alone MTV. Zooey is at her smokiest in this song, adding a mysterious aura to her voice.
11. Over It Again (3:30) - This song is reminiscent of Volume One's songs, feeling like it should have belonged on the first album. It's probably my least favorite on the album, but still a decent track. Zooey kind of sings whiny in this song, and it doesn't really work for her.
12. Brand New Shoes (3:04) - The slowest song on the album, and probably my favorite. It's unlike any other song She & Him has sung, yet alike others, and it's actually really awesome.
13. 13. If You Can't Sleep (2:49) - The last track begins with some gentle humming from Zooey and M., and leads into The song is slow like a lullaby, and plays out like that throughout. A nice closing out track.
A more solid release than their first, this one deserves Four and a Half out of Five Stars.
 Man, but if you like music ... June 30, 2010
Automated Message (SF)
3 out of 9 found this review helpful
Wow! This really is bad. Not like Michael Jackson "Bad" either. More like Mick Jones B.A.D. stink level.
There's no reason to butter it up any. I mean have you actually been able to make a hole in the cellophane, taken out the disc, popped it into some sort of music player, made sure the volume was playing at a perceptible level, and not left the room immediately after??
At first, I thought I was stuck in some hyberbaric, panoramic, cotton candy teen angst-infused celluloid land where weirdos are just shy, everyone loves you when you're recovering in the hospital from learning another quirky life lesson, every bright moment moves in well-lit slow motion, and self-deprecating vamps want to make "eyes" with sad sack ol' me, camera pans from the ceiling like a perverted Igor living in the attic's perspective, looks down on me sitting on a raggedy mattress on the concrete floor, hair all poofy and argyle tubesocks brimming with ironic safety pins. AND CUE TEDDY BEAR BLOSSOM SUGAR CAKES IN HER NEW HAT AND OH SHE BROUGHT ALONG HER INSIGNIFICANT OTHER!
Then I remembered all those traumatic campfire singalongs when I barfed up s'mores and wet the bed like it was a thirsty Death Valley survivor. Is this the indie Lawrence Welk? Can you outcute Betty Boop? Oh, I get it: Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Who would dare jostle the hipster queen from her Etsy-soul pedestal anyway? I mean, give that gal a scriptwriting assignment! Have any of you "serious types" even asked her what her solution would be to the oil spill?
Anyway, I've developed a rash from all this happy, orange cardboard sunshine beaming down from a paper gash in the sky. My angel wings beat like a fist against your nape currently. Jack's not in this box.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 43
|
|
|
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME. |
