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She & Him - Volume Two |  | Artist: She & Him
Label: Merge Records
Category: Music
List Price: $15.98
Buy New: $10.14
as of 7/30/2010 00:40 CDT details
You Save: $5.84 (37%)
New (37) Used (6) from $9.96
Seller: -importcds
Rating:  40 reviews
Sales Rank: 172
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
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| Features:
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| 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 |
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| 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!
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 40
Even Better! July 27, 2010
Donna Clemens (Scranton, PA USA)
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)
2 out of 8 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.
Soundtrack for 'Gidget Goes to Wyoming'! June 11, 2010
Rocky Raccoon (Boise, ID)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
She & Him offers the best of both pop worlds: alternative and sixties pop. For the latter, lead singer Zooey Deschanel's effervescent vocals are reminiscent of the best vintage memories: Dusty Springfield, Leslie Gore, and Petula Clark seem effortlessly evoked as steadfast piano and guitar chords infectiously serenade the listener in a bouncey fashion. For 'Volume Two' even the studio production echoes the recordings of yesteryear. Yet, the flair is there, too, an essential element, preventing the songs from becoming too much bubblegum to our ears.
Those who like Sixpence None the Richer's version of "There She Goes" will most likely be enthralled with this little studio album gem. Or, for those more geared to the traditional or hardcore, comparisons can be made with Deschanel's "Brand New Shoes" and Mo Tucker's famous vocal performance on "After Hours," the finale of The Velvet's self-titled album.
Consistency is one of the greatest common denominators of this collection, even if "Don't Look Back," "Gonna Get Along Without You Now," and "Over It Over Again" are stand outs. Yet countrified songs like "Lingering Still" and "I'm Gonna Make It Better" keep it all fresh and fun.
In sum 'Volume Two' is a 'Back to the Future' listening experience: pleasant enough to hook us in, but innovative enough to keep us coming back for more.
 Era of Integrity June 9, 2010
R. Andrew (Queensland, AU)
I love She & Him! They hearken back to the day when music had real integrity. Volume Two (like Volume One) is an eclectic mix of feel-good tunes that really lift your mood. She & Him do great credit to the era they aim to represent and blow a breath of fresh air and authenticity into the present one - they are certainly not your generic, tawdry pop outfit. Kudos to Matt and Zooey who are genuine and down to earth as well as being talented musicians and singers - thanks for another favourite!
Zooey Deschanel can sing! May 27, 2010
LaurieB (Fryeburg, Maine USA)
I heard an interview with She and Him on NPR several weeks ago. I liked what I heard. I'm generally not inclined to purchase a cd based on a few snippets heard amidst interviews, but I really liked Zooey's voice. The album is beautiful, sort of nostalgic, and pleasing.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 40
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