There’s a warmth in the sad, measured gallop of “Thieves,” the first song off of She & Him’s Volume Two, and it’s undeniably charming. The final swell of amber guitars, strings and voice beams straight to the chest, lights it up like a summer sunset.
But She (actress Zooey Deschanel) and Him (folkster M. Ward) stubbornly park their feel-good cabooses in that light for the duration of the record, and it’s not long till the sunset loses its magic. After another 40 minutes without relief, the sunset is just boring. Too much milk and honey.
Thank Ms. Deschanel, Volume Two’s resolute playwright and inescapable host. Her face, framed in gently arranged bangs and big Bambi eyes, is familiar – the actress starred in “500 Days of Summer,” “Yes Man,” and a television commercial for cotton, of all things.
Volume Two feeds on this puppy-dog routine. One imagines Ms. Deschanel in a perpetual curtsy during these recording sessions. Most every song revels in ‘60s-inflected baroque pop, all of them written for the whir of bicycle spokes in the summery montage of another twee film about two irresistibly whimsical white people.
After three-and-a-half songs of Ms. Deschanel, center stage, in waltzes M. Ward, his voice a watery BBQ sauce (organic and reduced-calorie, naturally), only to retreat backstage for the entire second act. The arrangements, though, are undeniably his: hear those feathery snare drums and polite lap steels, nestled snugly in a bed of charming doo-wop harmonies? Have you yet enjoyed the sound of ‘cute’?
You have now, and you’d better like it, buddy, because this is the Zooey Deschanel Hour, and your radio dial is stuck on this godforsaken AM frequency for a long, long 13 songs.
“I had some brand new shoes, they were all red but they gave me the blues,” she whispers near Volume Two’s end. This, of course, is the part of the story when, after being wronged by her man, she wonders whether she can forgive him.
Somehow, some way, she does, and it all turns out peaches, just as everyone suspected it would. “I didn’t mean to,” a chorus of Zooeys sings sweetly in “Over It Over Again,” fooling no one.
I shared with you all a couple of weeks ago about a new album that I was excited about called Monsters of Folk. For those of you that are interested in this supergroup, made up of Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes, and M. Ward, you will be excited to know that they are giving away one of the songs off of their new album for free. And they have announced a series of fall tour dates. Oddly enough I’d say that the song is pretty good mixture of each of their individual musical stylings. I’m not hooked yet, but I’m definitely intrigued. But you can decide for yourself.
It has finally been confirmed that the one time tour mates that called themselves the “Monsters of Folk” have recorded an album. This indie-rock supergroup is made up of M. Ward, Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Conor Oberst, and Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes producer). Talk of this album has been floating around the blogosphere ever since they first went on tour together in ’04. It is great to finally receive news that this record is actually complete. The self-titled debut is set to be released 9/22 via Shangri-La. According to the press release, these four guys will be playing all the instruments on the record. Here are a few tunes for those of you who are foolish enough to think that these guys don’t make folk music. I am so stinkin’ excited for this record.
Unfortunately I could find next to nothing on this album, other than the fact that it is being recorded right now in their hometown Denton, TX. Everything I have comes from an interview they did with Stereogum back in November, which didn’t reveal a whole lot, other than it isn’t goin to sound like “Roscoe” or “Head Home,” two songs I adored from their previous work. But I will be sure to write about the record with more detail once I can actually find some. Until then, enjoy one of my favorite tracks from the phenomenal Trials of Van Occupanther.
The follow-up to the brilliant 2006 release, Post-War, consists of fourteen tracks and includes guest performances by Lucinda Willisams, Jason Lytle of the band Grandaddy, Tom Hagerman of DeVotchKa, Rachel Blumberg of The Decemberists, and the “she” half of She & Him, Zooey Deschanel. I’ve only given it one listen, but it seems to be a very strong record. And I think that it is greatly benifited by all the talented people that Ward surrounded himself with while recording. A streaming preview can be found here at NPR, so go check it out and let me know what you think.
Things have been pretty quiet from Kearney for quite some time now. Other than the single he did for Grey’s Anatomy back in September of 2007, the Oregon native hasn’t given us anything new since early ’06. So I am getting real excited to hear what one of the best Christian songwriters of our generation has for us next. All I know is that he went into the studio last summer to record and that Tyler Burkum, former Audio Adrenaline guitarist, was rumored to be there with him. So hopefully this rhyming, soul-singing, rocker won’t let us down.
MuteMath spent the later half of 2008 feverishly writing and recording their second full length record in their home studios in Nashville and New Orleans. Their goal is to return from their break for the holidays and put the final touches on the record by the end of March to get it ready to be released in August of this year. I may not be able to share with you the title or official release date, but I can bring you the first single off the new record and a killer video that drummer Darren King created while in the studio last year. If you like this video you should head over to their YouTube channel ready to be blown away. They have made several short videos documenting their creative minds at work in the studio. According to an interview with the OC Register, their “goal is to embarrass the first album.” I can’t even imagine what that would look like, or better yet sound like, but I am excited to find out.
There’s a warmth in the sad, measured gallop of “Thieves,” the first song off of She & Him’s Volume Two, and it’s undeniably charming. The final swell of amber guitars, strings and voice beams straight to the chest, lights it up like a summer sunset.
