|
|
 Larger image
|
List Price: $15.99
Our Price: $11.99
You Save: $ 4.00 (25%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Merge Records
|
Average Customer Rating:   
|
|
Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0673855032429
Label: Merge Records
Manufacturer: Merge Records
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Merge Records
Release Date: 2008-03-18
Studio: Merge Records
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Editorial Reviews:
|
This is the musical debut from M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel, paired together by director Martin Hayens to perform the Richard and Linda Thompson tune "When I Get To The Border" for his film "The Go-Getter". Their match sparked the idea for "Volume One". Limited touring this spring.
|
|
|
| Spotlight customer reviews: |
|
Customer Rating:
Summary: Amateur Hour
Comment: I don't go to movies much so I never have seen Zooey D. But I listen to a lot of CDs and go to a lot of pop music concerts. It's obvious (to me at any rate) that if Zooey were not a well known pretty movie actress M. Ward would not be playing on this thing and no label would pick it up.
This album aims for a retro 60s and 70s kind of sound. There are two problems with this attempt. First, the songwriting is well below the quality of the original songs from that era. It's pure amateur stuff. Then there is Zooey's voice, which is well below the singers from that era. In a karaoke contest in a small town, Zooey would do reasonably well. But she is far from professional in her vocal control. For example, listen to Dusty Springfield sing anything. Then listen to a cut from this CD. It's a painful comparison. If you want to compare another contemporary artist doing retro kind of work, listen to Shelby Lynne and then listen to this CD. Again, it's obvious. The quality just isn't there on this project.
I listen to a lot of singers in coffee houses in LA and SF. Ms. D would land in the bottom third of those singers in terms of songwriting and singing. There is a simple two word phrase for a CD like this: vanity project.
Why is this CD getting attention? Ms. D is a pretty girl. The songs aren't good, but they are a bit quirky. Most reviewers are men who probably are a little lonely. Plus the presence of M Ward gives this project some unearned cred.
I'll make a prediction. The buzz will wear off this CD quickly. There will be a Volume Two, but it will be panned. This one should have never been pressed.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Raw vocals are a pleasant surprise
Comment: I, like most people I imagine, first heard about She & Him b/c I'd seen Zooey in a film. As I listened to the first 8 tracks on myspace I was struck with how unique she is vocally. In a time when most artists have their vocals run through compressors and equalizers and a number of other applications to make them sound as smooth as possible it is refreshing to hear (what I suspect) is a pretty straight forward performance. When I finally downloaded the entire album from Amazon I was even more blown away with how the album progressed. Simply amazing. I would have loved to hear more from M. Ward vocally, but I don't think his lack of vocals on here takes away from the awesomeness of the album.
Customer Rating:
Summary: zooey
Comment: if you're getting this cd because you've heard zooey's other band, if all the stars were pretty babies, you may not like it. it's a totally different sound than IATSWPB, and her voice even sounds different. she & him is more folky-country. still has a vintage feel but not in the same way. this is still a great cd and worth getting!
Customer Rating:
Summary: 'She and Him' Is Ready For Her Close-Up
Comment: First and foremost, forget the fact that this is an album by an actress. Having preconceived judgements or hang-ups about Miss. Deschanel can only ruin your chances at really giving 'Vol. 1' a chance. If this were any other young woman's debut album, I honestly believe that a lot more folks would appreciate this more. Without a doubt, this is Zooey Deschanel's time to shine. You should really call 'She & Him' just plain-o 'She'.
'Vol. 1' is a collection of old country twang infused diddies with a healthy dose of pop sounds stright from the late 50s to early 60s. It's extremely catchy and bouncy a la 'I Was Made For You' which sounds like it belongs in an old John Waters movie; perhaps 'Cry-Baby'! There are enough "Ooos" and "Ahhs", "Dum-De-Dums" to get your head a shakin' and your foot a tappin'. However, 'Vol. 1' also treads upon emotional greatness especially with the gorgeous ballad, 'Change is Hard', in which Deschanel effectively channels great female country singers of the past without sounding hokey or desperate. The girl's got a voice alright, and it's refreshing to hear that 'She & Him' decided to take this direction instead of something more commercial (though I wouldn't have expected M-Ward to do such a thing anyway) Give Deschanel a few more years and she could rival Jenny Lewis! It's a promising challenge. I hope Deschanel is up to it.
But if you must bring up the singer as an actress, I'll say it's a far better (and more successful) attempt than, say, Scarlet Johansen's dreadful monotone drone of an album.
Customer Rating:
Summary: She&Him very refreshing
Comment: I listened to Volume One twice while driving on vacation. I really enjoyed it. It has many good tracks and I found myself turning up the volume.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
