album review: she & him, volume two

She and Him’s appropriately titled second offering, Volume Two, is just as peachy keen and deliciously twee as its predecessor. She is Zooey Deschanel, actress come songstress; he is M Ward, producer and talented musician under his own name.

This time around Miss Deschanel is obviously more confident in her roles as both singer and songwriter. Her voice is bigger and better, while still retaining a twang of vulnerability; and her lyrics contain fewer forced rhymes and greater insight into sadness. Volume Two also sounds more polished than Volume One. Whereas on the previous album Deschanel’s trembling voice was often accompanied only by a lone guitar or piano, this effort sees more layered musical arrangements.

The overall sound harks back to the days of 60s surf rock and radio music. The lead single ‘In The Sun’ could have been played at a summer beach party way back when, and stand-out track ‘Thieves’ is a rockin’ and a rollin’ throw-back to ‘50s ballads.

To be perfectly honest, it might just be Deschanel’s personality that makes this music so listenable – but when it’s this big-eyed and perky and sassy and fun and plaintive, who really cares? If not technically impressive, it’s certainly emotionally engaging.