Quick 'N Dirty Review: She & Him | Volume Two

Before we start, here's a quick look at the rating system that we use here at The Dirtywhirl:

100 - Classic Album; One Of The Best Of All Time
99-90 - Exceptional Work; Rush Out And Get This
89-80 - Very, Very Good; You Should Still Go Out And Get This
79-70 - Not Bad At All; Might Actually Be Worth Your Time
69-60 - Has Its Moments But On The Whole... Meh
59-50 - Won't Make Your Ears Bleed; Won't Make You Dance, Either
49-0 - Don't Waste Your Time; You're Smarter Than This (Probably) 

Now... onto the review:

She & Him | Volume Two

There’s no denying that we’re in a bad spot right now. The BP mess. The economy still lagging. The dog days of summer rearing their ugly heads. In the midst of all of this, a respite to brighten the mood would be welcomed with open arms. Music, for one, can serve that purpose better than most. The term “feel good record” gets thrown out a lot but in many ways that’s exactly what She & Him’s second collection, Volume Two, is. It’s music that brightens the mood as it spins and in the summer of 2010 there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. The movie career of singer Zooey Deschanel (the She) has been picking up following 2009’s breakout indie hit (500) Days Of Summer so you couldn’t help but wonder if, after their debut record, She & Him might fall by the wayside so it’s an encouraging sign that Volume Two shows up on shelves a scant two years after their debut and at the perfect time to boot. In a lot of ways there isn’t much deviation from Volume One but when the decision to title the record Volume Two is made that’s probably to be expected. With any other band it might be fair worry that they’re repeating themselves because the sound is so similar to their first record but no one really sounds like She & Him right now. A throwback to the Brill Building sound of “Don’t Look Back.” The surf-style guitars and imagery of the cover of NRBQ’s “Ridin’ In My Car.” The honky-tonk of “Lingering Still.” Deschanel and M. Ward (the Him) are classicists who know what they’re doing and they do it well. Ward’s arrangements are exceptional as usual and Deschanel has a uniquely gorgeous voice that’s not given nearly enough credit. It’s a winning combination that worked on Volume One and is employed with great success here as well. “Thieves” makes for a beautifully longing opener as Deschanel laments, “And I know/ And you know too/ That love like ours is terrible news/ But that won’t stop me crying over you,” while their 50’s pop sound envelops the catchy chorus of “Over It Over Again,” the lightness and carefree nature of “Me And You,” and the jaunty first single “In The Sun.” “In The Sun,” perhaps more than any other track that She & Him have put to tape is the perfect example of what this band really is. Breezy and fun, it was a very strong initial statement from Volume Two and it speaks very well to the magic that the Deschanel/Ward combination is capable of. True, the band can sound as precious at times as its name would signify but, again, they’re so enjoyable that it doesn’t matter. Surely it sounds trivial to some to suggest that in the face of a horrific oil spill or bills piling so high that you can hardly breathe that music can play such a significant therapeutic part, but it’s true. It’s a powerful medium and lest anyone doubt that, we’ll let Deschanel have the last word via “Sing”: “Open your arms and sing/ The world’s been waiting, it’s been waiting for years/ And they’ve just gotta hear it/ The kids are waiting, they’ve been shedding tears/ So open your arms and sing/ For us.”

Standout Tracks: "In The Sun;" "Thieves;" "Over It Over Again;" "Don't Look Back;" "Me And You"

Dirty Rating: 89/100