MRG354
Original Release 2010
At the start of "Me And You" Zooey Deschanel sings "Well I'm back in your good graces again", I'm not sure she ever wasn't. The easy breezy duo of indie-pop Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward are back for another album of fun in the California sun with "Volume Two". What works here on "Volume Two" is exactly what worked on "Volume One", which is part of the problem. With lyrics penned by Deschanel and orchestration and production by M. Ward, this collection of songs never really leaves the comforts of "Volume One".
Yes, Deschanel (who almost singlehandedly represents the current indie movement) has a great sultry voice, but it's a voice I almost don't believe. After a listen to this you can hardly blame the poor Joseph Gordon-Levitt for falling for Summer in the fantastic Sundance Selection (500) Days Of Summer. Yet, at the core of these salty and sunny songs is Deschanel, who sounds like she has exclusively broken hearts for a living since 1996. Which isn't a weakness per se, except its almost exactly the formula that made "Volume One" so refreshing.
I love the feel of this album, at the right time, and the right place. The vintage packaging and artwork is classic Deschanel, but the overall experience is nothing more than a sequel to their first effort. A little more creative direction would have worked wonders here.
Album - C+
Vinyl/Packaging - A (Sounds and looks great).
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