When actress Zooey Deschanel teamed up with folk troubadour M. Ward, I wasn’t sure what to think. As an actress, sure - she's alright. But Zooey Deschanel, the singer? Really? I don't know. It's been done poorly so many times before by actresses who think they can sing and vice versa...Gwyneth Paltrow, Hillary Duff, Nicole Kidman, Scarlett Johansson? It's annoying. And have you seen Zooey's cotton commercial? She goes about her day-to-day activities of vintage clothes shopping and vinyl sifting, making the already cliched hipster existence seem that much more trite. All that being said, she IS kind of adorable and I would kill to have her closet full of those comfortable cotton dresses.
Just released is Volume Two, with the pair continuing in the same vein as its similarly titled predecessor, blending 50s and 60s pop with some country lilts. Lead single “In the Sun” mixes downbeat lyrics with upbeat melodies, offsetting its lovelorn angst with music set to synchronized dancing. "If You Can't Sleep" and "Brand New Shoes", the two lullabies at the end are sweet. It took me a while of listening and relistening before I was fully convinced. But I have to admit, Volume 2 is light, pleasant, well-produced and endearing. Even though you may be able to listen to similar tunes on your local golden oldies station, there is a need to update and revisit these classic sounds from time to time.