She & Him - Volume 2

In many ways, it couldn't have been more unexpected. Indie film starlet, music junkie and erstwhile singer Zooey Deschanel teams up with singer/songwriter/guitarist and Monster of Folk-ster M. Ward and the resulting 2008 album - the cryptic Volume 1 by She and Him -  turns out to be a critically-acclaimed collection of songs written not by him but by her. Of course Ward had a hand in the matter - he did, after all, arrange, produce, play and sing. "The process for Volume 2 (March 23) is exactly the same, " he observes. "It’s been the most natural extension of our interests and abilities. I think the songs lend themselves to production styles that I love and that she loves. There’s no need to change it now..."

So what's new this time around? "I think we both went for it a little bit more, so to speak," says Deschanel. “I think we were both more comfortable...This time we had a little more opportunity to reflect. Some of the production is extremely complex." Led by the sparkling, feel-good lead track "In the Sun", Volume 2 again sports a classic pop feel. From Brian Wilson to Carole King to 60's Brit Invasion to 70's SoCal folk/rock, the resulting influences spring no doubt from Ward and Deschanel's shared love for timeless, retro songwriters and lush harmonies. "People always expect you to be a fan of what’s happening now," says Deschanel, "but the things I gravitate toward are older and more worn." Recommended.

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She and Him - "In The Sun" (from the album Volume 2)

She and Him - "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here" (from Volume One)