ATP! Album Review: She & Him - Volume 3

In between running in to doors and flailing around an apartment with three other men, Zooey Deschanel still manages to attempt making music. Three years since their acclaimed sophomore record, folk-pop duo She & Him continue their love-sick journey in the latest edition, Volume 3. The doe-eyed Deschanel and folk master M. Ward explore aspects of regret and heartbreak with as much uke and acoustic flare as their previous works.

If you're a lover of all-things-Deschanel, then you probably won't want to hear this, but the album opens with the shrillest, ear-grating whistles to have ever grace the ears of man. 'I’ve Got Your Number, Son' would be the ideal beach-rock song, but sadly, the lack of effort in vocals and cliché-infested lyrics start this album at more of a stumbling summersault than an effortless lift-off.

Their single 'Never Wanted Your Love' continues the album’s theme of boredom. Sonically, this is the perfect folk song. The strums and drums and whimsical backing vocals from M. Ward are tragically overshadowed by Deschanel forcing note after note out of her voice. Her happy, sappy, verging on twangy vocals probably were probably intended to show off her “unique” singing but ultimately forces their audience to question their listening choices.

The airy backing female vocals got really old after 'Baby.' The only thing saving this song, and the entire album for that matter, is M. Ward’s effortless and genuine folk touch. The strikingly different levels of artistry are apparent in this song. M. Ward’s smooth and natural vocals are immediately juxtaposed by Deschanel’s mating calls.

'I Could Have Been Your Girl' is the moment where something interesting finally grabs your attention as Deschanel’s singing roughly imitates a drag queen impersonating Amy Winehouse. Lyrics like “It doesn't matter, I fought my heart / It's broke and shattered to a million and one” further reveal the heavy reliance on clichés that puts the album at a disadvantage. Deschanel and Ward both have the creativity to write wonderful conceits and extended metaphors, prominent in Ward’s solo works, but sadly resort to overused phrases, which makes the authenticity of the album suffer.

The next three tracks must have originally been one song, but broken up to take up space on the vinyl. All three tracks being with a shaker and a guitar, the songs start out soft until the bliss in broken by Deschanel’s forced and scattered melodies. If you were thinking about buying this album, a better solution would be to buy any “Hits of the ‘70’s” compilation to get the same effect. Even the titles, 'Turned to White,' 'Somebody Sweet to Talk To' and 'Something’s Haunting You,' are an indication of the mundane, simple, and predictable sounds the songs. This was the point in the album when the structure of each song didn’t show any kind of variation but rather gave off a sense of laziness.

What’s that sound? Is that a trumpet? Oh look, it seems She & Him have other instruments at their disposal than ukuleles and shakers. 'Together' attempts to recapture the interest of the listener. It does remind something; it reminds the listener that there is something they need to attend to. Anything.

Let’s back up for a second. She & Him have made a total of three albums together. Their first two were some of the most interesting albums on the market when they were released. They were the perfect balance of folk and pop that set them apart from other artists. They used their success from both their spheres of work to make interesting albums, and they did. Both Volume 1 and 2 put them at folk-pop royalty. But then the reign of the “adorkable Deschanel” emerged and the focus on Deschanel’s image exploded. This sadly has translated in to her music.

The final tracks of the album are really hard to get to, since the rest of the album forced an unavoidable stupor only melatonin could conjure. Deschanel’s continued attempts at jazz vocals only reinforce her Conway Twitty-esque vocals. 'Shadow of Love' concludes the album on the same note as the rest of the record; a forced out, drawn out, clustered and overly simplistic mash-up of sounds that are praised by tumblr-twats everywhere.

Zooey Deschanel is a very busy girl. She works hard to please her fan base. However that does not excuse the disingenuous bore of a record she handed the world. Volume 3 is an over-produced folk album masquerading as an inde record. If Deschanel wants to deliver the quality she wants, she needs to choose a side. Stay with M. Ward and write folk songs or stay with her TV show. It is obvious that she can’t do it all because one suffers deeply while the other one skyrockets as proven by Volume 3. Many of her fans would argue that Deschanel is an “angel” who can’t do anything wrong. But bursting that bubble, in all honesty She & Him’s previous works supersede this album by far. If anyone expects another album like those, do not disappoint yourself with this record.

2/5

Jordan Wyman

Volume 3 is out now via Merge Records.