Volume Two (She & Him album)
Volume Two is the second studio album by She & Him, a collaboration between M. Ward and actress Zooey Deschanel. It was released on March 17, 2010 through P-Vine Records in Japan, in the United States on March 23, 2010 through Merge Records,[1] and on April 5, 2010 on Double Six Records in the UK. [2]
The album's track listing was announced on December 8, 2009.[1][2][3][4] "In the Sun" was published online by Pitchfork Media on January 22, 2010[5] and was released as a single with "I Can Hear Music"[1][6] on February 23, 2010.[7] A video of "In the Sun" was released on March 9, 2010.[8]
On 9 February 2010, She & Him were interviewed on BBC 6 Music and performed "Thieves" and "Gonna Get Along without You Now" from the not-yet-released album.[9] Two versions of the song "Thieves" were made available on-line. One was that played for the BBC interview[10] and two weeks later Stereogum premiered the studio version from the album.[11] A video of "Thieves" was released on July 9, 2010.[12]
On 14 March 2010, the entire album became available for streaming on NPR's website.[13] The album debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 chart.[14]
Critical reception
The album has received largely positive reviews. Stephen Thompson writes in NPR First Listen, "[Volume Two] isn't exactly dragging listeners through a complex emotional hellride. It's more confection than confessional, but it's a kind-natured one; the audio equivalent of a spring breeze that wafts in at a perfect time."[15]
Rob Dixon comments in inthenews.co.uk, "For a partnership which many may not see as the most obvious, it works brilliantly well. Over the course of the 13 tracks there are a number of gems, while all of the songs are expertly crafted by Deschanel and effortlessly captured by Ward...The covers are also dealt with expertly and fit the overall mood of the album, which has a glistening summery – and occasionally jaunty – feel to it. The sweetness might not be to everyone's taste though, particularly as on initial listens some tracks can appear somewhat samey."[16]
Melissa Maerz wrote in Spin, "fans of '70s AM Gold will sip this stuff down like so much well-aged chardonnay. Buffeted by Ward's pillowy acoustic strums, Deschanel is a convincing soft-rock goddess, conjuring Linda Ronstadt on the country shuffle 'Thieves' and Skeeter Davis on a cover of 'Gonna Get Along Without You.' She lays down the lullaby 'If You Can't Sleep' with a voice as clear and rosy as stained glass."[17]
Track listing
All songs written by Zooey Deschanel, except where noted.
- "Thieves" – 4:08
- "In the Sun" – 2:51
- "Don't Look Back" – 3:23
- "Ridin' in My Car" (Alan G. Anderson) – 3:15
- "Lingering Still" – 3:02
- "Me and You" – 3:20
- "Gonna Get Along Without You Now" (Milton Kellem) – 2:32
- "Home" – 4:41
- "I'm Gonna Make It Better" – 3:32
- "Sing" – 3:14
- "Over It Over Again" – 3:30
- "Brand New Shoes" – 3:05
- "If You Can't Sleep" – 2:49
Bonus tracks
Singles
Personnel
Performance
- Zooey Deschanel – lead vocals, piano, lyrics[33]
- M. Ward – guitar, vocals, mandolin, vibes, synthesizer, producer
- Mike Coykendall – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Scott McPherson – drums, percussion
- Mike Mogis – percussion, synthesizer, mandolin
- Paul Brainard – pedal steel guitar
- Tom Hagerman – strings
- Peter Broderick – strings
- Amanda Lawrence – strings
- Tilly and the Wall – backing vocals on "In the Sun"
Production
Release history
Charts
| Chart (2010) |
Peak
position |
| US Billboard 200[37] |
6 |
| US Independent Albums |
1 |
| US Rock Albums |
1 |
| US Folk Albums |
1 |
References
- ^ a b c "Merge Records". Merge Records. 2009-12-08. http://www.mergerecords.com/blog/2009/12/she-him-reveal-volume-two-details/. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ a b "Domino | News | She & Him announce Volume Two". Dominorecordco.com. 2010-04-05. http://www.dominorecordco.com/uk/news/09-12-09/she--him-announce-volume-two-/. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ "She & Him Announce Volume Two". Pitchfork. http://pitchfork.com/news/37325-she-him-announce-ivolume-twoi/. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ "Zooey Deschanel M Ward Team Again On She". billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/#/news/zooey-deschanel-m-ward-team-again-on-she-1004051980.story. Retrieved 2011-09-21.
- ^ a b "New She & Him: "In the Sun"". Pitchfork. http://pitchfork.com/news/37656-new-she-him-in-the-sun/. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ "I can hear music". billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/#/song/she-him/i-can-hear-music/17523003. Retrieved 2011-09-21.
- ^ "In the Sun B/W I Can Hear Music [Vinyl]: She & Him: Music". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/Sun-Can-Hear-Music/dp/B0031Y4A4E. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ "Video Premiere: She & Him: "In the Sun"". Pitchfork. http://pitchfork.com/news/38130-video-premiere-she-him-in-the-sun/. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ Lauren Laverne (2010-02-09). "6 Music Programmes - Lauren Laverne, 09/02/2010". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qnwjk#p006cyll. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ "She & Him – “Thieves” (Live On BBC)". Stereogum. http://stereogum.com/archives/she_him__thieves_live_on_bbc_113991.html. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ "She & Him – “Thieves” (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. 2010-02-23. http://stereogum.com/274692/she-him-thieves-stereogum-premiere/news/. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ "Video: She & Him: "Thieves"". Pitchfork. http://pitchfork.com/news/39405-video-she-him-thieves/. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ Thompson, Stephen. "First Listen: She And Him, 'Volume Two'". NPR. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124615798. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ Up for Discussion Jump to Forums. "Justin Bieber Tops Billboard 200 With 'My World 2.0'". Billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/news/justin-bieber-tops-billboard-200-with-my-1004079496.story. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ Thompson, Stephen. "First Listen: She And Him, 'Volume Two'". NPR. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124615798&ps=cprs. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ "She & Him: Volume Two". Inthenews.co.uk. http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/reviews/music/rock-indie/she-him-volume-two-$1365502.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ Maerz, Melissa. "She & Him, 'Volume Two' (Merge)". SPIN.com. http://www.spin.com/reviews/she-him-volume-two-merge. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ Leahey, Andrew (2010-03-24). "Volume Two > Overview". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1725691. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
- ^ Zemler, Emily (April 2010). "File Under: Indie Pop. She & Him - Volume Two". Alternative Press (261): 130. http://i40.tinypic.com/nxvcz.jpg. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
- ^ "American Music Channel review". American Music Channel. http://americanmusicchannel.com/features/reviews/3-23-2010/volume-two.
- ^ Kornhaber, Spencer (2010-03-23). "Volume Two". The A.V. Club. http://www.avclub.com/articles/she-him,39455/. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
- ^ Beanland, Chris (2010-03-30). "A nostalgic trip guided by Ward’s understated growl and Zooey’s crisp vocals". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/mhb6. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
- ^ Cosores, Philip (2010-03-23). "Volume Two > Overview". Consequence of Sound. http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/03/23/album-review-she-him-volume-two/. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
- ^ Greenblatt, Leah (2010-03-17). "Music Review: Volume Two (2010) She & Him". Entertainment Weekly. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20352045,00.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
- ^ MacKinnel, Kyle (2010-03-19). "She & Him: Volume Two - Merge". Filter. http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/reviews/entry/s. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
- ^ a b Welsh, David (2010-03-31). "She & Him - Volume Two (Double Six) UK release date: 5 April 2010". MusicOMH. http://www.musicomh.com/albums/she-and-him-2_0310.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
- ^ Rosen, Jody (2010-03-23). "She & Him - Volume Two: Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/sheandhim/albums/album/32636074/review/32735740/volume_two. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
- ^ Maerz, Melissa (2010-03-15). "She & Him, 'Volume Two' (Merge) Dreamy actress, folky co-conspirator coo sweet nothings". Spin. http://www.spin.com/reviews/she-him-volume-two-merge. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
- ^ Carney, Marie (2010-04-09). "Defending Zooey: A Review of She & Him Volume Two". Spinning Platters. http://spinningplatters.com/2010/04/09/defending-zooey-a-review-of-she-him-volume-two/. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
- ^ "She & Him – Volume Two – Saraiva.com.br". Livrariasaraiva.com.br. http://www.livrariasaraiva.com.br/produto/2879419/she-him-volume-two/?ID=BB43D5937DA031E132C3A0212. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ "She & Him go thieving". The Music Fix. 2010-04-19. http://www.themusicfix.co.uk/content/news-flash/9947/she-and-him-go-thieving.html. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ "She & Him: I Put a Spell On You / Lingering Still (Live at KCMP The Current)". Merge Records. http://www.mergerecords.com/store/store_detail.php?catalog_id=778. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ "She and Him volume 2". http://www.sheandhim.com/#/music/volume2/. Retrieved 2011-09-21.
- ^ "「Volume Two」SHE & HIM - リリース情報 - Ｐ-VINE,Inc". Bls-act.co.jp. 2010-03-17. http://bls-act.co.jp/music/2661. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ "She & Him - Volume Two CD Album". Cduniverse.com. http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8137936. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ "She & Him: Volume Two (2010): CD". hmv.com. http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=-1;1;-1;-1;201&sku=222121. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts". Billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200#/artist/she-him/chart-history/969848. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
External links
