She & Him’s latest is more of the same, but that’s a good thing

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First, I’ve got to get something off of my chest. Volume 2, She & Him’s latest creation, is practically the same album as their 2008 debut album appropriately titled Volume 1. Both albums reek with the duo’s quirky cheerfulness, dazzle with ‘60s retrospective, and end with a breathy vocal number. For anyone who wasn’t at least 50 percent in love with the last She & Him album, Volume 2 adds nothing.

However, it’s incredibly easy to fall in love with Volume 1, which makes enjoyment of Volume 2 a serious possibility. Zooey Deschanel’s heart-plucking voice and M. Ward’s ever-twanging guitar are all that this follow-up album needs to continue She & Him’s romantic legacy.
Possibly the best thing about this album is the duo’s choice of covers. As with the last album, She & Him resolutely sticks with old standbys. Though the songs may have been played countless times, Deschanel’s voice sparks the tracks back to life like a defibrillator. It just sounds right when she sings “Gonna Get Along Without You Now” halfway through the latest album.

As to the original songs, they’re all exemplary of each other. They’re snowflakes: different from each other, but at the end of the day, none will surprise you.

But like snowflakes, once they all stack up, they make for an excellent time. Songs like “Don’t Look Back,” “I’m Gonna Make It Better” and “Home” are head-bobbingly charming, while others like “Sing” and “Brand New Shoes” explore the soulful side of quirk.

It’s hard to explain why Volume 2 is still enjoyable after listening to Volume 1 since both albums rely heavily on the mood of the songs. The only discernable difference between the two is the addition of string sections on many songs on Volume 2 (which, by the way, is fantastic). But there’s something about Volume 2 that brings back all the sparkly-eyed indie wonder that Volume 1 first prompted.

In my heart of hearts, I was hoping for a little more development from She & Him in the time between the first album and the second. In my mind of minds, I knew that my heart’s ambition wouldn’t, and probably shouldn’t, happen. My mind got what it wanted and my heart had to live with the same stuff it loved about Volume 1.

It’s clear that She & Him’s music is less about a serious listening and more about having fun. Last time round, the duo produced a retrostravagnza that few saw coming. This time, we all saw this coming, but deep down we knew we wanted it anyway.

She & Him has always been a playful sucker-punch of a music experience. In “Over It Over Again,” Deschanel herself questions “Why do I always want to sock it to your heart?” I’d ask her the same question about Volume 2 in general.