It is utterly impossible to fairly review the She & Him album Volume I. Being objective flies violently out the window when 1.) You realize She & Him is movie actress Zooey Deschanel's much anticipated foray into music and 2.) You look at a picture of Zooey. Zooey is definitely not the definitive classic beauty of modern day Hollywood but she is the cutest thing in the world - with that adorable little nose, blinding smile, and those eyes that are unnaturally large and blue (like mini-planets that are made up only of tropical oceans). So maybe it is obvious that I have a little crush on her, and that is the point. Guy or girl, it is impossible to not have a crush on Zooey immediately upon looking at her. A feeling that only gets worse when she starts singing. Her voice has been much talked about ever since she was heard singing in the shower for her breakthrough role in 2003's Elf. Her voice, with its classic elegance could bring the world to their collective knees or make them believe in Santa again. The resulting effect is an album that is completely irresistible in its charm.
Generally, the music can best be described as 1960's sunshine pop (what else could one expect, her name is Zooey, you don't get more whimsical than that). For those familiar with M. Ward's (the Him part of the duo) this might come as a surprise, but he more than ably supports Zooey and her fantastic voice. The music mixes roots country with classic pop for a result that is extremely retro yet still feels modern.