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Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2008 > May > 22 > Entry
Acting musicians or musicians acting?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
She & Him aka M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel. Photo: Autumn de Wilde.
While everyone is chattering about the new Scarlett Johansson album, a far superior piece of music that involves another actress sits quietly on the shelf.
If the name Zooey Deschanel sounds unfamiliar, check out her resume on the Internet Movie Database. Chances are you’ve seen her before, and she’s one of the leads in the upcoming M. Night Shymalan film “The Happening.”
Deschanel is also half of She & Him, a duo that also includes indie-rock singer-songwriter M. Ward. The pair released the low-key “Volume One” back in March.
Johansson’s “Anywhere I Lay My Head” is an admirable failure, largely due to the work of her collaborator Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio. But unexpected arrangements and instrumental invention — and the songs of Tom Waits — can only do so much. The monotonous warbling of Johansson, buried deep in the mix, drags the whole enterprise down. You can hear some samples on MySpace.
Deschanel, on the other hand, brightens everything she sings. She’s an unconventional vocalist with a hint of country twang despite her California upbringing. But there’s also a sweet sensuality in her delivery that feels cozy and comforting. For those who have been anxiously awaiting a whole album of Deschanel’s vocals since her charming duet on “Baby It’s Cold Outside” in “Elf” (with co-star Will Ferrell in the film and Leon Redbone on the soundtrack), “Volume One” is a godsend. Have a listen at the She & Him MySpace page.
Actor-turned-musician doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Most of the time, though, it’s a truly awful thing. There have to be a few more good ones, right? Got any favorites? Any that were exceptionally bad?
Comments
By Wheat Williams
May 22, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Nick Cannon. William Shatner. Don Johnson. John Schneider. Tom Wopat. Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen. David Soul. Steven Segall. Leonard Nimoy. Jennifer Love Hewitt. Paris Hilton. Patrick Swayze. Richard Harris. Vicki Lawrence.
There’s so much to work with here.
By d-boo
May 24, 2008 5:39 AM | Link to this
ooeygooeyzooey?
By d-boo
May 24, 2008 5:40 AM | Link to this
ooeygooeyzooey?
By d-boo
May 24, 2008 5:40 AM | Link to this
ooeygooeyzooey?
By d-boo
May 24, 2008 5:40 AM | Link to this
ooeygooeyzooey?
By d-boo
May 24, 2008 5:40 AM | Link to this
ooeygooeyzooey?
By d
May 27, 2008 11:31 PM | Link to this
M. Ward is brilliant. I’ve only heard bits of She & HIm and it’s okay. I really want to like it, but she’s a little lacking in emotional depth for my taste.
By JT
May 28, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this
Love the She & Him CD. What a welcome entry into the popular culture.