Volume One - She & Him
User Score
8.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 37 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 37
  3. Negative: 5 out of 37

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  1. Vampire25
    Mar 28, 2011
    8
    Zooey Deschanel is one of my favorite singers. Her voice is just absolutely gorgeous. Not to mention she's amazingly gorgeous herself. Volume One is quite a great album. Every track sounds great. It has hooky melodies and beautiful choruses. The opener "Sentimental Heart" is the stand out track on this record. The lyrics are folk poetry and it really adds to the quality to this album. All In All, Volume One is a joyous listen. B+… Expand
  2. NickZ.
    Mar 30, 2008
    9
    All in all, a good album. It's not groundbreaking but it's warm and endearing.
  3. WilliamB.
    Apr 5, 2008
    7
    Sounds like a Mamas and Papas solo album from 1972. Zooey has a good voice and a good feel for this agreeable throwback of an album.
  4. NovakG.
    May 15, 2008
    10
    Adorable,charming and refreshing piece of art, true revelation... Album of the Year, so far !
  5. AndiK.
    Jun 1, 2008
    10
    I got this album because I love M. Ward and thought Zooey Deschanel had a great old-fashioned singing voice in Elf, but came away totally floored by how talented she really is as a singer, songwriter, and most of all, vocal arranger. She arranged and performed all the vocal harmonies on this album, and did a really amazing job. Ward's musical arrangements are a perfect fit, too. Can't wait for Vol. 2.… Expand
  6. EvanT.
    Aug 7, 2008
    10
    Incredible debut...looking forward to volume 2!
  7. MikeA.
    Jan 2, 2009
    9
    Zooey's voice often makes your knees weak, like KD Lang or Linda Rhonstadt. Someone once said if a bomb were on the way in his last minutes he'd listen to Linda's "Blue Bayou." Zooey might sing something that transcendent for me.
  8. ChristianP.
    Mar 23, 2008
    6
    The songs are alright, but mostly forgettable. Sorry, but the kid can't sing. Her voice is cute at first but becomes grating very quickly.
  9. ChadS.
    Mar 24, 2008
    8
    Back in the twentieth century, Milla Jonovich put out a surprisingly assured album that featured the great single "Gentlemen Who Fell", a song that favored comparably with the best of Kate Bush. While nothing on She and Him approaches that magnificent fluke, "Volume One" is the better album, even with the awkward cover of "Swing Lo, Sweet Chariot". If you're into Lavendar Diamond, songs like "Sentimental Heart" and "This is Not a Test" will work like a charm. Maybe Smoosh, too. There's sort of a naive art quality to "Volume One". The actress who gave such vivid performances in "Almost Famous" and "All the Real Girls" should leave The Beatles alone. Then it sounds like karaoke at Sofia Coppola's house. But her originals are fine.… Collapse
  10. EvanS.
    Apr 6, 2008
    8
    Pure sweetness.
  11. JoshY.
    Apr 9, 2008
    9
    Pure beauty and art.
  12. AshlynS.
    Jun 15, 2008
    10
    A consistently twangy, folky album of this caliber is hard to find these days. I am impressed by the talent heard here.
  13. RachelH.
    Jun 17, 2008
    10
    Beautiful vocals and unique sound. This is an endearing album from start to finish.
  14. JerryD.
    Oct 4, 2009
    10
    This album is beautiful. I am really moved by the both of them on it. She has a really sweet and intense voice.
  15. ZachP
    Dec 22, 2008
    9
    By no means perfect, it's a quirky, fun piece of hippie folk.
  16. MathieuC.
    Mar 23, 2008
    10
    Just wow.
  17. RobR.
    Mar 24, 2008
    2
    Snooze fest.
  18. DanB.
    Apr 16, 2008
    8
    Listened to it about 5 times now and it's lovely. Hints of the Beatles (and I'm not talking about the covers), and 60s (or 50s?) girl bands, and country, wrapped up in some sorta Brooklyn indie pop.
  19. Julli
    Jul 31, 2012
    8
    Fresh album with lot of catchy songs. The deliberate lo-fi production hinders a bit, as also does repetitiveness. But songs like "Sweet Darling", "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here" and "Sentimental Heart" are pure magic.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
76 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. All Music Guide
    80
    Deschanel's songs are simple and sad tales of heartbreak and missed connections, with hooky melodies and not a single artless moment to be found.
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  2. Dusted Magazine
    70
    Slight doubts about whether or not Zooey Deschanel is the best person to be singing these songs aside, Volume One is pretty much spot-on.
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  3. Pitchfork
    74
    Deschanel is more convincing when she's on an extreme end of romance--either losing it or being swept into it--than when she's trying to rationalize it.
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