She and Him

“She and Him: Volume 1”

The “she” in She and Him is Zooey Deschanel.

You might recognize the name from such films as Almost Famous and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Typically, the thought of an actor or actress transitioning to a music career is scary. The difference between Deschanel and Russell Crowe or Kevin Bacon is that the former is very talented.

And it doesn’t hurt having the exceptional M. Ward (the brainiac behind 2006’s Post-War) taking on the “Him” of the equation. “She and Him: Volume 1” takes Deschanel’s ability to melt eardrums with her lilting voice and Ward’s ability to craft and produce a song, which creates a perfect blend from acoustic pop (“Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?”, 1960s Motown (“I Was Made For You,” “Sweet Darlin’”), Don Ho doing a Beatles cover (“I Should’ve Known Better”) and the twang and heartbreak of Tammy Wynette’s backyard lamentations (“Change Is Hard,” “Got Me”).

Deschanel is an exceptional singer -- harnessing a distinctive voice that is effortless and as warm and inviting as freshly baked bread. Almost a throwback to the radio-era swagger, Deschanel could lull Cerberus to sleep all the while sounding like she could use a nap herself.

I don’t know how this stacks up against Jenny Lewis’ solo work Rabbit Fur Coat, which Ward co-produced. More eclectic, but still very smooth and a very solid effort.