You’d think the collaboration of indie folkie M. Ward and indie hottie Zooey Deschanel would be a match made in Stereogum heaven … and you’d be right. The two have finished work on their project’s first volume, Volume One: two covers, nine Zooey originals. Merge is putting out the album, and is also psyched, throwing out Dusty Springfield, Linda Ronstadt and, the Zombies as reference points. The first track’s definitely rooted in that era, M.’s production and playing adding a dusty glaze to Zooey’s sassy teases. Your move, Scarlett.
Not bad. Volume One is out 3/18 via Merge. Here’s a tracklist:
01 “Sentimental Heart”
02 “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?”
03 “This Is Not A Test”
04 “Change Is Hard”
05 “I Thought I Saw Your Face Today”
06 “Take It Back”
07 “I Was Made for You”
08 “You Really Got a Hold on Me” (Miracles cover)
09 “Black Hole”
10 “Got Me”
11 “I Should Have Known Better” (Beatles cover)
And advance notice on live shows, so you can lineup now and fight the photogs for elbow room:
03/02 San Francisco, CA @ Noise Pop
03/14 Austin, TX @ The Parish (Merge Records SXSW showcase)
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That was kind of great.
oooh, fantastic!
This was pleasantly good!
im just going to go out on a limb here and say, you are all slaves
that’s a seriously nice song. bless those two beautiful young people.
………seriously?
that…um…okay
its a good thing shes hot!
dusty springfield and linda ronstadt? sold.
but hasn’t this been up on her myspace for a while now?
I change my indie rock hottie vote.
This is a sweet song too. Unexpectedly fun from Matt.
OW. This makes my ears hurt.
Heart hug!
i bet matt ward tapped dat.
Jenny Lewis already put out a solo album. And it was a lot better than this.
he prob did tap dat, lucky bastard
but yeah this song is really goos. very excited to hear the rest!
much better than jenny lewis’ solo album to the dude above me…..
don’t even know why the two can be compared…..but okaaay.
is that the girl from pushing daisies?
1. this would’ve been better if phil spector produced it before he died.
2. is that howe gelb on keys?
3. this woman is going to play janis joplin?
Phil Spector’s still alive.
it would be cool if phil spector shot this record and stayed alive.
i wasn’t that impressed…is it a little like thinking jason schwartzman’s music is better that it is because you don’t expect it?
um, cute. it’s like americana twee.
The music is excellent. The singing…not so much.
And hot she ain’t.
It’s okay. I didn’t really have high expectations, but it’s a nice fun song. I will reserve judgement until I hear a few more tracks.
Pitchfork was hilariously right in comparing the tracklist to titles of Xanga journal entries, though.
Zooey Deschanel and Anna Friel do look a lot alike. Double the pleasure. But only one of them played Tricia McMillian, so hey, Zooey’s my girl.
The song itself is good enough. Let’s see how the whole album goes.
i think its actually quite good. i’m ready for the whole album now.
and its way better than those dump vampire kids
What a pleasant surprise. I really liked that song.
It wasn’t quite up to the standard of her classic duet of “Baby It’s Cold Outside” with Will Ferrell — but it’ll do.
SHE WAS SO GOOD IN THE “TIN MAN” SERIES ON SCI FI CHANNEL,
Im hoping she does the soundtrack for the new season of battlestar gallactica,
no in all seriousness, I saw her in person, shes cute and has the nicest hair…but m.ward, can he get anymore blah?
y/y?
Huh. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy that.
Reponse to the M. Ward diss… He’s not blah at all; he’s extremely pleasant-looking, and crafts very fine songs. Zooey is so cute, and she has a rare and unique voice that is utterly refreshing; one that I can’t help but envy. I’m awaiting the coming album with glee.
it’s just such a credit to her collaborator that for the first 1/3 all i can think is “god her voice rings so false and is so annoying” and then the production and backing vocals and instruments are just so self-conscious of this and artfully kitschy that it becomes almost catchy. nevertheless, i will never listen to this again, unless i inexplicably get invited to some indie douche party in williamsburg within the next week.
hmm. i guess that last comment was to the point. however, i don’t think the whole album could be judged by the one song. it sounds really different from the other stuff they’ve done together. for the more adventurous and less jerky folks out there you could sample more songs here:
http://www.myspace.com/ukemusic
a zooey fansite i made to make some of her stuff more available.
weird. nice sounding. cool that she’s playing janis, but damn, doesn’t anyone else think she looks the spittin image of grace slick?
Yep, I have been thinking this, could make a much better Grace Slick than Janice Joplin.
Caught them live at SXSW at the press here event and it was near perfect. The songs are great plus her voice and plus M Wards guitar work are just icing.
i found a few tracks on this blog. they are ok, I think she gets in the way on M Wards “magic trick” but the whole album is on their myspace and i cant wait to buy it!
http://fuelfriends.blogspot.com/2008/01/m-wardzooey-deschanel-collaboration-is.html
Nine, I can see why you have a crush on her. Too bad I am unable to hear why. Happy Easter!
Nine, I can see why you have a crush on her. Too bad I am unable to hear why. Happy Easter!
Great song. Still not as good as the duet with Wil Ferrell in Elf. “Baby it’s cold outside” makes you warm for hours.
Voice of an angel.
Considering she’s been writing songs since she was 8 lyrically it’s fun.
Vocally it could use some clean up, but perhaps the simple and honest slightly imperfect vocal style was the intent??
I like the arrangement and the lead gutiar has some interesting moments that stand out.
Will be finding the album for sure.
does any1 know the strumming pattern 4 this song?
thanx
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