About fifteen years ago, She & Him seemed like an occasional duo of actress Zooey Deschanel and singer-songwriter M. Ward, but the two are now ready for their seventh albumon which they pay tribute to the music of their beloved Beach Boys.
Melt Away: A Tribute to Brian Wilson lends itself perfectly to their beautiful harmony singing. The pleasantly warm Californian sixties feeling that was so abundant, especially on their various Christmas albums, has been expanded even further here. Ward and Deschanel mainly choose Wilson’s compositions from the years 1964-1969. The song Melt Away here is a powerful solo exercise by Deschanel, elsewhere she sings a bit more veiled, which makes her voice even better with Ward’s.
The harmony vocals are wonderful – as befits a Beach Boys ode. Deirdre and the stilled Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on my shoulder) get a new life here, they are strong covers. Funny enough Brian Wilson himself also comes by to pick up Do It Again to sing a party. But to be honest, his voice loses out against the vocal splendor of She & Him here.
She & Him
Melt Away: A Tribute to Brian Wilson
doll
★★★★ ren
Fantasy/Universal
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