Grade: 90/100
For any artist, the cover album can be the death of a career. Few bands who can pull off their own interpretations of well-known songs.
Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, better known as the duo She & Him, have released their own album of covers, titled “Classics.” Since releasing “Volume One” in 2008, these two have been steadily putting out folk-pop originals, much like a stripped down version of popular pop and techno artists Matt and Kim.
The most attractive part of “Classics” is its blatant disregard to the formulaic nature of cover albums. Instead of going for easily accessible songs that have been covered numerous times by other bands, She & Him take a swing at playing songs from the more heartfelt and romantic side of music history.
The name “Classics” couldn’t be better suited for this album. With the majority of the tracks being jazz singles from the early 20th century, this record fills its extra spaces with hearty ballads like “Stars Fell Over Texas” and “This Girl’s in Love with You” by Burt Bacharach.
The shining gem of “Classics” is She & Him’s cover of “Unchained Melody,” which was made popular by The Righteous Brothers in 1965. Despite being the most recognizable track on the album, this version includes a performance by the Chapin Sisters and holds up on its own as a She and Him piece.
The album carries with it an overall feel of sentimentality and the loss of young love. Ward and Deschanel channel artists like Patsy Cline, Porter Wagoner and any number of musicians featured on “The Lawrence Welk Show.”
As a whole, “Classics” plays gently like Christmas music without the annoyance of unnecessary holiday frill. It would be best suited playing while working or preparing a meal for anticipated company.
The album doesn’t assert itself into your listening space. If it weren’t for the familiar melodies to bring you back from daydreaming, “Classics” fades out of your headspace. It supplies a healthy amount of reminiscence, harmony and rhythm to your everyday activities.