By Winslow Laroche

Here is the basic formula: actress or actor pursues a music career after a successful one in acting. It usually means a whole world of trouble with such flat-liners as Keanu Reeves and Bruce Willis.

However, actress Zooey Deschanel (“Elf,” “The Assassination of Jesse James”) defies that catastrophic recipe with the help of the Omaha-based musician, M. Ward. The duo, styled She & Him, produces a whimsical aural adventure, whisking the listener back in time with a banjo to help play the tones, leading them into discovering themselves.

The album, “Volume One,” is packed with expansive indie pop songs that compliment Deschanel and Ward’s voices. It is a trip, reminiscent of early ’60s pop and the doo-wop era, which displays Deschanel’s unique voice.

She doesn’t rely on belting and volume, but reassurance of self, as she serenades the listener with old, Southern-style ballads that work with Ward’s retro flair and musical arrangement. Deschanel’s voice has the controlled Southern ease that makes one want to kick back and drink some sweet tea. The two have built a sense of comfort and stability throughout the album that contributes to display a wide range of musical genres. From an upbeat indie pop song similar to the styling of Rilo Kiley’s to a soulful cover of “Swing Low Sweet Chariot,” a track that exemplifies Deschanel’s unique way of crooning beautiful jazz chords.

Volume Records shows the true power it takes to make an album that is tastefully drenched in both fun and musicianship. The song, “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” shows what would happen if doo-wop, indie and country music were blended together. The answer to that question is strong melodies, beautiful chords and the reason to keep listening to this album. The next track, “This Is Not A Test,” and the song “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me” explain the true purpose of the lyrics of this album: to be loved and the tricky, bittersweet moments love puts us through. The album shows the tumultuous relationship “She” has with “Him.”

Even though She & Him portrays a pleasant, enjoyable mix of Deschanel’s vintage lyrics and Ward’s excellent production value, She & Him is not impervious to certain flaws. Mellow songs can become monotonous due to the simplicity of Deschanel’s voice, as is the case in “Got Me.”

Also, the lyrics aren’t Pulitzer Prize-winning with lines such as “so I’ll keep my head down/If you keep it quiet from now on.”

Regardless, She & Him understands the complexity of music and tries to convey true emotion when creating music. Deschanel and Ward dedicate their time to discovering a unique indie pop that oozes with fanciful chords and a voice that brings listeners into a complex world of love, woes and innocence. Deschanel plays banjo and piano on the album and Ward embellishes the band’s ’60s rock influence.

Who would know that a simple band name composed of pronouns would play host to such an impressive range of musical genres? It will certainly be interesting to listen to “Volume Two.”

She & Him, consisting of M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel, fuse the unique sounds of doo-wop, country and indie to create a sound that is all their own. (mergerecords.com)

she&him.jpg (myspace.com/she&him)