Pitchfork

Photo by WHOLPHIN DVD

All set to give Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová a run for their crossover money, M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel are here with their own acting/songcraft one-two punch. It's that previously reported debut LP under the She & Him banner, Once Volume 1.

Today comes confirmation that the Ward-produced Volume 1 will indeed be released by Merge Records, along with a release date (March 18) and, wonder of wonders, a tracklist! Wait a minute, these songs have the exact same titles as the last eleven entries in my Xanga! Weird!

Far less suspect than that little quip are the two-- count 'em, two-- live performances She & Him have lined up so far for March 2008, including a spot at Merge's SXSW showcase. M. and Zooey may be grammatically impaired, but they sure do look and sing all pretty.

Volume 1:

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)

She & Him & You:

03-02 San Francisco, CA - Noise Pop
03-14 Austin, TX - The Parish (Merge Records SXSW showcase)