Buzzin Pop Music

She & Him – Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? – Single Review

M. Ward of She & Him

When She & Him first appeared onto the musical radar back in July, they seemed a bit like every publicist’s dream. The boy girl duo consists of actress Zooey Deschanel (She), who appeared in every music fan’s favourite film ‘Almost Famous’ and M. Ward (& Him), every music  critic’s favourite all-rounder.

M. Ward’s blend of country tinged soft indie mixed with Deschanel’s sweet, creamy American drawl is a throwback to an imagined era where lovers sang to each other openly about their love in simple pop songs. Current single ‘Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?’ now also recalls the sweet harmonies of 60s girl-group pop.

‘Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?’, is She & Him’s second single from their first album Volume One (does this mean they are obliged to bring out a Volume Two?) and it is exactly this type of pop/country record.  Simplistic, outmoded lyrics such as “Why don’t you sit right down and stay awhile?”, backed by shifting piano and faint acoustic guitar describe the sense of longing and self-doubt that permeates the whole song.

Creating these little gems is She & Him’s speciality, and they do it again here on the new single. However, largely due to my bias towards the Him half of She & Him, I do find the single rather She heavy.

The limited 7” on which ‘Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?’ is released via Double Six records also contains a show-stealing cover of Neil Young’s Lotta Love.

Listen to their music here.