By Sophia Lucente, A&E Editor

Published in print Jan. 21, 2014

Zooey Deschanel is no pop princess.

Since 2006 she’s been one-half of the indie rock outfit She & Him, paired with fellow vintage-inspired darling Matthew “M.” Ward. The two were introduced during production of “The Go-Getter” by director Martin Hynes. Leading lady Deschanel joined Ward in a Richard and Linda Thompson cover that accompanied the end credits.

Since tentatively breaking ground in a relationship initially limited to e-mail correspondence, they’ve never reached far into gleaming musical staples enjoyed by other indie rockers. Where others used grungy or avant-garde approaches to the genre, She & Him pushed sappy romance and quirky licks back into the mainstream. Three of their studio albums modestly bear names that only label what number “Volume” they are. They put out “A Very She & Him Christmas” along the way that felt somewhat overdone, but was built on good intentions.

Those four records achieved a certain charm that remains a distinct landmark in popular music, mostly on account of Deschanel’s woeful crooning. Their lilting songwriting style consistently boasts sturdiness and character, and ultimately produced a new demographic of indie rock fans with their accessible and playful nature.

In December, they gave fans the truest representation of their artistic affluence to date. “Classics” is a 13-track cover collection drawn from old-timey genres that, while dabbling in jazz and early rock and roll, preserve that definitive She & Him sensibility. And as far as cover albums go, this one features the most effectively sentimental and convincing tracks that could have been chosen. As if spawned from the daydreams of early-career Zooey, the setlist is laid back and cradled in the rollicking chord changes of Ward.

Diverse and yet wonderfully classic instrumental backdrops were chosen to complement repertoire from Dusty Springfield, Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, Elvis Presley and more. Partly due to the overwhelmingly romantic sentiment of the entire record, it is a striking and memorable listen. She & Him’s ability to seamlessly adopt each specific genre present in “Classics” demonstrates their maturity and ambition as a band as well as their savvy sense of collaboration. Several tracks feature guest artists on trombone and trumpet whose solos are stunningly complex and era-appropriate, allowing the listener to be transported to a magically old-fashioned place that the duo hasn’t shown us before.

There is something different, however, about Deschanel’s singing voice that sets this record apart from their earlier work, even more so than the introduction of a horn line. She sits comfortably atop the familiar, reverberating warmth of Ward’s guitar with an air of focus and vocal technique not thoroughly present in “Volume 1”. From the first few bluesy notes of the first track, 1934 jazz standard “Stars Fell on Alabama”, there is just enough vibrato to showcase the refined strength present in Deschanel’s tone. Gone are most of the wavering pitch differences that made fans smile and credit to her undeniable quirkiness – and the product is a womanly sense of identification with both the nostalgic musical nuances and the lyrics.

“Classics” is a study in early romantic themes that exists as a worthy step forward in She & Him’s career. Nearly every track is a standout, from “Stars” to Springfield’s “Stay Awhile” to an unusually slow yet thoughtful rendition of “Unchained Melody”, featuring a triple-lady harmony threat with the help of folk-pop duo the Chapin Sisters. Whether you’re waking up, serving dinner or taking a road trip to this album, it is an infallible reminder that there were emotionally well-rounded love songs once upon a time, and that artists like She & Him are well prepared to revive them.