New She And Him (Zooey Deschanel And M. Ward) - "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"

Download: She And Him - "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"
Download: M. Ward - "Chinese Translation"
Download: Zooey Deschanel And Leon Redbone - "Baby, It's Cold Outside"

One of the more intriguing projects to pop up on the 2008 cultural radar is the collaboration between M. Ward and actress Zooey Deschanel. The project, going by the name of She and Him, is due out in March via Merge Records. A few days ago, the label was kind enough to post a track, "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?", from She and Him's forthcoming release Volume One, due out in March. The track is called "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"

Though the bio on the Merge Records uses Dusty Springfield, Linda Ronstadt and The Zombies as musical reference points, "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" has a distinct Beatles flavor to it, especially in the song's piano hook and whimsical feel. The whole track has a breezy, jazzy feel, which is no doubt due to Deschanel's vocal phrasing. The song is so brief that it is seemingly over before it begins, but we're definitely charmed all the same.

Volume One is out in March.

She and Him MySpace Fan Page

(Jonathan Graef)