It’s pretty ridiculous that more people don’t know that actor Jason Schwartzman has a pretty astonishingly-good band called Coconut Records. Schwartzman is one of my favorite actors, having starred in some amazing, amazing films (Darjeeling Limited, Rushmore, I ♥ Huckabees, and of course, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World). Very few actors are able to transition successfully from acting to making music and back (only a few—Zooey Deschanel, Scarlett Johansson—come to mind). It’s not an easy transition, but Jason does it flawlessly.
So flawlessly, in fact, that at first listen it’s almost tough to believe it’s him. Coconut Records sounds like something that has been the #1 focus of its creator, something that took 100% of their time and energy. Surely someone who also has to juggle a (pretty darn successful) film career wouldn’t be the man behind it. But upon further inspection, it becomes pretty unquestionable. The voice is clearly his, and the simple, indie-tastic vibes are present in every breath Schwartzman takes.
This song, It’s Not You, It’s Me, is from Jason’s debut album, Nighttiming. On other tracks, he is joined by fellow actors-turned-musicians Zooey Deschanel and Kirsten Dunst. But it’s really on It’s Not You, It’s Me that Schwartzman’s themes and style become clear, and his playfulness and ability to craft a successful melody truly shine.
