The AMG review I read (which convinced me to check it out -- other than being a huge fan of Merge Records, I didn't have any reason to really, because their first two volumes weren't too interesting) noted that ZD has almost completely taken over vocals from M. Ward. This is a shame, but it's also kind of impressive.
Also, I can't find the amg review. Was wondering if my pal Jamie wrote it. He wrote the review for their Christmas Album
I have no idea, I've never listened to it. I just noticed it there when I went hunting for the AMG review of V3. I abide by a similar "no christmas albums" rule.
From what I remember M. Ward didn't do too much singing on the last albums either. I liked the last two though, so we differ in that. I'm a big M. Ward fan, he's fantastic but I think Zooey is too, her voice is sublime imo and the more of it, the better.
I liked them fine, just they didn't interest me enough to deliberately seek out V3, but it came out on NPR First Listen so it was too convenient to ignore, etc. I love his voice, so making me not miss it on V3 is quite an achievement for Zooey. I seem to remember more of it in the first two but I'm probably wrong.