When I heard that She & Him (also known as Zooey Deschanel & M. Ward) were putting together a Christmas album, I had mixed feelings. The side of me that loved She & Him’s cutesy retro-pop, sunshiny sound was very much looking forward to some upbeat covers of classics like “Silver Bells” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” with some campiness thrown in for good measure.  On the other hand, the festive, Christmas-obsessed side of me argued that no one – not even Zooey Deschanel, who is creeping closer and closer to being… well, everywhere – could do justice to my favorite Christmas classics.

I braced myself for the former, hoping I would at least be able to recognize the songs, because really – why would She & Him waste their time with a safe, traditional Christmas album?  Yet that’s precisely what they did – and it was hardly a waste.  Never was there a bouncy, skirt-twirling 60s-pop moment we so often heard in Volume I and Volume II, and I could actually imagine listening to these songs with my family while stringing ornaments and tinsel on our (fake) tree. In fact, She & Him achieved the feat of fully embracing the old-timey, traditional feel of Christmas classics without losing their creative spirit.  Uncomplicated guitar riffs fill out the background, soft percussion keeps the rhythm flowing, and only a few doses of whimsy were detected.  Take, for example, when the roles are reversed in “Baby, it’s Cold Outside” or the out-of-place ukulele strumming in the background of “Silver Bells.” Most of the songs truly sound as they always have, yet subtle updates add just the right amount of change.  The fact that  Deschanel’s soulful voice is nearly perfect and M. Ward’s expertise improves with each album is just icing on the cake.

A standout track that sounds delightfully non-traditional is “Christmas Day,” which feels most similar to She & Him’s older work. (And by “old” I mean 3 years young.) M. Ward’s laid-back guitar solos, some sing-songy background harmonies, and a quicker, swingier tempo let “Christmas Day” push the boundaries of a “holiday song.” This modern approach balances out rest of the mild album; had every song been performed this way it would have been overkill, but a little bit creates perfect contrast.

And yes… it’s barely even December, but we’re passed all the major milestones on the road to Christmas: regrettable Halloween costumes, too many cranberries at Thanksgiving, enough Black Friday news stories to keep us entertained until next year, and the first snowfall.  Clearly the holiday season is here and, if nothing else, A Very She & Him Christmas will quickly and easily get you in the mood for spiked eggnog, fuzzy socks, and corny Christmas sweaters.

9/10

By: Emily Farra

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