SHE & HIM – A VERY SHE & HIM CHRISTMAS
Nostalgic indie duo She & Him often pay tribute to the music and production values of yesteryear in their work. Singer/actress Zooey Deschanel and guitarist/producer M. Ward originally connected over a shared appreciation for George Martin and Phil Spector, so it’s almost unsurprising that something as delightfully twee as a Christmas covers album was in the pipeline for the pair. Rather than re-doing traditional carols, these twelve selections have been drawn from the pop catalogue appropriate for their mid-century persuasions. However, rather than being as deliriously upbeat as the songs on their first two albums, these covers are relaxed and restrained in a manner more suited to a fireside chat than rocking around the Christmas tree. Ward delicately accompanies Deschanel’s soft crooning with his jazz-style guitar strumming on Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, and the intimately shared vocals on Sleigh Ride are the album at its most energetic. Silver Bells is another standout, featuring a solo Deschanel with gentle ukulele support. It’s by no means ground-breaking stuff, but it was never going to be and nor should it have been. By definition, Christmas albums need to adhere to tradition, but it’s always nice when they add a slightly different spice to the mix. A Very She & Him Christmas does both, and you’ll do well to better it as this year’s seasonal pick.
*** ½
