Imagine a warm crackling fireplace, antique Christmas ornaments and a breathtaking view of the ocean during a California December. That is the essence of She & Him’s newest album: “A Very She & Him Christmas” (2011). Each song presents an easygoing, mellow and altogether enjoyable sound, perfect for a quiet evening at home or a relaxed get-together with friends.
Christmas covers have become quite the trend in the music industry this holiday season. Both pop sensation Justin Bieber and the equally popular crooner Michael Buble released highly anticipated albums featuring a mix of original songs and covers. She & Him, comprised of actress-turned-singer Zooey Deschanel and musician Matthew Ward, offers a more mellow option to throw into the mix.
Staying true to the indie rock genre, Deschanel and Ward transformed twelve Christmas favorites into raw stripped down simplicity. Deschanel’s lilting tones give songs like “Silver Bells” and “The Christmas Song” a new twist, lending hipster holiday magic to the season. The whole album is easily something you would hear in “avant-garde” stores like Urban Outfitters or the more refined Anthropologie, airy and carefree as every track is. Think Ingrid Michaelson meets Jack Johnson. If listeners hope to find anything different from previous albums, they will be disappointed. Deschanel’s voice rings pure and unique and Ward’s instrumental accompaniment leave no room for anything but pure She & Him.
Refreshing and original as the covers are, one can’t help comparing Deschanel’s lighter and undeniably weaker vocal qualities in “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” to Judy Garland’s rich, resonant rendition, featured in the classic film “Meet Me In St. Louis.” The cover is not unpleasant, just a bit anticlimactic in comparison. After all, covering classics from greats like Celine Dion or Barbara Streisand is a risk too. Ward’s acoustic riffs are particularly relaxing and especially prominent in “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” though his vocals are puzzlingly absent in every song. Past albums featured both artists’ vocal talents. No matter though as Deschanel’s unique voice more than makes up for the lack of male vocals.
Deschanel does a wonderful job of interspersing playful with sentimental, energetic with mellow. “A Very She & Him Christmas” makes for a nice complement to seasonal albums with the richer, traditional tones of Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole and creates variety from jazz holiday favorites like Vince Guaraldi’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas” soundtrack and Kenny G’s Christmas album, but whether it can stand by itself is questionable. Still, there is little doubt that future Christmas movies will hasten to add their songs to their soundtracks.
Photo from Stereogum.com
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