She & Him: A Very She & Him Christmas

zooey deschanel, she & him, ChristmasShe & Him: A Very She & Him Christmas
Zooey Deschanel breakout movie role was in the 2003 holiday classic, Elf. In the film, she showed off her vocal chords in a duet with Will Ferrell singing “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” Eight years later, Deschanel duets with M. Ward on the same track on A Very She & Him Christmas.
A Very She & Him Christmas is She & Him‘s third studio album and their first of the holiday-themed variety. The album is strictly populated by covers of holiday classics. By classics I mean tracks like “Silver Bells” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” as much as Brian Wilson‘s “Christmas Day” and Brenda Lee‘s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” The latter of which appears to be written specifically for Deschanel’s voice and “adorkable” facade.
While the album spreads Christmas cheer by singing loud for all to hear, it lacks some pizzazz in the arrangement department. The duet between Zooey Deschanel and a ukelele on “Silver Bells” ends up sounding more flat than sparsely beautiful. The same can be said for “The Christmas Song” which just features Deschanel and a reverbed guitar. While some tracks like “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” deserve that treatment, it seems to be overused on the album.
The fuller tracks do deliver a nice holiday punch. It’s almost impossible not to get goosebumps during the harmonies on She & Him’s take on The Beach Boys‘ “Little Saint Nick” or crack a smile during the hokey male/female duet of “Sleigh Ride.” So if you are in the market for a little holiday spirit, there is almost assuredly worse albums to get you in the Christmas groove than A Very She & Him Christmas.
Rating: 6.7/10
MP3: She & Him “The Christmas Waltz”
Buy: iTunes or Insound Vinyl

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