Let me preface this article by stating that I am not one of those people who place their inflatable snowmen and mechanical reindeers in the front yard in early November. That being said, I do possess an unyielding and ardent love for all things of the holiday season - when they're done right. There are only so many times I can hear Justin Bieber's Christmas album Under the Mistletoe without needing to heavily spike my eggnog.
The album A Very She & Him Christmas by the indie-pop duo She & Him revamps Christmas classics in a way that provides all the stereotypical Christmas camp with a refreshing dash of originality. Released in October, the album showcases the singer/actress Zooey Deschanel's chirpy voice paired with the guitar stylings of M. Ward, all set against a background of retro-inspired melodies. One can almost imagine their collaborations arriving straight out of the 1960s: their revamp of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" sounds just like a Golden Oldies staple.
The album includes traditional tracks such as Deschanel's flirtatious version of "Baby, It's Cold Outside," originally heard in her first foray into singing in her role alongside Will Ferrell in the holiday standard Elf. The ever-popular "Silver Bells" is restyled by removing the song from its original, glitzy back music, replacing Bing Crosby's crooning with Deschanel's ethereal voice and the sole accompaniment of a ukulele. "Blue Christmas" evokes images of Elvis Presley singing alongside Deschanel in her vintage-inspired version, the melody almost tropical with its flowing rhythm, and the ukulele making an appearance once more.
A Very She & Him Christmas is the perfect stocking stuffer for the music aficionado who wants to enjoy the traditional holiday classics without delving into the realm of synchronized boy bands soulfully harmonizing "Last Christmas" - I'm looking at you, 98 Degrees.
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