A VERY SHE & HIM CHRISTMAS is a wonderful collection of holiday tunes from two of musics most impressive artists Zooey Deschanel (She) & M. Ward (Him). Inspired by seminal holiday albums by the likes of the Carpenters, Vince Guaraldi, the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley and more, She & Him have set out to create an intimate holiday recording of Christmas classics that helps bring new emotions out of old songs. A VERY SHE & HIM CHRISTMAS sees the duo stepping back slightly from the layered, lush aesthetic of their critically acclaimed second album, VOLUME TWO. Deschanel and Ward let the songs speak for themselves, oftentimes recording them with just acoustic guitar and vocals. Consistent in everything are the elements that have made She & Him one of the most loved bands of the last few years Deschanels soulful vocal delivery and Wards impressive guitar work, both sounding as timeless as ever.
Drawing inspiration, both musically and artistically, from classic holiday offerings from the likes of the Carpenters, the Beach Boys, and Vince Guaraldi, M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel's third outing under the She & Him moniker finds the impossibly quirky duo tackling its first collection of Christmas music. A Very She & Him Christmas is all about the kitsch, from the retro packaging complete with a hyper-stylized photo shot by photographer Autumn De Wilde and liner notes in the form of a signed Christmas card, to the swingin' choices, many of which are culled from the aforementioned Carpenters/Beach Boys outings. Musically, the duo keeps things simple, utilizing guitar and vocals, peppered with the occasional bit of percussion, ukulele, or organ. Deschanel handles the majority of the leads, and when she stays in a lower register ("The Christmas Song," "Blue Christmas") the results can be winning, especially when they're slathered in classic, Les Paul/Mary Ford-inspired slapback delay. However, busier cuts like "Sleigh Ride," "Little Saint Nick," and "Christmas Day" reveal a charming yet pitchy vocalist with all of the inflections of a classic torch singer, and none of the discipline. ~ James Christopher Monger
- Format: Vinyl (Black)
- Genre: Holiday, Christmas
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