She & Him brings indie whimsy to Christmas

It's officially the holiday season, and thus, the flooding of Christmas albums on the music market has begun.

This time each year, artists from all genres offer their interpretation of a Christmas compilation in an attempt to enter that coveted rotation of holiday standards and carol favorites that can be heard at shopping malls and tacky sweater parties throughout the month of Dec.

For my upcoming 21st birthday, I received an early gift — "A Very She and Him Christmas" on vinyl from a friend and fellow She & Him fan.

 Actress-singer Zooey Deschanel (She) and her partner in crime M. Ward (Him) gave a cutesy, indie addition to a typical holiday songs "Sleigh Ride," "The Christmas Waltz" and "Silver Bells."

As a fan of "old-school" Christmas music from artists such as Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra, my expectations for modern Christmas albums are considerably low. However, She & Him's festive record (no, really, it's even red, Christmas card included) was a welcomed surprise.

Deschanel and Ward's musical style, which has been summed up as "well-mannered folk-pop," fits the whimsical spirit of the holiday season perfectly—much like a retro, hipster holiday version of The Carpenters.

Unlike the band's previous two albums, "A Very She and Him Christmas" doesn't feature complex arrangements or lush production quality. The holiday record seems to aim for a sparse use of instruments and instead highlights Deschanel's vocals. Although she doesn't have a broad range vocally, Deschanel makes up for her limitations with charm, an element essential for all-things Christmas.

Songs such as "Christmas Day" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" are not Deschanel's best, vocally. However, there's a undeniable sweetness within the tracks. Ward's guitar accompaniment, which is both tasteful and subtle throughout the record, brings consistency to the album.

Arguably, the best track on the record is Ward and Deschanel's rendition of "Baby, It's Cold Outside." A whistling bridge and feathery background snare backs up the playful vocal exchange between the duo. The soft string strumming and drawn-out vocals of "Silver Bells" also make for a solid yet unconventional holiday tune.

Overall, "A Very She and Him Christmas" is a successful attempt at a throwback holiday album presented as a late ‘50s/early ‘60s milieu that is charming, airy and, most importantly, festive.

Key Tracks: "Baby, It's Cold Outside," "Little St. Nick" and "Silver Bells"