A Very She & Him Christmas, She & Him (Merge)

By now we all know that She is doe-eyed actress Zooey Deschanel and Him is indie-bard M. Ward, and they've already got two albums of shoegaze folk-pop to their credit. Indeed, I could be heard saying of their first album (in my non-Christmas moments) that it could have been the Tapestry of the Aughts if today's teens were as drawn to clearly played and simply presented music as their hippie parents (or grandparents) were. So you probably already know what this 2011 disc sounds like, especially if you've heard one or both of their previous albums. Zooey is already on the Christmas tip with her duet of "Baby It's Cold Outside" done with Leon Redbone for the "Elf" movie. That song returns to the playlist in a newly performed version with her current duet partner. No original tunes for the duo this go-round, mostly standards with a few rock-era selections. They tap the Beach Boys for two songs, "Christmas Day" and "Little St. Nick," gentle renditions featuring clouds of overdubbed Zooeys handling the Wilson brothers' parts. They do a nice job with NRBQ's "Christmas Wish," although the gentle approach just won't do for "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." They actually fare a little better with the American songbook selections like "Christmas Waltz," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Sleigh Ride" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas." The intimate feel probably stems, at least in part, from the fact that the duo plays and sings all the parts except drums, which are outsourced to the great Jim Keltner. Part of the proceeds from this disc will benefit 826 National, an organization that helps children learn self-expression through writing. This album's not exactly a rocker, but it's a nice change of pace for your holiday playlist.