Over the Edge - November 30 a&e 929 ADYNOS ANIINO ca a 2. CHRISTMAS An Album with Christmas Spirit DARCIE SMITH ARTS EDITOR lovely Christmas album. When most people hear the words ‘Christmas al- bum’ they tend to run as far away from any and all elevators that they can. If there is one thing that brings out the Grinch in a person, it seems to be holiday music. However, even if you are getting a little tired of seeing and hearing about Zooey Deschanel, it’s hard to argue with how beautiful and smokey her voice is next to M. Ward’s guitar playing and crooning. A Very She & Him Christmas is the duo’s third studio album. It is difficult to be overly critical of an album like this simply because the song are not theirs and they do not deviate from the originals very much. It is an easy, lovely album that you might find yourself listening to at other times of the year wishing it was snowing softly around you and your lover. Deschanel’s vocals are better on some tracks than others - “Blue Christmas” showcases her lower register appeal, as at times she sings a bit too high for her range. “The Christmas Song” is another example of her deeper-voiced crooning [ is always refreshing when a genuinely talented band puts out a genuinely AVery She & Him Christmas indeed. that really makes the track stand out from the others. “Have Yourself a Merry Lit- tle Christmas” is very sparse and intimate. Zooey sings quieter and gentler in this track, while M. Ward’s soft guitar plays right behind her. This track almost tricks you into thinking it is a real song and not an overplayed, timeless Christmas hit. When Zooey and M.Ward finally do an actual duet on “Baby, It’s Cold Out- side,” it comes off as potentially the cutest and most satisfying moments in music from 2011. In the three previous albums they have singing together, it never truly feels like they are singing any duets. Putting them in the setting of a legitimate duet is fabulous. If you are sweet on She & Him, you will probably find this album adorable and addictive, and if you are sweet on Christmas tunes, then it’s an added bonus. If you are one of the Grinch types who cringe around carolers, then you might not find that this album really stands out above the crowd, especially as an introduc- tion to She & Him.