Christmas Party

'Christmas Party,' She & Him's second Christmas record, is a unique gathering of friends and family, where a mixture of perennial classics, happy accidents, and friendly faces create an atmosphere where the magic of Christmas not only blossoms but is rediscovered.

It was the positive experience they had recording their first Christmas record, 'A Very She & Him Christmas,' in 2011 that brought M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel back for another round of holiday cheer. Much like their first Christmas record, She & Him bring an organic and minimalistic approach to their holiday covers. Highly produced classics get stripped down to their most fundamental elements, a style perfectly evinced on their rendition of "Marshmallow World," originally covered by Darlene Love on the Phil Spector Christmas album

She & Him rely on friends and family to lend a simple and authentic holiday vibe to this album, one where the guest list speaks for itself. For starters, you'll find Sonic Youth's Steve Shelley playing drums on all the tracks. Close friends and tour buddies, The Chapin Sisters, add their harmonies to back up and lead, as does indie rock darling Jenny Lewis.

As Christmas Party comes to a close, the listener can take solace in knowing the door on this gathering is never fully shut. The sing-alongs, the happy accidents, the quiet moments with loved ones - they're all waiting for you whenever you wish to immerse yourself in the splendor of the season. As Ward himself says, "Music is one of the purest ways into Christmas."