Now that our sugar rushes have died down and our costumes have been placed into storage, the post-Halloween holiday madness has come full circle. The first Christmas soundtrack on our radar is A Very She & Him Christmas ($9.99, amazon.com) by She & Him’s lovely Zooey Deschanel and her partner in song, M. Ward.

With its playfully funky cover, Deschanel dons a plaid bow atop her long brown locks. It’s apparent that the duo’s purpose in this album is to give fans a healthy dose of holiday cheer.

If you’re looking for re-imagined Christmas songs, you should start up an iTunes search, because besides a change in tempo here and there, you can expect to hear the tunes of tradition. For most of the album, Deschanel’s voice is like the sugar atop all those gingerbread cookies –sweet and cheery with an occasional get-up-and-dance type of intoxication.

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Perfect as background music for a holiday dinner with your BFFs or as a stocking stuffer for the Zooey worshippers in your life, She & Him’s release is more of a joyful ode to the season than an overwhelming demand to be merry.

The album begins with “The Christmas Waltz”, which showcases the best of Deschanel’s delicate yet warm vocals and continues to “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, a sincere and wholly gorgeous rendition of a beloved classic. Meanwhile, tunes like “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” highlight the true power of Deschanel’s deep, sultry voice.

But it’s not all slow-songs and passionate ballads: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” will lift the spirits of even the biggest Scrooge – it feels as though the wide eyed Zooey is singing in a swingy red frock at the front of the room.

Though there are quite a few numbers Christmas-lovers will go to again and again, songs like “Silver Bells” and “Little Saint Nick” are simply not good matches for Deschanel’s voice, seeming forced and lackluster.

But the biggest disappointment is Deschanel and Ward’s oddly upbeat “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” There is no chemistry between the duo, and the rendition’s lightheartedness erases all meaning behind the lyrics.

If you’re looking for merely a track or two to add to your playlist, “Blue Christmas” is a standout with its lush, emotional vocals and “The Christmas Song” is nothing short of incredible.

This is the must-have soundtrack for gals and guys who want to get their Christmas spirit on –and can’t get enough of Zooey D. No, it’s not perfect, but it’s a heck of a good time!

Diana Denza is a regular contributor to BettyConfidential.