The Raveonettes
Wishing You A Rave Christmas
Vice

4 of 5 stars

Christmas albums have a bad reputation, and it’s probably a well-deserved one. Aside from the classics, holiday songs tend to be cheesy and devoid of any real redeeming qualities. That’s especially true for those rush-released albums by contemporary artists to garner a few bucks from the consumer’s often misguided holiday purchasing. Last year, The Raveonettes released “The Christmas Song,” a single that proved an unexpected hit among their fans. This year’s EP, Wishing You a Rave Christmas, is a similarly pleasant surprise that puts other holiday howls to shame. Although only four songs deep, the disc includes both covers and original tracks, and provides a new and refreshing take on the Christmas collection.

On Wishing You, the Danish duo sticks to its time-tested formula of amped-up electronics and simple chord progressions. Like previous work by The Raveonettes, the songs follow the basic melodic structures and steady beats of classic 1950s and '60s rock‘n’roll. It’s this tactic that lends the tracks a feeling of ease as members Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo effortlessly whisper their way through choruses. The simple foundation is juxtaposed with hard-edged electronic instrumentation and overlaid with layers of frilly electronica. If the Everly Brothers grew up in the 21st century, had an electric guitar, frequented euro-raves — and one of them was a girl — they would sound a lot like The Raveonettes.

“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” starts the album off with an inimitable cover of Darlene Lane’s holiday standard. Opening with fleshed-out major chords and a hard-hitting beat, it sets the tone for the energetic EP. The verses are filled with loud electronic embellishments that periodically give way to welcomed relieves as Foo sighs a sultry chorus against a sparse backdrop of bass and bells. If it weren’t for the lyrics, it could pass for a top-40 pop song.

“Come on Santa” is more obviously a holiday track. When the words “Santa” and “Christmas” are in every other line, it’s harder to hide the theme. Adding to the seasonal sound is the intro of tinkling bells. The song’s more blatantly carol-based approach allows for playfulness and buoyancy.

The antidote to this jaunty jingle comes with “Christmas Ghosts,” a tribute to the sadder side of season’s greetings. A sweet piano arpeggio — a la “Unchained Melody” — begins the song and continues throughout, accompanied by a more minor composition. Wagner’s vocals lag behind the beat, emphasizing his melancholy pleading: “The whitest of snow can turn black / But when I’m with you, that’s all I need / Oh baby, don’t leave me tonight / Pretty baby, the stars all sparkle in your eyes / Oh baby, the snow turns this night into a dream.”

The EP finishes with a more streamlined sound on “Christmas in Cleveland.” The keyboard mimics the vocal melody, floating octaves above the rest of the mix and — while spending the holidays in Ohio sounds like an even worse idea than making a Christmas album — the song sings the city into a fantastical world of snowy white lights.

Clocking in at just under 20 minutes, the brevity of Wishing You A Rave Christmas affords just a taste of festivity. It’s sweet, but not too sweet. Jingle bells and seasonal lyrics are present but not prominent, and it would make a great stocking stuffer for those seeking a touch of offbeat musical merry-making.