Anyone familiar with Mark Kozelek—the leader of Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon—knows what his voice can bring to a song. His love for covering other people’s material (AC/DC, Modest Mouse, Simon & Garfunkel) often leads him into unorthodox territory, but this album of well-known Christmas carols (plus versions of The Pretenders’ “2000 Miles” and Greg Lake’s “I Believe in Father Christmas”) is exactly as it should be: honest, straightforward, and no-nonsense. With no irony whatsoever, Kozelek brings his dulcet tones to melodies that have stood the test of time, from the "Greensleeves"-based “What Child Is This” to the solemn classics “Silent Night” and “The First Noel.”