Aside from last year’s universally adored completion of SMiLE, an album he abandoned in 1967, Brian Wilson’s solo career has been marred by oddball artistic choices and the sad reality that the Beach Boys mastermind’s voice is steadily nearing the end of its endless summer. This chintzy Christmas collection only amplifies these problems, with a breathless Wilson delivering standards like “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “The First Noel” in a clipped, key-challenged bark that makes for distinctly unmerry listening. Elton John’s lyricist Bernie Taupin contributes to the title track, and soft-rock sage Jimmy Webb lends a hand on the gently nostalgic “Christmasey,” but only the most obsessive fans will find much joy beyond those two. Wilson rang in the holidays far more engagingly four decades ago on The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album.

DOWNLOAD: “Christmasey”