Diamond are a gang of hardcore guys (their full-time gigs include Trapped Under Ice and Down To Nothing) who usually traffic in spry alt-rock, but their take on the A Charlie Brown Christmas classic “Christmas Time Is Here” is pure jazz. Everything, from guitarist Sam Trapkin’s shimmery clean chording to vocalist Justin Gilman’s glassy croon, is icily perfect, with plenty of room to breathe between each note. There’s even a trembling vibrato at the end of Gilman’s final line. Who knew hardcore dudes could get so mellow? It’s perfectly unassuming sonic wallpaper. Slip it on to Dad’s Christmas mix; he’ll never notice, and you can get the subtle satisfaction that he’s mellowing out to the dude from Terror.

★★★☆☆

*This review was composed by Jesse Richman