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Maybe This Christmas
Maybe This Christmas is a holiday compilation album released in November 2002 through Nettwerk Records featuring contemporary musicians performing both classic and original Christmas songs.[1] The album, named by Ron Sexsmith, is the first in a series of three holiday compilations released through the record label between 2002 and 2004. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of each album went to Toys for Tots, a charity supported by the United States Marine Corps. Most of the tracks exclusive to Maybe This Christmas were recorded just a few months prior to its release. The album's cover art was designed by artist Paul Frank, creator of Julius the pictured "wide-mouth monkey". Critical reception of the compilation was mixed, with reviewers often complimenting or criticizing select tracks. In the United States, the album reached a peak position of number thirty-eight on Billboard's Top Holiday Albums chart. Background and composition Maybe This Christmas is the first in a series of three consecutive holiday compilation albums released through Nettwerk.[2] Maybe This Christmas Too? and Maybe This Christmas Tree were released in October 2003 and October 2004, respectively.[3][4] The series was named by Ron Sexsmith, who contributed the title track to the compilation.[2] A portion of the proceeds from the sales of each album went to Toys for Tots, a charity supported by the United States Marine Corps.[1][3][4] Maybe This Christmas contains thirteen "rock-oriented" tracks recorded by various artists.[1][5] Most of the tracks exclusive to the album were recorded just a few months prior to its release.[6] Allmusic's MacKenzie Wilson dubbed the compilation an "album suited for those twenty-somethings searching for [their] not-so-typical Christmas collection."[1] The cover art was designed by artist Paul Frank, creator of Julius the "illustrated, wide-mouth monkey".[6] The album opens with Phantom Planet's "sweet rock romp" rendition of Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith's "Winter Wonderland".[1] Sexsmith's title track is less than two minutes in length and has a shuffling beat.[7] "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin) features a downtempo, "jazz-like" solo piano performance by Chris Martin of Coldplay.[1][7] Tracks exclusive to the album include Vanessa Carlton's piano-driven rendition of the traditional song "Greensleeves" as well as Bright Eyes' cover of "Blue Christmas" (Bill Hayes, Jay Johnson); others include Sense Field's version of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" and "What a Year for a New Year" by Dan Wilson, lead singer of the rock band Semisonic.[6]  Jimmy Eat World's "12/23/95", described by The Austin Chronicle's Christopher Gray as "serious emo" and The New York Times' Kelefa Sanneh as a "gentle ballad of apology",[7][8] previously appeared on the band's 1999 album Clarity.[1][9] The song title and date refer to Little Christmas Eve, the traditional day on which Norwegians decorate Christmas trees.[10] Jack Johnson incorporates an "upbeat street-corner" shuffle into his version of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" (Johnny Marks, Robert L. May), just over two minutes in length.[11] The traditional song "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" is performed as a duet by the Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan.[12] Following is a string of original songs, including "Bizarre Christmas Incident" by Ben Folds, "What a Year for a New Year" by Dan Wilson and Neil Finn's "Sweet Secret Peace". "Winter Wonderland," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Bizarre Christmas Incident" were recorded previously for fans but had not been released commercially.[6] The closing track, "Snow" (Archibald Lampman, Loreena McKennitt) was performed by McKennitt and has been described as a "haunting, orchestral new-age hymn that could fit nicely into a midnight Mass."[11] Reception
Maybe This Christmas received mixed critical reception. Many reviewers complimented or criticized select tracks, though Jimmy Eat World's "12/23/95" received the most praise. Allmusic's MacKenzie Wilson awarded the album three out of five stars and described it as a "solid holiday effort" for both "casual and die-hard music fans".[1] Wilson considered "12/23/95" the album's standout track and wrote that performances by Bright Eyes, Loreena McKennitt, Sense Field, and Dan Wilson provided traditional carols with a "fresh face" along with their own "dash of coolness".[1] She also complimented Coldplay's rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", calling it as "endearing" as the original, and thought Sarah McLachlan's "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" was "playfully charming".[1] Christopher Gray of The Austin Chronicle considered "Blue Christmas" the best and "Bizarre Christmas Incident" the "funniest" track on the compilation.[8] Chris Willman of Entertainment Weekly gave the album a "B" rating and called it a "mixed bag". He described performances by Vanessa Carlton and Bright Eyes as "painful" but also complimented the Barenaked Ladies and McLachlan for their collaboration.[5] Willman considered Wilson's "What a Year for a New Year" the stand-out track of the album.[5] Annie Zaleski of The Phoenix rated the album 2.5 out of 4 stars, calling some of the collection "gorgeous and alluring" but most of it "subdued".[11] Zaleski complimented the title track but criticized performances by Coldplay and Bright Eyes, the latter for its "unsteady, wobbly twang".[11] Zaleski and Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times also praised "12/23/95".[7] Zaleski concluded: "Not exactly your traditional take on traditional holiday fare, but a pleasant alternative to all the muzak you have to put up with this time of year."[11] Track listing
Track listing adapted from Allmusic.[1] Personnel
Credits adapted from Allmusic.[1] ChartsIn the United States, Maybe This Christmas reached a peak position of number thirty-eight on Billboard's Top Holiday Albums chart.[13] See alsoReferences
Information related to Maybe This Christmas |
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