Maybe This Christmas

Ron Sexsmith named the compilation series and contributed the title track.

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]

Ben Folds performing in 2009; one reviewer called "Bizarre Christmas Incident" the album's "funniest" track.

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]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Entertainment Weekly	B[5]
The Phoenix	[11]

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]

1. "Winter Wonderland" (Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith), performed by Phantom Planet – 2:47
2. "Maybe This Christmas" (Ron Sexsmith), performed by Ron Sexsmith – 1:53
3. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin), performed by Coldplay – 2:22
4. "Greensleeves" (traditional), performed by Vanessa Carlton – 3:35
5. "Blue Christmas" (Bill Hayes, Jay Johnson), performed by Bright Eyes – 2:21
6. "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" (John Lennon, Yoko Ono), performed by Sense Field – 3:29
7. "12/23/95" (Jimmy Eat World), performed by Jimmy Eat World – 3:37
8. "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" (Johnny Marks), performed by Jack Johnson – 2:09
9. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (traditional), performed by Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan – 3:30
10. "Bizarre Christmas Incident" (Ben Folds), performed by Ben Folds – 2:24
11. "What a Year for a New Year" (Dan Wilson), performed by Dan Wilson – 4:06
12. "Sweet Secret Peace" (Neil Finn, Michael Leunig), performed by Neil Finn – 3:50
13. "Snow" (Archibald Lampman, Loreena McKennitt), performed by Loreena McKennitt – 5:36

Track listing adapted from Allmusic.[1]

Credits adapted from Allmusic.[1]

In the United States, Maybe This Christmas reached a peak position of number thirty-eight on Billboard's Top Holiday Albums chart.[13]

• Paul Frank Industries