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.
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]
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 2 Wilson, MacKenzie. "Maybe This Christmas Too". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
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