Go for Maybe This Christmas first...
Katy | North Carolina | 11/10/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I love indie rock/indie pop Christmas, and was a fan of "Maybe This Christmas." The Paul Frank album art was cool, followed up by the fairly hip Oopsy Daisy art this time around.But the tunes of "Maybe This Christmas Too" are taking a little longer to grow on me. I thought I would like it better than the first, as it has a nice assortment of cool artists - Rufus Wainwright, The Flaming Lips, Badly Drawn Boy. I would say the songs don't always fit together as well as they might.The drawback is the relatively high ratio of bad tracks:
3. O Holy Night - Avril Lavigne & Chantal Kreviazuk
This is a BAD song. I even like tone deaf Avril, at least in her heavily produced album "Let Go." Here, she sounds like your 11 year old niece at her school Christmas recital. She is usually off key, and against a strong singer like Chantal, sounds dismal. She should have chosen a more rockin' track to suit her voice. The song is painful. Very painful. Plan on using your Skip button on the CD player. If only I could engineer out Avril to listen to Chantal.4. Silent Night - Damien Rice & Lisa Hannigan
You are getting sleepy...very sleepy. Singing is too weak to sustain an a cappella version.5. Xmas Cake - Rilo Kiley
Wow. This is a really dreary song. Not necessarily offensive, just a little sad and depressing for a Christmas track. And what the heck is Christmas cake?The standout tracks?
6. Donde Esta Santa Claus? - Guster
This has a very happy retro feel, with funny lyrics like in the Ben Folds track on MTC, but with much better harmony and instruments. I love the song.10. Green Christmas - Barenaked Ladies
I had heard this one before, but it's a nice, catchy tune. With last year's killer BNL/McLachlan song (perhaps the best modern Christmas song), it makes me think BNL should sing only Christmas tunage.11. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Martina Sorbara
I don't LOVE it, but it is oddly endearing.13. White Christmas - The Flaming Lips
There is something entertaining to me about the Lips doing Christmas. The song is very much what you might expect, with the lead vocals sounding a lot like the Martian in Looney Tunes cartoons.14. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - Sixpence None The Richer
I hate the band, but the song isn't bad. Very much of the aesthetic of MTC1.Final verdict:
I would recommend the album to others. It has more lows that MTC1, but also more standout tracks."
Preview
Katy | 11/26/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you wanna preview the album, go here http://www.maybethisxmas.com/home.html"
Great Album! - nice change for Christmas music!
Craig Ellis | Forestville, CA United States | 12/17/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My wife and I love this album! - I recently purchased it, and can't stop listening to it! I ESPECIALLY loved Avril Lavigne's "O Holy Night" - While I am not a Christian, I was VERY moved by the passion I felt from her and Chantal Kreviazuk. It reminded me of how I felt about Christmas many years ago. If you want a little diversity in your Christmas album collection, purchase this album!!"