Maybe This Christmas (various artists)
AllMusic; Amazon; Discogs; Wikipedia

This came out in 2002, but I didn't get it until 2022, despite wanting to get it for many years. It's the first in a series of albums, but it's the second one I've heard, after the third album.

1. "Winter Wonderland", by Phantom Planet: This alternates between a standard, sweet rendition and a more rocking rendition. And I like it both ways.

2. "Maybe This Christmas", by Ron Sexsmith: As far as I know, the song (which provides the album's title) first appeared on this album, but I first heard it on the O.C. Chrismukkah album, which came out a couple years after this. It's a pretty short song, and I like it well enough, but I don't find it memorable.

3. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", by Coldplay: It's a decent rendition.

4. "Greensleeves", by Vanessa Carlton: I used to have an mp3 of this song, but I always wanted to get this album largely to acquire a hard copy of the song. I just read on Wikipedia that Entertainment Weekly's reviewer called the song "painful", which surprises me, because I love this rendition.

5. "Blue Christmas", by Bright Eyes: According to Wikipedia, EW also described this song as "painful", and once again I disagree with that assessment. But unlike "Greensleeves", it's not a rendition I really care about one way or the other. It's just okay.

6. "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)", by Sense Field: Well, it's not essential listening like the original version by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, but it's a very pleasant cover.

7. "12/23/95", by Jimmy Eat World: This is an original song, which first appeared on the band's album "Clarity" from 1999. (I only know that because Wikipedia mentioned it. I have no idea for most of the songs on this album whether they appeared here first or not, even if they're originals.) Anyway, the song is okay, but not something I find memorable.

8. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", by Jack Johnson: This has some new lyrics that I like, about Rudolph calling out the other reindeer for how they treated him. It's a decent song.

9. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", by Barenaked Ladies with Sarah McLachlan: This was recorded in 1996, and also appears on Barenaked Ladies' 2004 album "Barenaked for the Holidays". I have this song on my 2012 mix CD. It's definitely fun.

10. "Bizarre Christmas Incident", by Ben Folds: This is an original song. The title is an apt description. It is bizarre. And highly irreverent in its treatment of Santa Claus. I can't say I care for it, like at all. But I'm sure some people would find it funny.

11. "What a Year for a New Year", by Dan Wilson: This is another original song. I like it, but I could stand for it to be a bit shorter. And I don't expect to remember it.

12. "Sweet Secret Peace", by Neil Finn: Yet another original song. I don't really know what to make of this song, but it's not bad.

13. "Snow", by Loreena McKennitt: This is also an original song. Well, I always enjoy McKennitt's singing, and this is no exception. It's ethereal and sweet. And I don't know what else to say.