Music From the OC: Mix 3 - Have a Very Merry Chrismukkah (various artists)
AllMusic; Amazon; Discogs; iTunes; The O.C. Wiki

This was released in 2004. It's music from the TV series The O.C. I'm listening to it again in 2021 to write a review.

1. "The Christmas Song", by the Raveonettes: No, not that Christmas Song. Actually, I just listened to this earlier tonight on Maybe This Christmas Tree, and I didn't care about it. But this time I liked it. Go figure.

2. "Last Christmas", by Jimmy Eat World: It's less memorable than the original by Wham!, but it's kind of nice in its own way. Smoother, I'd say.

3. "Just Like Christmas", by Low: I'm not familiar with this song; I think it's an original. This song is also smooth. And also not memorable. But it's okay.

4. "Merry Xmas Everybody", by Rooney: A cover of the Slade song. It's not bad, but it's not as good as the original.

5. "Rock of Ages", by Ben Kweller: I thought this would be a hymn with which I'm familiar, but it's not. I don't recognize it at all, but I don't think it's an original. I also have no idea what it's doing on a Christmas album, there's nothing Christmasy about it at all.

6. "Christmas with You Is the Best", by The Long Winters: This sounds like an original. It has some interesting lyrics, which are the only thing Christmasy about it, despite being about a "non-traditional, non-denominational celebration". It's got a decent beat to it, but overall I'm really not sure how I feel about it.

7. "Christmas Is Going to the Dogs", by Eels: Another song I'm not familiar with and have no idea if it's an original or not. But it's not bad.

8. "Christmas", by Leona Naess: Yet another unfamiliar song that I assume is probably an original. It's nice, but despite the title it doesn't seem to have much to do with Christmas.

9. "Maybe This Christmas", by Ron Sexsmith: This is on the first Maybe This Christmas album, which at the time of this review I don't have, but I plan to get. The song is nice, but not something I care much about.

I was going to say this is just about the most vanilla album I've ever heard, but then I decided instead to call it a nice bowl of vanilla bean ice cream. I've always thought the rankings for vanilla go: Vanilla good, French vanilla better, Vanilla bean best. But in the end, it's all still vanilla. And unlike Barenaked Ladies, I don't believe it's the finest of the flavors (though I have no idea what is). Still, I like it. I just can't get excited about any of it. (The album, not the ice cream.)