The Canadian label Nettwerk does a hat trick for 2003 with its third Christmas compilation, pulling together a fairly diverse crew both musically and internationally to benefit Toys For Tots. Some songs on here have been heard elsewhere, like Flaming Lips' "White Christmas," Dave Matthews' original "Christmas Song" and Badly Drawn Boy's "Donna & Blitzen." Barenaked Ladies' "Green Christmas," heard on the "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" movie soundtrack, is a different version on this album, a more folky approach. Frustrating spellcheckers everywhere, we get a duet of "O Holy Night" by Avril Lavigne and & Chantal Kreviazuk, a fairly conventional reading, but the two chanteuses kick it up a notch when they finally start singing together toward the end. Rufus Wainwright offers the original "Spotlight on Christmas" with the help of sister Martha and fellow folkie scion Teddy Thompson. Eisley's "Winter Song" is a nice piece of work, while Lisa Hannigan writes her own, darker take on "Silent Night," sung a capella. Rilo Kiley keeps the proceedings downbeat with the delicate downward spiral of "Xmas Cake," then Guster lightens things up with their version of "Donde Esta Santa Claus." Be Good Tanyas do a witty pastiche of familiar carols to tell the sad story of "Rudy," and Oh Susanna embellish "Go Tell It on the Mountain" with some original lyrics while keeping its gospel core. Martina Sorbara dirges up "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" with interesting results, and Sixpence None the Richer, slowly approaching enough cuts for their own Christmas album, does a minor key take on "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear." Another good collection from north of the border. UPDATE: In 2004 came A Winter's Night, an album that compiles 15 songs from the first two of Nettwerk's Maybe compilations, if you'd like to pick and choose. It's available at popular prices as a download or CD, while Maybe Too is out of print and selling for collector's prices. FURTHER UPDATE: Just noticed there's A Winter's Night 2011, which again compiles tracks from the Maybe series and adds a couple. Also at popular prices.
Maybe This Christmas Too?, various artists (Nettwerk)
The Canadian label Nettwerk does a hat trick for 2003 with its third Christmas compilation, pulling together a fairly diverse crew both musically and internationally to benefit Toys For Tots. Some songs on here have been heard elsewhere, like Flaming Lips' "White Christmas," Dave Matthews' original "Christmas Song" and Badly Drawn Boy's "Donna & Blitzen." Barenaked Ladies' "Green Christmas," heard on the "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" movie soundtrack, is a different version on this album, a more folky approach. Frustrating spellcheckers everywhere, we get a duet of "O Holy Night" by Avril Lavigne and & Chantal Kreviazuk, a fairly conventional reading, but the two chanteuses kick it up a notch when they finally start singing together toward the end. Rufus Wainwright offers the original "Spotlight on Christmas" with the help of sister Martha and fellow folkie scion Teddy Thompson. Eisley's "Winter Song" is a nice piece of work, while Lisa Hannigan writes her own, darker take on "Silent Night," sung a capella. Rilo Kiley keeps the proceedings downbeat with the delicate downward spiral of "Xmas Cake," then Guster lightens things up with their version of "Donde Esta Santa Claus." Be Good Tanyas do a witty pastiche of familiar carols to tell the sad story of "Rudy," and Oh Susanna embellish "Go Tell It on the Mountain" with some original lyrics while keeping its gospel core. Martina Sorbara dirges up "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" with interesting results, and Sixpence None the Richer, slowly approaching enough cuts for their own Christmas album, does a minor key take on "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear." Another good collection from north of the border. UPDATE: In 2004 came A Winter's Night, an album that compiles 15 songs from the first two of Nettwerk's Maybe compilations, if you'd like to pick and choose. It's available at popular prices as a download or CD, while Maybe Too is out of print and selling for collector's prices. FURTHER UPDATE: Just noticed there's A Winter's Night 2011, which again compiles tracks from the Maybe series and adds a couple. Also at popular prices.
No TrackBacks
TrackBack URL: http://www.mistletunes.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1246
Leave a comment