 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 " . Wilson considered " 12 / 23 / 95 " the standout track of the album and wrote that performances by Bright Eyes , Loreena McKennitt , Sense Field and Dan Wilson provided traditional carols with " fresh face " along with their own " dash of coolness " . 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 " . Christopher Gray of The Austin Chronicle considered " Blue Christmas " the best and " Bizarre Christmas Incident " the " funniest " track on the compilation . 
