Various Artists - Holidays, Vonda Shepard - Ally McBeal: A Very Ally Christmas
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Free Music Notes for Ally McBeal: A Very Ally Christmas
Free Music Review: A Very Ally Christmas
Hit: 5 Stars
This album is the best. It is amazingFree Music Review: Probably the best Christmas album I own
Hit: 4 Stars
From small-time singer to making the big time with Ally McBeal, Vonda Shepard once again proves that she's a more than competent singer even when singing someone else's tunes. This Christmas collection is a variety pack of different Christmas songs (many actually used in the show) that thankfully doesn't go either one way or the other into happy or sad. This is the first album in the Ally collection to include guest stars from the show singing, something that works a lot better than you would have expected.Vonda Shepard tunes make up most the album though, and she's perfect whether singing Broadway-like songs such as Man With The Bag (probably the best Shepard song on here) or such stalwarts as Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, in which she reveals a very soulful voice that suits the song perfectly. Of course, the novelty lies in the guest stars and their interpretations of popular Christmas tunes. Winter Wonderland is completely suited to Macy Gray's husky vocals and fits remarkably well on an album that is made up only of people involved in the show. Of the show's stars, the best offering without doubt is from Jane Krakowski who plays Elaine. Her voice is just phenomenal and she has a real personality. In fact, her sexy and fun renditions of Run Rudolph Run and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus are so good you can't help but wish she's release an album herself. Calista Flockhart also copes against amazing odds to belt out Eartha Kitt's Santa Baby in a kind of false naivity vocal that's great. Of course, the biggest surprise comes from Robert Downey Junior, who does real justice to two already fantastic songs - White Christmas and River. It would be unfair to say that River was the only showstopper of the album (there are too many to pick from), but it's definitely one of the best. The only song that doesn't really work is Lisa Nicole Carson's version of Santa Claus Got Stuck In My Chimney, which has nothing to do with her deep and sultry vocals but more with the style of the song that doesn't seem to fit somehow.
Other than that this is a varied and fun Christmas album that updates the old classics and even introduces some new ones. For fans of the show who'll have seen many of these performed this is a must (I think anyone who watched Ally singing Santa Baby will laugh when they hear the song), but it does wonders in that it's also a must for anyone else who's sick of the tired old Christmas compilations they release every year.
Free Music Review: Great Christmas CD for fans of the show!
Hit: 4 Stars
A VERY ALLY CHRISTMAS echoes the show almost perfectly -- it's bittersweet and full of laughs and longing in equal doses. It's really a Vonda Shepard Christmas album with some of the actors past renditions of Christmas songs thrown in for good measure. I've seen some comments complaining these actors can't sing well enough to carry off the songs, but I found Calista Flockhart doing "Santa Baby" fun! I'm a fan of the show, and I can see her in my mind in that great Santa outfit flirting with the whole audience. It's not Eartha Kitt, but come on! What were you expecting? Lisa Nicole Carson's song is very short, and I wished for more from her (great voice). Jane Krakowski's contributions are taken from Elaine's first two scene-stealing performances at the annual Cage and Fish Christmas party -- "Run Rudolph Run" and "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" (complete with Ikettes!). Both of these are great! Robert Downy JR gets to do a couple of songs including Joni Mitchell's "River" and a duet with Vonda that was with Ally in the show. His voice is not professional, but he puts some heart into it. Macy Gray is also on here doing "Winter Wonderland"! That's a nice touch, and something different than the rest of the CD. The Vonda songs are a little more jazzy than usual, she uses a lot of brass from the very start of the CD "This Christmas". It's brighter in tone than what you will find on previous ALLY recordings (both great as well!). Should be a nice addition to anybody's Christmas celebration, but seems most appropriate for anybody out there who is single and longs to celebrate with someone special! Basically -- if you're a fan you are gonna love this! If you're not...you'll be wondering why everybody likes the actors doing Christmas songs, and enjoying the Vonda and Macy songs.Free Music Review: Too Bad About Their Personal Problems; But They Sing Good!
Hit: 4 Stars
A Very Ally Christmas is a collection of songs from four years of Christmas specials, and features Vonda Shepard on the majority of songs (eight of fourteen). Of the others, Jane Krakowski (who plays the character Elaine) has two songs, Robert Downey, Jr. (Larry Paul) has two, and Calista Flockhart, Lisa Nicole Carson (Renee), and Macy Gray (?) sing one each. Only Winter Wonderland, sung by Macy Gray is unpleasant--unless you are a fan of Carol Channing in her late years. Personally I don't care for this kind of breathless, almost unpitched singing, and the arrangement (oddly enough, the only uncredited arrangement on the CD) is imminently forgettable. Flockhart does better, but without the visuals (licking her finger, running her hands through someone else's hair), Santa Baby doesn't come off quite as well as it did on the show. Flockhart isn't really much of a singer, but Krakowski, Carson, and Shepard are, and their songs are terrific. Especially good are Krakowski's Run, Rudolph, Run; Carson's Santa Claus Got Stuck in My Chimney; and Shepard's The Man with the Bag and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. Others appreciate Robert Downey, Jr.'s singing more than I--it's not bad by any means, but occasionally he sounds like he's trying too hard to imitate Willy Nelson.The sidemen on this CD are terrific and definitely worthy of note. Thankfully the liner notes credit them. Arranger and trumpet player Jerry Hey does a terrific job--the CD owes much of its appeal to his terrific arrangements. Pianists Jeff Young and Neil Larsen play very tastefully, and Dan Higgins' saxophone solo on Santa Baby really creates the sexy atmosphere Flockhart's thin voice can't quite sustain by itself.
Free Music Review: Hey, I might even start watching the show!
Hit: 4 Stars
I wonder if I'm the only one in the world who's never watched Ally McBeal? Well, maybe there are a few others around and so my review might be of value in that I'm looking at it purely as a Christmas CD.I was surprised because I was expecting a commercial type album. I didn't realize that these people can really sing! Especially Vonda Shephard! I was especially taken with "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow". Oh, that was such a slow & soulful and seductive delivery by Vonda Shephard. And while many reviewers disagree, I personally like Calista Flockhart's version of "Santa Baby". I heard a cuteness and playfulness in it myself. Robert Downey, Jr's rendition of Joni Mitchell's "River" was definitely okay, but I like Linda Rondstadt's version on her Christmas CD better. And the concluding number by Vonda Shepard really got to me, like, hey Vonda, I'm not doin' nuttin' New Year's Eve, give me a call. LOL
Well, as one who, like I said above, has never watched the program, I will say this is a darn good CD...I won't give it five stars, but if I could attatch a half star to the four I give it, I would.