Vonda Shepard

A Very Ally Christmas

One of the best pop-music Xmas CDs yet

Review Score:

(10/10)
Up to now, I have generally steered clear of the Ally McBeal soundtrack albums. While I do like the renditions of the songs featured on the show, I've never been sure that I'd be able to sit through an entire album of Vonda Shepard's voice, which I occasionally find to be a bit strident.

Fortunately, I was happily surprised by A Very Ally Christmas, which is now up near the top of my favorite Christmas albums (the others being Alexander O'Neal's "My Gift To You" and Barry Manilow's "Because It's Christmas"). The arrangements are kind of jazzy, which suits Ms. Shepard's voice quite well, and other members of the cast get their turns as well.

The big surprise is, of course, is the revelation that Robert Downey Jr. has actually got a good voice, as demonstrated by his emotional reading of "River". It almost goes without saying that his recent well-publicized troubles (including those that parallel those of his character on the show) contribute to the poignancy of his performance. Also, his voice blends so well with Vonda Shepard's on "White Christmas" that I sometimes have difficulty discerning where he begins and she ends (and vice versa).

For the die-hard fans, Jane Krakowski's version of "I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus" is here (her rendition of "Run Rudolph run" is a little too Broadway, but that's nit-picking), and Calista Flockhart's version of "Santa baby" is a refreshing change from Madonna's over-the-top kewpie doll reading a few years back.

The only real complaint I have about this album is that it's too short. Still, it shines far brighter than the rest of pop music's seasonal offerings this year.

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