Vonda Shepard

Songs from Ally McBeal

Good Soundtrack With Fun Oldies Remakes

Review Score:

(8/10)
I remember when the Ally McBeal soundtrack first came out, I thought it was kind of silly to release a CD for a TV show. That was before I actually watched the show and realized what a big part Vonda Shepard's music actually plays. Not only does she sing in the bar in Ally's office building, but the show's producers have a knack for finding the perfect song for every situation. Now, when I listen to the CD, it makes me think of the scene that the song goes with.

If you are expecting original music written just for Ally McBeal, this album isn't for you. This album has remakes of old favorites like "Hooked On A Feeling," "You Belong To Me," "Tell Him," and "It's In His Kiss (The Shoop Shoop Song)." The remakes are, like most remakes, different from the original, and since Shepard is singing in a bar in the show, most of the songs are in a style that you would hear in a bar or lounge. There are also a few songs written by Shepard like "The Wildest Times Of The World," "Maryland," and, of course, "Searchin' My Soul." I, personally, don't enjoy the songs that Shepard wrote as much as the ones I was already familiar with. "Will You Marry Me?" and "The Wildest Times In The World" just don't have the same feeling and emotion to them. "Maryland," however, is one of my favorites, where Shepard sings of going home, despite not being what her parents wanted her to be. The animation you see in Shepard on the stage in the bar comes through in her vocals and piano playing. The songs are not just piano however. They feature a full range of talented background musicians and vocalists. The liner notes have all the song lyrics and pictures of the cast and of Shepard. Fans and non-fans alike will enjoy Shepard's talent on this album.

More Reviews: