Liz Gillies & Seth MacFarlane - Songs From Home (2021) [Hi-Res]

Liz Gillies and Seth MacFarlane have put together quite possibly the strangest musical duo, giving us a throwback right to the swinging fifties with their newest single: Ain’t We Got Fun. MacFarlane has already established himself as a strong and confident voice in the world of modern swing, but Liz Gillies was certainly a welcome surprise.

A lot of people, and especially young adults of this generation know the singer as the rebellious teen Jade West in Nickelodeon’s Victorious, and to see her tackle a project like this was unexpected to say the least. Vocal jazz has been an art only kept alive by a very small selection of artists, such as Michael Bublé, Tony Bennett, and MacFarlane himself. The Family Guy creator is an embodiment of Sinatra himself – the swagger, the charm, and the tone are all present in this record. His presence in this record gives so much life to the sound already beautifully crafted by the band, but it’s really Seth that brings you back to a time of old as soon as he starts singing.

Liz does a wonderful job as well, though her performance maybe pales a bit in comparison to the jazz veteran, but her voice’s contrast with MacFarlane make for a wonderful duet that both feels vintage and true. Their banter between the melodious phrases give all the more charm to this tune – you can almost hear them smile recording this record, and I believe that that’s the point of this record. Traditional pop in this style is fun and snappy, and that’s exactly what this song manages to send out to its listeners. The melodies are energetic and the production feels full of life, giving new listeners a window into music’s golden years. This single, as well as the rest of the LP, is a fun collaboration between two incredible talents, and the chemistry feels as lively as the soul in the swing of Ain’t We Got Fun.

Seth MacFarlane, vocals
Liz Gillies, vocals
Andrew Synowiec, guitar
Wade Culbreath, vibraphone
Dan Higgins, woodwinds
Dan Fornero, trumpet
Alex Iles, trombone
Tom Ranier, piano
Chuck Berghofer, bass
Peter Erskine, drums