The man behind the voice of Brian Griffin — the talking dog on “Family Guy” — is stepping out from behind the shadows of his cartoon creations. Seth MacFarlane sings on virtually every episode of his hit TV show, and those with musical appreciation know that behind the comedic lyrics is quite a talented voice. The man who led the “Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen” released a new album of jazz and big band standards, attempting to show off a more serious side and giving fans a chance to appreciate his true musical talents.
Starting with singles “The Night They Invented Champagne” and “Nine O’Clock,” MacFarlane presents the air of a singer steeped in respect for the art of crooning. This is a rare chance to see a more serious side of a man known for crass and bawdy humor. The first track from his new album “Music is Better Than Words” — released on September 27th, 2011 — finds MacFarlane paired with the jazz and blues songstress Norah Jones, as they duet together on “Two Sleepy People.” Each song on the album is an homage to the days of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, and the delivery from the man behind Stewie Griffin confesses a true love for this classic sound.
This may seem like a strange move for a man whose predominant fan base is young and more prone to pop music than classic standards. The truth is that most fervent fans of “Family Guy” would find it hard to listen to the album without envisioning cartoon dog Brian Griffin as the voice on the tracks, the one character whose voice is closest to MacFarlane’s own sound. That being said, this album could potentially land the super-successful writer with an entirely new fan base, one wholly separate from those buying “American Dad” DVDs. The sincerity and honest emotion of his performance on this album could very well find an older, more sophisticated audience with a voracious appetite for MacFarlane’s music, as one of very few artists still recording and perfecting jazz standards. If properly promoted and introduced to the right demographic, the writer and singer could find myself amongst the ranks of Michael Buble and duet partner Norah Jones.
Seth MacFarlane exposes an old soul on this album, and shares a true passion for a genre of music all but forgotten. The jazzy, classic songs are well-suited to his rich baritone sound and allow listeners a rare glimpse into the jokester’s true love of music. Anyone who can listen without picturing the cartoon characters on “Family Guy” or “American Dad” — or those who have simply never seen either of those hit Fox comedies — is in for a nostalgic experience of well-produced jazz standards sung with honest emotion and a clear, beautiful sound.
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