Music Is Better Than Words is a traditional big-band album from
Seth MacFarlane, the wise-ass behind Family Guy.
MacFarlane plays it straight throughout
Music Is Better Than Words, hiring American Dad composer
Joel McNeely to create approximations of
Nelson Riddle,
Gordon Jenkins, and
Billy May's arrangements for
Frank Sinatra's deathless, mid-century records for Capitol. These classic concept albums are clearly the blueprint for
Music Is Better Than Words which was, after all, recorded at Capitol Records' legendary studio with
MacFarlane singing into the very same microphone
Sinatra used all those years ago, and there is a bit of a concept to this 2011 LP, too, with the cartoonist selecting songs never recorded by any member of the Rat Pack -- along with a couple recent tunes like “She’s Wonderful Too,” which
McNeely originally wrote for The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles -- for his tribute to that ring-a-ding-ding swing.
MacFarlane and
McNeely don’t attempt to ape the pizzazz of
Frank’s Reprise years, nor do they spend much time with
May’s snazzy snap, they stick with
Riddle and
Jenkins, keeping things sentimental and lush even when the words crackle with wit. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine