"Half As Lovely (Twice As True)" Released: April 11, 2019
Once in a While is the fifth studio album by American actor and singer Seth MacFarlane, released on April 19, 2019, by Republic Records and Verve Records. The record was primarily produced by Joel McNeely and MacFarlane himself, who also serves as the executive producer. The lead single from the album, "Half As Lovely (Twice As True)", was released digitally on April 11, 2019.[1]
Background
On March 8, 2019, MacFarlane revealed on his Twitter account that he had just finished recording his new album at Abbey Road Studios.[2] It was also announced that for the first time, MacFarlane would be working with Andrew Cottee as the composer and arranger instead of Joel McNeely, however he still remained a producer for the album.[3] MacFarlane has a close relationship with the composer, since meeting on the 2016 animated musical film Sing and later working together on The Orville.[4] MacFarlane described the album as a moody style of Sinatra's signature albums. "I love the ballad album, the rich, melancholy songs," MacFarlane said. "You're taking a theme or a mood or a tone or an emotion and assembling a set list where everything lives in that space, so when you put it on, you're spending the 60 minutes or however long the album is immersed in that one emotion."[5] Cottee also described the album as "not necessarily sad break-up songs. They're more reflective, thoughtful, even philosophical, but they're not all torch songs."[6]
Critical reception
The Straits Times gave the album a positive review while also saying that MacFarlane should shake things up to make his music more fresh.[7]Jazz Weekly's George W. Harris praised the album and MacFarlane himself, saying, "but it wouldn't work unless MacFarlane didn't have a strong enough voice to convince, and he does. He sounds convincing, assured and personal."[8]
