Saturday, 18 December 2021

Todd Almond - A Pony for Christmas


ONE WEEK UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!

Buy A Pony for Christmas (the album, not literally) here (external link)

When star of stage, song and screen Todd Almond is not busy writing his own songs for musicals, appearing in Broadway's Girl From The North Country and starring in HBO's riveting revival of Gossip Girl, he has time to create a whole Christmas album of his own. A Pony for Christmas shines a new light into the oft forgotten crevices of Christmas, seeking out meaning that has been lost and sharing his emotions for the world to hear. What is the real gift of this collection of carefully curated classics and new future favourite oldies is that, through his voice and the folk-pop arrangements, Todd doesn't tell you how to feel - he lets you live each sentiment alongside him. Now that is some real holiday magic...
  • Maybe This Christmas ~ Todd himself has said this album was inspired by his mum's wish for a festive opus from him; this delectable opening track proves that it is not only a Christmas gift for her but a mellifluous love letter to the season. The vibrant folksy accompaniment is as fresh and exhilarating as the fresh fallen snow; that gloriously earnest vocal (infused with hand claps) shines a light of hope like healing glitter into our weary lives.
  • Ponies ~ trotting into the album tracklisting is a song from Todd's own musical, Iowa. With strummed guitar that are the musical representation of playfully cantering around the field and whimsical lyrics seeing the world through the eyes of the titular species, this is an  ultimately illuminating romp. Jingling bells add to the perky nature of the song and, if Love Actually has taught us anything it is that you should tell the truth at Christmas. This song does just that.
  • O Holy Night ~ my favourite all time Christmas carol gets a ravishing remake in this genuinely stunning version. Lush lilting piano swathes a reverent vocal from Mr Almond that doesn't need to belt the words to the rafters; the power of his intonation and respectful delivery brings the awe of the words front and centre. A gradually crescendo of instrumental sound, including elegant strings, make this one joyful and triumphant. 
  • Welcome Home ~ this is the sing-along equivalent of the phrase "a stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet". We could all stand to be a little more inviting and the rousing anthem of chorus emanates with feel good vibes. Brassy horns are just as essential to the narrative as the words and it all wraps around the listener like paper round a present for a long lost friend. Fellow Brits - this is the perfect 11pm sing-a-long-in-a-pub convivial treat we didn't know we needed!
  • A Pony for Christmas ~ when I was a little boy, I used to write to Santa telling him how I'd tried to be nice and how I only wanted world peace for Christmas (but would always put "P.S. I'd really, really like a pony"). Seems I'm not alone in that sentiment; this shimmering ballad conveys far more eloquently what these desires really mean. There is a poignant wistfulness to Todd's vocal and that resonant piano is mesmerising. 
  • Hounds of Love/Cloudbusting/Running Up That Hill ~ we all have songs that shape who we become and, regardless of whether they are festive or not, those musical memories deserve to be celebrated. This Kate Bush medley will be an education for some, a fond, reflective look back for others. Dramatic strings add to the pathos and genius of Kate's lyrics, words which Todd sings with a wisdom of a life whose soundtrack has been indelibly affected by the songs. Blissful. 
  • Little Drummer Boy ~ sometimes we just *hear* these traditional songs without really listening. Letting the music breathe with a piano-vocal duet really helps the story seep into our consciousness. Todd is a gifted narrator, sharing how this child took a quest based on faith alone and shared all he had to give. That alone is astonishing; delivered in the most compelling way. That he couldn't wait to tell his mother about it is something Todd clearly shares with him. 
  • Kind and Generous ~ this feels like a pop hit that should have been; a song so euphoric and uplifting that even if it is the first time you have heard it, it feels like it should have been in your life forever. A sumptuous score that pulses along as the heartbeat of the song, a na-na-na chorus and a genuinely heart felt thank you to whoever you think deserves it makes this not so much a Christmas song, but an essential tune that you should share with all those you love. 
  • Moon over Nebraska ~ the story goes that Todd wrote this for his husband Mark before they had even crossed paths. Like Savage Garden's I Knew I Loved You, this is a beautiful poetic tribute to the need for the world's greatest emotion and how sometimes you just know that fate will reward you both with a connection that will be timeless. Talking of timeless, this is aching yearning turned into magical reality - a true classic for the ages. 
  • The First Noel/Angels We Have Heard On High ~ Todd loves a medley and, as he does them so exquisitely, I am definitely here for it. There is something majestic about the intertwining of these two songs - the celestial nature of the awe inspiring story shared through radiant instrumental and a vocal that soars to seventh heaven. The intricate arrangement deserves multiple listens so you can appreciate every nuance. Certainly brings glad tidings of great joy. 
  • River ~ there is such melancholy in the Joni Mitchell classic that just seems so relevant to the holiday season. All emotions are heightened through valleys and peaks of highs and lows. Todd gives soulful outpouring of sorrowful emotions that feel like they are being sung not because they will make it all better but because it is too painful to keep inside. The luminous grace of the song shines like the brightest star in the firmament. 
  • Christmas Eve ~ the album's only instrumental shows what a gifted composer Mr Almond is (as if you didn't already know that). His ability to tell a story using just the power of instruments shows why he is a go-to for musical theatre. Every tiny detail in this score is cinematic, reviving memories from December 24th from your past and becoming the soothing sounds of the Christmas Eves yet to come. Genuinely stunning.
  • I'll Be Home For Christmas ~ before it became the title of a Debbie Gibson smash, (if) "only in my dreams) was the hopeful crux of this oft-performed standard. Todd becomes a crooner for the ages on this lilting take that feels intimate and cosy. Instead of making it sad that he can't be with loved ones, he shares the magic of the season as he sees it - wherever you are, Christmas can find you and ensure your loving bond remains stronger than ever. A finale that sums up this whole wondrous opus.
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