Two failures

We don't often dislike music we pick out since we do eliminate left and right at the library before we even walk out. However, we bombed on these two albums.

Songs from the Neighborhood: The Music of Mister Rogers

We haven't seen the show (since we don't watch television) but from all I've heard it's very low-key. Mister Rogers even spoke at my college graduation -- he seemed well-loved by my fellow graduating students!

But this album was so not for us. Perhaps it was the interpretation of the songs that didn't sit right. But we were bummed and only listened once.


Awful. I've seen the name of Dan Zanes around in the music area so we finally thought we'd try one. All the songs merged into one mish-mash. This is one of the few albums that we couldn't even bring ourselves to listen all the way through.

Isn't it funny how our tastes can be so different? I know he has a number of albums so is obviously enjoyed by many other families.

In the meantime, Tiger is listening to The Moody Blues and is moving further and further away from children's music! (Alas and woe. They grow up too quickly.)

Splish Splash review

Splish Splash: Bath Time Fun

Yes, another Sesame Street album. The boys are on a roll, apparently. This one was loads of fun even if a bit repetitive. All the songs involve getting clean, taking a bath, brushing your teeth, etc. They were all upbeat, cheerful songs.

We really really disliked the fifth song on the album, "How Do They Get That Toothpaste in the Tube?". We just skip it each time and move on. The "Bathtub of Seville" was laughed at heartily by our oldest as he's familiar with "Barber of Seville" from various opera albums.

We've never seen the show but definitely do enjoy the music they put out! The boys often cycle through all three of the Sesame Street albums we have, back to back. Good thing I enjoyed the Muppets as a child!

Nicky's Jazz for Kids review

Nicky's Jazz for Kids

Another jazz album aimed at kids... but still worth it even though we've listened to half a dozen of them now. Some of the songs were familiar to the boys but most weren't. They were mostly familiar to us parents though! I hadn't realized the kids hadn't heard "Jeepers Creepers" yet, which is a song I certainly remember singing as a child, so I sure enjoyed having this one on there.

I wouldn't say this is the jazziest jazz album we've listened to but the boys are both loving it. Hearing The King Cole Trio and Ella Fitzgerald makes the album worthwhile to me even if some of the songs seem less than stellar. Tiger is running around singing "Key-mo Kye-mo" to us and Panda, who normally doesn't sing at all, is belting out "The Jungle King" in his best Cab Calloway voice.

This is a definite kid choice even if it's the least inspired of the jazz albums we've tried.

Animal Songs review

Animal Songs by Raffi

What a sweet album! It's way too young for our oldest (age 9) and just on the edge of too young for our youngest (age 5).

This is a great collection of songs that I wish I had found about seven years ago, when our oldest was 2. Then I could have enjoyed it for many years before they outgrew it!

Somehow it wouldn't be a Raffi album without "Baby Beluga" on there, which it is. It was fun to hear a version of "Octopus's Garden" and I always love "Over in the Meadow". We've checked out half a dozen books over the years with the words from the song because we like it so much.

This is definitely a two thumbs up but with the qualification that it's for a younger crowd... up to age 5 perhaps. I wouldn't mind listening to this in the background every day for some time if I could wind back the clock and have my boys be little again!

Edmund Stone's "The Score"

We are among the few, the re-fined, the cultured and the cool (if those can even go together in one sentence).

Why, you may ask? Because we have access to The Score with Edmund Stone, a musical show - no, a weekly celebration of symphonic music in film. That may not sound exciting or exclusive, but listen carefully: The Score is only available on nine stations nationwide (as of this writing), and was only on four when we started listening a few months ago. So there: see how few we are that taste the delights of The Score? Rarefied atmosphere we're in! (They have a map of all their stations too.)

My family and I ran across this weekly celebration quite by accident a short time ago and enjoyed it immensely. It was nicely presented in the mellifluous tones of Mr. Stone's voice. The topic was the music of Star Trek in the movies. What a great introduction to our sons to that whole range of music.

The Score with Edmund Stone has a facebook page too, which gives helpful info about recent and coming shows, along with enthusements from various fan types. Their recently-added sponsor, Bob's Red Mill, is a family favorite also. Go BRM. Go The Score!

We don't watch television, and see movies only rarely (mainly because there's so much other living to do, not to mention how much those things can suck you in if you let them, thus cutting down on the aforementioned "other living to do");- but we do listen to a great deal of music, classical and otherwise. The Score is an excellent way to expose our family to culture without the down side.

Thank you Mr. Stone, and thank you The Score!

Sing Songs for Children by Carly & Lucy Simon

Sing Songs for Children

This album was a random choice as we perused the shelves of CDs at the library. Something about the cover struck us and noticing it was Carly Simon I thought it might be interesting. And it was!

After a good wrestle and some classic boy rowdiness they seem to want quieter activities (reading, drawing, building with Legos) and this album gets played. It's quiet and calming. Carly and her sister, Lucy, have voices that blend so wonderfully together. In fact, the boys mentioned that as one of the reasons they like the album. "They sing so well together, Mama!"

They love the poems and the song "Lamb" is amazingly sweet. "Wynken, Blynken and Nod" is a huge favorite and "Lobster Quadrille" makes Tiger laugh (he's a huge Alice in Wonderland fan... the book not the new movie).

A surprise hit for us. Two thumbs-up from the boys and Mama enjoys it as well.

Sing Along Travel Songs review

Sing-Along Travel Songs

First, a caveat: neither boy has seen Sesame Street. We just don't watch all that much (well, any) television.

With that in mind, the boys loved this album. Still love it. I've had a hard time convincing them to listen to much else for the last few weeks, including other new music. They enjoy all the voices, the silliness, the upbeat music, and especially The Count.

We picked it up on a whim from the library but this one is definitely worth a purchase around here.

The grown-ups love "Are We There Yet?" as sung by Elmo. The boys may actually get away with saying "I'm bored out of my gourd!" in the future. (Being bored isn't really allowed around here... you're young! What's to be bored about?) And Elmo's version of "Drive My Car" is hilarious. A good introduction to the Beatles. The boys may never hear that song now without thinking of that high-pitched voice singing instead.

Another child's album that the parents don't mind listening to. Considering how much we're listening to it lately, that's a definite bonus. Two thumbs-up from the boys.