4 Kidz by Kidz: Holiday Tunez (by Holiday)

The 4 Kidz franchise keeps rolling along. Sung entirely by children, 4 KIDZ BY KIDZ: HOLIDAY TUNEZ is one of the better CDs in the series, simply because these songs are supposed to be sung by kids. It has a real easy feel about it, like watching a bunch of polished sixth graders perform a Christmas pageant. There's little or no recognition of other holidays on this album, so this may not be the CD for families who don't celebrate Christmas. There's a nod to New Year's with "Auld Lang Syne," and other non-denominational songs (few realize that "Jingle Bells" was originally written for Thanksgiving). And that's not a bad jumping-off point to discuss with kids the differences between holidays.

Quality-wise, this is one of the few 4 Kidz CDs that's listenable for the whole family, lacking the strange juxtaposition of children singing Britney Spears' lyrics. "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" is done Bruce Springsteen-style, perhaps as a nod to the adults. Despite the advertising, a rocked-up "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" features one voice sounding suspiciously like an adult, as does the next song "We Need a Little Christmas." Maybe some of the kids hit puberty during recording. The music itself is a bit more polished and of better quality than most of the 4 Kidz CDs, adding up to a package worth buying for kids.

Released on: November 10, 2005
Label: Hits Doctor
Genre: Holiday