Aliens and Rainbows

Review

Common Sense Media says

New artist has fresh sound, great vocals.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
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Parents say

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the lead single "Hollywood's Not America" was featured on American Idol for two weeks as the show's farewell song. There's some sexual talk and situations on the album, but overall the language and content is fine. One song ("Beautiful Life") might have implications of suicidal thoughts, but it may just be about having a bad day. Either way, it's not too dark or morbid -- more poetic license, it seems.

  • Positive messages0
    Mostly fine; about liberation, love, needing God/guidance, but "My Beautiful Life" may imply suicidal reference ("When I'm up in the air/when I'm down on the floor/I can use a sharper knife/is there anything else/is there anything more/it's a beautiful life"), but also could have dramatic lyrics describing someone's really bad day.
  • Violence3
    Nothing explicit, just implications: "Everybody Bleeds the Same" speaks about the same pain/death in all of us ("Anywhere you land/anyone you kill/you're gonna find that everybody bleeds the same/everybody feels the same pain") and "Something About You" ("There's something about you/you kill my suicide").
  • Sex3
    Some sexual language/situations, but nothing degrading or overtly inappropriate: "Blame" ("blame blame blame/for bang bang bangin' you" and "it was your rule that we wake up alone") and "Take my lips and make them yours/I want to take your body and make love that lasts for a lifetime."
  • Language0
    "Hell," "bulls--t" appear a few times.
  • Consumerism0
    Kids might know about Ferras from American Idol.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking0
    One reference to cigarettes, smoking. "Rush" and "Something About You" have some metaphorical drug talk ("It's a rush I can't explain/like you shot something crazy in my veins...I'm a junkie over you" and "I'm Prozac numb").
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What's the story?

American Idol featured this 25-year-old up-and-coming artist's single "Hollywood's Not America" as the farewell song on two episodes. Ferras' (pronounced Fer-AHSS) debut album ALIENS AND RAINBOWS, produced by hit-makers The Matrix, is a fresh, eclectic blend of pop, rock, and folk, with Ferras at the piano and belting some super solid vocals.

Is it any good?

 

When you first hear Ferras sing, it's easy to see why some are calling him a young Elton John, and comparing him to David Bowie or Cat Stevens. His lyrics are poetic and very metaphorical, he plays the piano beautifully and with ease, his vocals are fantastic, and he keeps surprising you with different sounds at every turn. One song sounds a little R&B, another sounds a little techno-pop, yet another, with a simple acoustic guitar, sounds folksy. "Liberation Day" is a bold anthem about "throwing your illusions away" and "Soul Rock" jams a bit with some electric guitar. "My Beautiful Life" is hypnotizing with piano and evocative lyrics and "Hollywood's Not America," already a hit thanks to Idol, preaches about life in L.A. ("So long/put your blue jeans on girl/go home/remember Hollywood's not America"). There may be hope yet for ol' Tinseltown, thanks to the fresh talent of newcomer Ferras.

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What families can talk about

Families can talk about how a virtual unknown can suddenly have a hit single soon after being featured on a big show like American Idol. Is it because of the success of the reality TV show alone that the "farewell song" always seems to become so popular? What other artists have gotten a big break from television shows or commercials?

This review was written by Jessica Dawson

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This review was written by Jessica Dawson
Artist:Ferras
Release date:April 1, 2008
Label:Capitol
Genre:Pop
Parental advisory:No
This review was written by Jessica Dawson
 

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
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