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Aliens and Rainbows

(2008, Pop, by Ferras, Label: Capitol)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 12.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    New artist has fresh sound, great vocals.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 12 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    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.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    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").

  • Sex:

    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."

  • Language:

    "Hell," "bulls--t" appear a few times.

  • Consumerism:

    Kids might know about Ferras from American Idol.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    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").
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Aliens and Rainbows

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.

Did this review help you decide?

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?
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