Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that Drake Bell, of Nickelodeon's Drake & Josh show, is a nice kid who has listened to a heck of a lot of Beatles albums -- or at least that's the impression you'll get after listening to this CD. Content is squeaky-clean except for a bit of poetic sexual innuendo ("when you're creeping out of bed I sneak a peek to see just what you were wearing last night"), and the overall sound is peppy, bright, and fun.
Families can talk about how bands influence each other. When do bands borrow too much of another band's sound? Think of your favorite band -- who do they sound like? Can you think of any orginal-sounding artists or bands? Families can also discuss the "kitschy-futuristic" interludes and sound effects. Could you record similar vignettes with your friends on the family computer?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Drake Bell, Nickelodeon's teen heartthrob from the Drake & Josh sitcom, seems a little too good to be true. He's a good singer with credible rock & roll instincts, he's good looking, he's got exceptionally good hair, and he seems to have listened to a lot of music by a really good band -- The Beatles. His debut CD, IT'S ONLY TIME. references the Fab Four on nearly every tune, yet maintains a fresh and original sound.
Lyrics are not brilliant, but they are expressive, tween-safe, and occasionally even funny and/or poetic. The closest Drake gets to sexual innuendo is the musing on "Up Periscope:" "It makes me happy when you steal a little kiss before you wake me up…when you're creeping out of bed I sneak a peek to see just what you were wearing last night/or what was leftover from ripping off our clothes/I check to see that the door was closed as you were turning out the lights," a delicate description of a morning-after moment. The rest is typical lovesick-teen stuff, punctuated by occasional kitschy interludes that work thematically with the vintage-space-age look of the CD insert and cover art. There's even an old-timey ragtime number, featuring some impressive scat-singing.
Most of all, it sounds as though Drake loved every minute he spent making this record. He performs with an infectious, charming enthusiasm that's hard to ignore. Watch out, cynics -- there's a good chance you'll be humming along before you remember that you're not supposed to like anything this cute. For everyone else, crank up the volume and enjoy.
Fans may also enjoy Jesse McCartney and Hannah Montana, not to mention The Beatles.
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Social BehaviorDrake seems like a nice kid, but there's no particular message of any kind. |
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