Purple Burt (by Mitch Friedman, Children's Music)

PURPLE BURT contains 29 songs and stories about an invisible purple boy named Burt and his friends. The opening song profiles "Purple Burt" as an invisible boy who "eats green beans, orange porridge and red bread...drinks blue juice, wears pink mink and black slacks." Singer songwriter Mitch Friedman, the narrator and voice of Purple Burt, jumps back and forth between those personas, explaining things such as how Burt became purple and invisible.

Friedman has a raggedy, often endearing, singing voice. A track devoted to burping and slurping in rhythm is destined to be a young listener's favorite. "Color Feel" is a lovely, mid-tempo Beatles-like tribute to the power of color in Burt's life. Two standouts include the nonsensical do-wop dance song "Wonder Where," and Burt's friend Dr. Fritz Von Nozzle singing the energetic, slightly demented standout rock song "What a Gas!"

The homemade production quality makes it difficult at times to hear the words, a particular problem when lyrics play such an important role. Fortunately, the CD package includes a lyric booklet with colorful illustrations. The music occasionally veers beyond wacky to sloppy dissonance, though young kids and some parents might like the garish sound. While it won't soothe young listeners, the album's well-meaning themes may provoke lively family discussions.