Common Sense Note
Parents need to know this is an album they'll probably enjoy as much as their kids do. The Barenaked Ladies' first children's album -- with its catchy melodies and creative songwriting -- delivers education and fun as the group sings about things like where the Parthenon is located, the lifecycle of a frog, and metamorphosis.
Families can talk about creative songwriting. The Barenaked Ladies have taken mundane subjects such as popcorn and allergies and made up fun songs about them. Can you think of anything around the house or in your neighborhood that you can sing about? What about singing about the first thing you see? This could be a fun thing to do to pass the time in the car.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Jacqueline Rupp
The Barenaked Ladies (BNL) take listeners on a musical journey through childhood on SNACK TIME! -- their first attempt at children's music. The alternative rock band has compiled 22 tracks which cover some of the bigger issues of childhood (having a bad day) along with a lot of the smaller experiences (snacks, allergies, and hand-me-downs).
As a parent, you've probably heard songs about bedtime and eating your veggies, learning your ABCs and counting to 10. But BNL have taken the conventions of children's music and given them a creative twist (a celebration of silent letters, an homage to the humble eraser, a reggae riff about metamorphosis), and the result is a collection of songs that will inspire and get you thinking. Spanning numerous musical genres, most of the songs are gems, but some of the most original ones include the reggae-styled "Pollywog in a Bog," "Eraser," and "Wishing." With their irreverent appeal and off-the-wall observations, the songs are always insightful and thoughtful without being sentimental or too sweet. Even the vocal digressions the band is famous for at concerts work well on the album and will have families giggling together. Every song has lyrics worth sharing, but here's just one from the bluegrass-inspired "I Can Sing" to whet your appetite: "I can sing/I can sing/I can sing better/I can knit a scarf/but ya can't knit a sweater/When I'm underwater I couldn't be wetter/Never go swimmin' in a mohair sweater."
For more creative children's music, try They Might Be Giants' Here Come the 123s, What Kind of Cat Are You? by Billy Jonas, and Have You Never Been Yellow?.
Reviewed: 05/06/2008
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