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What’s the Story?

Reviewed by Kathi Kamen Goldmark

The first surprise delivered by Recess Monkey is visual; the group somehow managed to resist the delightful but overused street-crossing parody of the Beatles' Abby Road on the cover of TABBY ROAD. Many other lovely surprises follow on 17 songs that nail a school-kid's perspective on life with humor, sweetness, and especially talent. The tunes are performed by a trio of three Seattle-based kindergarten and elementary teachers who have apparently listened to a lot of Beatles records themselves.

Is It Any Good?

5

The solid authenticity of Tabby Road's lyrics -- all delivered from a kid's point of view -- sets this CD apart from most recent kids' releases, many of which come across as so sincerely educational that they're not really that much fun, or so carefully kind that the artists sound more like the well-meaning adults they are, rather than peers. The guys in Recess Monkey avoid these traps skillfully, with songs that grew out of classroom projects and celebrations. Most parents, and just about every kid, are sure to be able to tell the difference.

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