| ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. | |
| OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that these songs offer some fun moments for young children and nothing offensive, but few adults will invite frequent listenings.
In her second album, BUZZ BUZZ, Laurie Berkner enlarges her repertoire of original songs inspired by movement activities and the children in her life, with a few traditional songs thrown into the mix. The songs about dancing, food, magic, animals, friendship, and choo choos offer safe but musically unsophisticated fare for preschoolers. And some of the lyrics may not inspire young kids; for example, "Clean it up, clean it up, You can make it fun to do" probably won't get the kids up any faster to clean a mess. "The Cookie Bakers of the Night" originated with students and gets off to an interesting start with rhythm guitar, but needs better crafting to make it a memorable song.
Many of the songs on the CD sound improvised. And most of the arrangements use simple instrumentaton, though a few add some musical variety. For example, "I've Been Workin' on the Railroad" is a peppy version of a classic with a walking bass line, piano, banjo, and kazoo. This 49-minute CD serves up nothing objectionable, but doesn't add much substance or artistry to children's music.
Families can talk about which songs catch their interest and why. They can also try to identify some of the background insturments.
| Artist: | Laurie Berkner |
| Release date: | January 1, 2001 |
| Label: | Two Tomatoes Records |
| Genre: | Children's Music |
| Parental advisory: | No |