Family Values

Review

Common Sense Media says

Family rock with messages of peace, compassion, love, joy.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Family Values is a great collection of meaningful rock songs for the whole family. The album's message of loving kindness is threaded throughout each song, some of which hint at rock classics by Neil Young, Led Zeppelin, Carole King, The Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead, even Pearl Jam. The album's title reclaims the notion of family values as a love and acceptance of all. Charity and her Band jam-pack these gems with compassion, even a bit of silliness, making it the perfect album for family time.

  • Educational value5
    The education here is not a standard textbook one, but one more important: these songs model positive social skills and character traits that are learned and practiced through human interaction. A partial list of these from "We Are The Ones" sums it up -- "Loving kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity, patience, understanding, generosity, community, intention, non-harming, gratitude, respect, mindfulness, truth, peace." Sanskrit translations of these terms are also included in the album's liner notes and are cornerstones to Buddhist and Hindu philosophies and practices like yoga and meditation. Also reinforcing these concepts are thought-provoking quotes dotted throughout the album's liner notes. Some are from more familiar Western thinkers, including Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa, Helen Keller, Mr. Rogers, Marianne Williamson, Alice Walker, Albert Einstein, and even Leonard Nimoy and Oprah Winfrey. It's also a great introduction to great Eastern thinkers including Gandhi, Thich Nhat Hanh, Hafiz, the Dalai Lama, and Pema Chodron. 
  • Positive messages5
    This album exudes positivity. From "Peace Pledge:" "We pledge allegiance to the path of peace and loving kindness, and to the dream for which is stands: One planet, infinite life, interdependent, with freedom, food, and understanding for all." In "Love Is Here," love can be found everywhere: "You can find love in your neighborhood…in the big, wide world…in your very best friend, or in one you've only known for a moment." 
  • Positive role models5
    Positive role models abound in this album. A girl plants a garden to feed the world in "Green Beans Everywhere:" "Then all the children of the world held each other's hands/and we danced around the rainbow garden growing in our land/And we had a picnic under the stars and we shared all our food…now think about that for a minute or two." Kindness is used as a force against evil in "Lemonade:" "So they mixed him up a special brew, put a little mint in for something new/And offered it to that dragon in the spirit of love and generosity…"
  • Violence & scariness0
    Not applicable.
CloseExpand to see more details

What's the story?

FAMILY VALUES is the fifth album by San Francisco-based Charity Kahn and the JAM Band. The band's positive and melodic messages are guided by acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin, piano, and a full-on rock band. The album's CD insert contains thought-provoking quotes from peacemakers including Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa, the 14th Dalai Lama, and many more.

Is it any good?

 

If you're a fan of classic rock and thoughtful lyrics, then Family Values would be a fantastic addition to your music collection. It's a family-friendly album that embraces the core values of love, kindness, and community in a groovy Zen-like way. The songs are well crafted, with hooky melodies, lilting vocals, and at times mesmerizing harmonies, with messages that go straight to the soul. So yes, young kids can grasp these heady concepts of compassion and community, peace and love, because they're character traits we practice every day. (For an extra dose of goodness, check out the quotes dotted throughout the album's liner notes -- they'll spark more thoughts supporting Charity's message.) Standout tracks are many and include "Family Values," " Lovingkindness," "Lemonade," "Bike," "Love Is Here," "Green Beans Everywhere," "Grateful," " We Are The Ones," and "You Are My Sunshine."

Explore, discuss, enjoy

  • Families can talk about the many positive character traits on display here, including compassion, joy, patience, understanding, community, and global love and peace. Talk about these traits and how we practice them in our everyday lives.

  • Some of these songs sound like they were inspired by rock music from the past. Why do you think Charity cites these music styles in her own music?

  • The album's liner notes have many thought-provoking quotes interspersed between the lyrics. Read some and talk about their meaning. The liner notes also have Sanskrit translations for many positive character traits such as compassion. These terms are commonplace in Buddhist and Hindu practices like yoga and meditation. Consider adding these terms into your family's everyday vocabulary.

This review of Family Values was written by

There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title below.
This review of Family Values was written by
Artist:Charity Kahn and the JAM Band
Type:Album
Release date:October 9, 2012
Label:Raindrop Records
Genre:Children's Music
Parental advisory:No
Edited version available:No
This review of Family Values was written by
 
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.

Learning Products Quick Finder

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

More family-friendly rock
For kids who love preschool tunes
Browse more music
More from Common Sense Media
Age-appropriate reviews
Top advice and articles

Visite nuestro sitio en español