 | 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. |
House Party
- By Dan Zanes
- Genre: Children's Music
Common Sense Media says
Foot-tapping, sing-along classic and new tunes.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this album is a loose good time with upbeat, spunky songs.
What's the story?
HOUSE PARTY conveys the spirit in which it was made. Friends dropped by Dan Zanes' Brooklyn home where the tape was rolling, and the happy result is 20 songs of communal music making. Contributors include Barbara Brousal, Deborah Harry, Cynthia Hopkins, Angelique Kidjo, and Bob Weir. The album kicks off with Zanes' wacky "House Party Time," reminiscent of Dylan basement tapes with doo-wop backup vocals. Memorable guests are a bowlegged chicken who walks "with a wiggle and a giggle and a squawk doing the Tennessee Wig Walk" and a whackety, quackety Father Goose callin' "Old Joe Clark" dance steps with the help of banjo, drums, electric bass, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, clawhammer banjo, and Xaphoon. Fun wordplay abounds in the classics, making some of the new songs fall short lyrically by comparison.
Is it any good?
Some listeners may feel a dip in their energy part way through, only because it's not easy to sustain such high dynamics and variety for so many tracks (that's why most CDs don't contain 20 songs). But keep in mind the multitude of music you are getting: a little rag time, a taste of calypso, a Spanish song with steel guitar, a Japanese work tune in classical guitar, some gospel, and a catchy West Indian counting song accompanied by ukulele and laughter, all adding up to a good time for all.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the appeal of the familiar songs versus the new ones. Do traditional tunes seem more memorable?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Best Dan Zanes CD. Fun, smart, music for families
We love Dan Zanes and his band, and this is perhaps our favorite CD. Good mix of music. Many upbeat, easy to sing along songs. But these are not those 'cutes-y' songs that feature sappy children with high voices. Nope! This is more great music with a hip folk music emphasis for families. Parents will like singing along, too. See Dan Zanes and his band in concert! They're all just fun, and great musicians!
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AGE
HORRIBLE
very graphic nudity! strong violence and dan zane says f--k in and out of the lyrics every 2 seconds literally! this show should b rated xxx
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AGE
I had to set this record straight...
Dan Zane is a good, clean, family oriented singer. In fact, I couldn't wait to get his CD in the mail, so we paid to download them online. Whoever wrote that it's full of obscenities is a bold faced liar who apparently thinks they're funny.
Dan Zane is a master of catchy music, and I find myself humming "House Party" even at work. My kids love it, and I can't stop thinking of the catchy tunes. In fact, I'm going to go grab my guitar and play a couple of his tunes for the kideroos myself...
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| Artist: | Dan Zanes |
| Release date: | October 7, 2003 |
| Label: | Festival Five Records |
| Genre: | Children's Music |
| Parental advisory: | No |
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