Let All the Children Boogie: A Tribute To David Bowie - Various Artists

Let All the Children Boogie cover

Artists: Various Artists

Album: Let All the Children Boogie: A Tribute to David Bowie

Age Range: 4 to 9

Description:  There’s nothing about this album that is particularly kids music, but it’s a stellar example of how recontextualizing music can help hear it with new ears.  The album, a benefit for the It Gets Better Foundation, and released by friend-of-the-site Spare The Rock Records, collects twenty of David Bowie’s songs.  The big hits are here of course -- I particularly liked Gustafer Yellowgold and the Pop Ups’ spacy take on Major Tom’s predicament in “Space Oddity” and Elizabeth Mitchell and friends’ take on “Changes” -- but at twenty tracks, some will likely be unfamiliar.  All are kid-friendly, of course, though you and your kids may have different favorite tracks.  (Ted Leo’s “Heroes” and Rhett Miller’s “Ziggy Stardust” will be big hits with the adults, while I think Red Yarn’s “Magic Dance” and Justin Roberts’ “Kooks” will probably have more kid appeal.)  All in all, it’s an album that succeeds musically, lets us all hear anew the childlike play in Bowie’s lyrics, and directs proceeds to a worthy cause.  Recommended.

Note: I was given a copy of this album for possible review.

Lemonade - Justin Roberts

Lemonade album cover

Artist: Justin Roberts

Album: Lemonade

Age Range: 5 to 9

Description: It wasn’t Justin Roberts’ fault that Beyoncé dropped an album titled Lemonade while he was prepping his own similarly-titled album.  If her album was audacious and explosive, this album is reserved and mellow, as Roberts turned to the ukulele in writing and performing the songs on his album.  I will admit to preferring Roberts in full revved-up power-pop mode, but his songwriting chops aren’t diminished at all here.  In theme, the album is reminiscent a bit of John McCutcheon’s SummerSongs album from more than 20 years ago, albeit with a poppier, more stripped-down approach.  Only “Dodgeball” and “Valentine (I don’t wanna be yours)” don’t fit a lazy, late summer afternoon chronologically.  (Though, to be fair, “Eight-Legged Octopus” is timely any month of the year.)  As always, Roberts does a good job to mix together songs revealing the frustration and silliness of a kid’s day alongside tender, heartfelt tracks like “How Lucky We Are” and “This Is How We Bring In the Sun.”  The production, though stripped down, is excellent (I'd expect nothing less from Roberts).  The 37-minute album flies by like an August day spent at the park -- nothing profound but you’ll probably still think of it fondly years later.  Definitely recommended.

Note: I was given a copy of this album for possible review.