No!
by Rounder / Pgd
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (11 June, 2002)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $13.49
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Editorial Review

Hitch up your I-Pods, egg-headed hipsters of the future: They Might Be Giants, the out-there band that files its sound under the banner of "Can't We All Just Get Along" is speaking your language. What they're saying is No!, but in a way that's weirdly welcoming, especially to anybody who's over 3 and has a hard drive. No!'s computer enhancements (animation, games, and a sing-along scroll bar) don't assign the strictly audio experience to the so-what pile, but at certain moments they seem necessary--how else are you supposed to decipher a song ("Violin") whose only words are "violin," "hippo," and the ticking off of fractional segments of George Washington's head? Of course, to try to make sense of the 17 tunes contained here may be to miss the point. While TMBG's lyrical and vocal hijinks can be off-putting to grownups prone to self-consciousness about not getting the joke, the generation No! takes aim at needs nothing in the way of validation. Thus the brilliance of baggage-free ditties like "Fibber Island," where the natives strum rubber guitars and sew buttons on cars, "John Lee Supertaster," a rock & roll fantasy following a hero with heightened senses of sweet and sour, and "I Am a Grocery Bag," detailing what's bumping around in brown paper after a trip to the market. With their triumph over the tube (TMBG took home a Grammy for the theme to Malcolm in the Middle and perform and wrote the intro to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart), frontmen John Linnell and John Flansburgh have already infiltrated the family market, sort of. No! finds the band bending to a level lots of other giants might overlook, but without cramping up. Given the right reach, They Could Be Kiddie Icons. -Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

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Reviews (123)

Fun for infants and adults
Before my husband and I even had the notion to start a family of our own we had to buy this album (we're both very much kids at heart). We first heard a review and sample of this album from listening to NPR news and thought it was the cutest CD.

Several years latter, we now have our first child, now 18 months old, and he absolutely loves this CD. His favorite song is `clap your hands', and `bed bed bed' (we sing that to him every night when we put him to bed). Additionally, I run my own (very small) daycare from home and my daycare kids (ages 2 ½, and 5) love this album as well.

I think this album can be appreciated for children as young as infants and as old as adults (hey, I like it). There are so many obnoxious kids CD's out there and we all know how kids can be; when they find something they like, they want to listen to it over and over. This CD is very much tolerable for parents to listen to over and over. The songs are very creative and well executed while at the same time engages the children in learning important lessons in a fun way. I credit this CD to my son's enthusiasm to dancing and love for music. A great CD for those parents who want fun, light hearted kids music that is not Barney or The Wiggles.

We strum rubber guitars.
This was They Might Be Giants first childrens album, and it's a great one.A lot of TMBG's songs already had a lot of appeal to children, since they are short and silly, so this was sort of a natural progression. I believe that some of the songs here are just regular They Might Be Giants songs, which weren't specifically written for children.This is just a fun album that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Highly recommended.

Great for any age!
My son is only 3 monthes old, but he loves music, and my husband and I love TMBG so I thought why not get this and make all of us happy? My son absolutely loves it- he laughed for the first time to "Clap your hands". Even when he's crying, as soon as he hears the begginning to "Fibber Island" he stops. Plus my husband loves it so much that he has even borrowed it for his car! Great buy! ... Read more

Asin: B000068C97
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Rock    4. Sing-Along   

Choo Choo Boogaloo
by Music Little People
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (30 August, 1994)
list price: $12.98 -- our price: $11.99
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Editorial Review

Take a spicy Cajun tour through Louisiana's bayou country on Choo Choo Boogaloo! The musical scenery includes foot-stompin', two-steppin,' finger poppin' zydeco emblazoned with hot guitar licks, sassy accordion, and a dash of blues thrown in for good measure. Traditional titles, including "Get on Board," "Iko Iko," "Little Red Caboose," and "Cotton Fields," have been well adapted to zydeco style, while "Crawfish Song," "Mardi Gras Mambo," and "Give Me a Squeeze, Please" are right at home in this celebration of Cajun culture. Children will have a wonderful time moving with the new rhythms and exploring the sounds of various instruments used to create the unique zydeco style. --Deborah Moore ... Read more

Reviews (56)

great for kids of any age
I bought this for my daughter when she was 3 months old and would play it daily. When she was left with my husband while I was out she started to fuss, and as soon as he put this album on she quieted down and smiled! This is such a great album for kids, and for as many times as I've listened to it, I still love it. I wish there were more to enjoy.

Fantastic!
The song selection, recording quality, and performances are all fabulous. Our eight-month old loves it almost as much as his thirty-something parents. We listen to so many times that now we're planning to attend a cajun/zydeco festival! :)

My children LOVE this CD! Replaced Ralph's World
We have been huge Ralph's World fans, listening to Bottom of the Sea or Ralph's World OVER AND OVER AND OVER again. We received this for Christmas and now my 3-yr old son says " Let's listen to the Choo Choo Music!". And my 19-mth old jumps up and down excitedly. Their favorite is the first song. They could listen to that one exclusively- but I need a bit more variety than one song. :)
As an intro to each song, there is the conductor speaking, explaining the the Cajun or Louisiana influence on the following song. The kids barely pay attention to that at this point, but I find it interesting.
We will definitely be buying another Buckwheat Zydeco CD for ourselves soon and will buy this one as gifts for all our toddler friends.
Don't worry, RW isn't out of the picture yet. I sneak him in because I love the CDs so much. So do the kids. :) ... Read more

Asin: B000002M6V
Subjects:  1. Cajun / Zydeco / New Orleans    2. Childrens    3. Pop   

Shake Sugaree: Taj Mahal Sings And Plays For Children
by Music Little People
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (27 October, 1992)
list price: $14.98 -- our price: $14.98
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Editorial Review

Folk blues may not seem to be the stuff of a children's album, but this award-winning 1988 disc consists of a delightful series of songs for kids despite (or because of?) its blue roots. Mahal sets an intimate, storytelling mood with his casual introductions, and the spontaneous sing-along choruses (provided by his children, Ahmen and Deva) add to the gathered-round-the-campfire feel. Still, this is a blues record--undeniably gentle and sweet, but blues all the same--and that's what makes it such a wonderful family collection. Whimsical enough to please children, it contains enough bite to captivate adults. For every song about a boy riding his big-eared puppy halfway around the world ("Little Brown Dog") there's another about playing the ponies in Houston ("Light Rain"). It's all topped off with a joyous version of Elizabeth Cotton's "Shake Sugaree," with Mahal's children singing, "Oh, Lordy me, then we'll shake sugaree / Everything I've got is done and pawned." Strange material for a children's record, but it works. --Percy Keegan ... Read more

Reviews (7)

This Cd Sucks.
I have never been a huge Taj Mahal fan, and this Cd is what completely turned me off him.Plus kids don't want to hear all the lectures and sanitized music, they want to hear the real thing.When I was a kid I grew up listening to Chris Smither and he never did any childrens stuff.So just get your kid the real thing

childhood
This is a wonderful cd, I listened to it constantly when I was little and was on top of the world when at the age of nine I got to see Taj Mahal in concert. This cd made me appreaciate blues and now I love all of his new stuff as well. This cd is enjoyable for kids but as a college student I still listen to it.

Taj has done much better - CD is not a very good value
I have been a Taj Mahal fan for many years. I love just about everything he has put out and when we had a kid I rushed out to buy this album. I found it disappointing !
First of all, with only ten songs, none of which are very long, the playtime is rather short. There is still good material on the album much of it re-runs of his standards - like fishing blues with a little bit of added narrative which is not all that meaningful.
Some of the songs sound like he used a drum machine.
I really think your money is better spent on an album like "Giant Step" the kids won't care that it wasn't made specifically for children. ... Read more

Asin: B000002M57
Subjects:  1. Childrens    2. Pop   

Beethoven's Wig: Sing Along Symphonies
by Rounder / Pgd
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (05 March, 2002)
list price: $12.98 -- our price: $11.99
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Editorial Review

Inspired and wildly imaginative, Beethoven's Wig is one of the best introductions to classical music you could give to your children. Featuring snippets of 11 classical music staples--Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Haydn, et al.--the disc and its creators, Richard Perlmutter and friends, pour on the silly lyrics the first time around to familiarize young ears to the old masters. Then in the last half of the record, the orchestra plays the same "serious" music pieces instrumentally. You might cheerfully recall Alan Sherman's popular spoofs of old classical works in Wig and you'll again chuckle at pieces like "Drip, Drip, Drip," which adapts Delibes's "Pizzicato from Sylvia." You'll also marvel at the expertise throughout the CD, with all the pieces well played yet thoroughly fun. Beethoven's Wig is an orchestral treasure with a sense of humor as old or as new as its listeners (and the fun questions that run throughout the CD's liner notes are almost as entertaining as the zany musical interludes). Highly recommended. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (41)

I hope the music will never end!
I am an elementary music teacher and a performing musician.

Beethoven's Wig has given me so much pleasure since it arrived 4 days ago.I listen to it in the car, and I have had my kindergarten, grade 1 and grade 2 students listen to it in class.I'm singing the songs.We're all doing the Can-Can.I'm recommending it to every colleague and parent I see.

I can't remember having so much fun, and, some of the lyrics actually bring tears to my eyes.

Some reviewers have objected to Richard Perlmutter's voice.He will never appear at the Met :) However, for young children, his is a very safe voice to listen to.His friends on the recording demonstrate excellent singing.I actually enjoy the agogics in CanCan!

Bravo!
We received this as a gift for my daughter and absoluately love it ourselves. I'm buying it for my niece as well as for my friends' kids.

As a (former) piano player and (former) child who secretly loved classical music, I think this is an excellent way to introduce kids to this genre. I like the way it's split into the "funny" music, but it also includes the full orchestral versions, too. My daughter already loves music, even her mother warbling off key, so I like the opportunity this provides to combine music with words beyond traditional lullabies and/or kids music that isn't that great.

I love this so much that I'm going to buy the second CD without listening to it - a major break for me since I'm so cost-conscious.

Ahhhhhhhhggggggggggggg!!! (By Beethoven Lover)
What a dumb album! I like Beethoven's music= this is a complete outrage! I think its made by Beethoven Haters!!!!!!!!!!!
... Read more

Asin: B000060OLA
Subjects:  1. Ballet    2. Chamber    3. Childrens    4. Classical    5. Keyboard    6. Miscellaneous    7. Opera    8. Orchestral    9. Symphonic   

Nursery Days
by Smithsonian Folkways
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (13 July, 1992)
list price: $16.98 -- our price: $16.98
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Reviews (3)

Classic, sweet old-time nursery songs
We received this for our oldest daughter at her first Christmas when she was not quite one year old.We love the songs!they are easy to learn and easy to sing and they are just so darned cute!She's nearly seven now, and the cd got into little hands (hers and her younger siblings) and has been damaged...we're replacing it, and I think we'll be looking into getting the "Songs to Grow on for Mother and Child" as well now that they are getting older!I still wake up my daughter with "wake up, wake-up, wake-up, wake-up!"

Beautifully classic old time blue grass nursery songs...just like my grandma sang to me.

Not Exactly Our Idea of Enjoyable Listening
Always looking for music that our two-year old and we will enjoy, we thought that this Woody Gutherie might be it.I should have listened to the previews!Not for us, or as Chloe said, "BAD!"Repetitive, nasal-twang songs with no zip or much melody.I know Woody Guthrie is one of the greats, but this CD doesn't show us why.

Timelessappeal.
I loved these songs as a child.My children loved them too.I think their appeal is timeless. ... Read more

Asin: B000001DO0
Sales Rank: 40813
Subjects:  1. Children's Folk    2. Childrens    3. Field Recordings    4. Political Folk    5. Pop    6. Traditional Folk