2007 Kidz Music Reviews

I Love To Talk To Plants & For The Kids Three!
albums from Marla Lewis & Various Artists, reviewed November 2007

I Love To Talk To Plants, Marla Lewis’ sophomore release, is beautiful in its execution and melts like butter in your ears – assuming you have hot ears, of course. The arrangements and choices of instruments are spot on, the lyrics are superior and Lewis’ voice is engaging and pure. Highlight gems include “Mighty Jackie, The Strikeout Queen,” a true story about a 17-year old female pitcher who struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig during an exhibition game with the mighty 1931 N.Y. Yankees and “The Boogey Woogey Man,” might just displace “The Monster Mash” as a Halloween iconic song. I cannot say enough about the quality of this album and urge you to run, not walk, as fast as you can to get your hands on a copy or two!

I Love To Talk To Plants, Marla Lewis, Plum Juice Records, 2008; CD $12.97; www.marlalewis.com. Buy I Love To Talk To Plants at Kidzmusic.com. 

For The Kids Three! is an eclectic and slightly eccentric 20-song collection of classics and original family music by some of the best edgy and progressive Indie artists around – Barenaked Ladies and Moby being the most recognizable. The production value is terrific and the performances are a blast of fresh air to the children’s music scene. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this CD will go to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, an organization that has successfully restored and sustained music programs in 1,400 public schools in 80 communities across the country. Now that has win-win written all over it! Check it out.

For The Kids Three! Various Artists, Nettwerk Music Group, 2007; CD $16.98 each; www.nettwerk.com. 

Also check out:

Debbie’s Ditties 6 – The Handwriting Mix, Debbie Clement, Rainbows Within Reach, 2007; CD $15.95; website www.rainbowswithinreach.com. “Excellent arrangements frame this entertaining and educational musical endeavor – teachers will find this collection a valuable resource.” John Wood, Kidzmusic.com. 

Mr. Scott The Music Man – No Couch Potatoes, Mr. Scott, Mr. Scott Music, 2007; CD $13.00; website www.mrscottmusicman.com. “Hang a left at silly and you’ll run smack dab into Mr. Scott’s caffeinated inspired hi-jinks that will have kids off the couch and up and about in a remarkably strange and engaging way.” John Wood, Kidzmusic.com. 

Elephants In My Ears, Ava and The Mystic Mangos, Splendidilly Records, 2007; CD $15.00; website www.themysticmangos.com. “Nicely produced and performed celebration of the wonders of the world without and within and with just a dash of whimsy thrown in for good measure.” John Wood, Kidzmusic.com. 

Alphabet Rockers, Kaitlin McGraw & Dawn Richardson, School Time Music, 2007; CD $14.99; website www.alphabetrockers.com. "A hip collection of snappy tunes with an urban beat and a street sensibility that should even hold mom and dad’s attention…" John Wood, Kidzmusic.com.