More cutting edge stuff for kids who have rockin musical taste ....
591335
If your kids are into Barney, stop right here.  For the rest of em, check out everything Candy Band ... It's so refreshing for those parents who still have some rock left inside ... I have a request for the next album - a cover of the 60's Spiderman cartoon opening tune
4638249
Yessir!  Learning by song has amazing long term results.  This is just one of the Troxel items I use for educating my kids (and me too).
1828976
The guitar hero/rock band craze is tapering off, but this has a nice selection of tunes and there is a 9 yo boy who really likes it.
3814072
Ok, I admit it, I like my teenage daughter's music!  These guys are great!  I have been caught blasting them in the car and at home.  Plus, they are a bunch of cuties!  =)
3898355
We love the Okee Dokee Brothers' music . . . oh, and our 6 year old likes it too :)
782861
Parents are all about infusing their children with a good jolt of "culture" while they're young.  "Culture" can mean a lot of different things too.  It can refer to theater, art, or even a full appreciation of orchestral performances.  Now the standard method of getting kids interested in orchestras can be summed up in four words: Peter and the Wolf.  For some people though, Peter just doesn't cut it.  They want something a little more basic.  A picture book, perhaps, that identifies different instruments in the orchestra in an amusing and (dare I say?) educational manner.  Enter "Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin".  A proud 1996 Caldecott Honor title, the book is a catchy flouncy bouncy exploration of different orchestral sounds and the people that make them possible.

In a lush orchestral hall, two cats and a mouse sit on an empty stage.  Then, a single trombone enters, "With mournful moan and silken tone".  He's followed by a trumpet who in turn is followed by a French horn, a cello, a violin, a flute, a clarinet, an oboe, a bassoon, and (finally) a harp.  With everyone in place, and the conductor stationed before them, everyone plays together in perfect harmony.  "It's the music that we all adore.  It's what we go to concerts for".  Each separate instrument has its own personality and poem.  The oboe sobs and the bassoon makes everyone laugh.  Lines like, "With steely keys that softly click / Its breezy notes so darkly slick / A sleek, black, woody clarinet / Is number seven - now septet".  As you can see, by reading this book kids learn not only what certain instruments look like, but also what groups of people between the numbers of one to nine (solo to nonet) are called.  Illustrator Marjorie Priceman (who has illustrated everything from books by Katie Couric and Jack Prelutsky to my personal favorite, "It's Me, Marva") gives us a nicely multiracial cast to enjoy.  She also spots the book with two cats, a mouse, and a dog.  Kids will enjoy watching the different situations and scenarios the animals get into as the human players go about their music.

I've a real pet peeve with ostensibly "rhyming" picture books that don't scan or read particularly well out loud.  Fortunate then that "Zin! Zin! Zin!", not only scans beautifully but is so well-written that the words perfectly encapsulate with a minimal amount of syllables what we like best about certain instruments.  The book really has everything.  Bright and colorful gouache illustrations.  A fun cast of characters.  Catchy words in an informative text.  I know that there are a lot of meet-the-orchestra books out there, but how many have won as much praise as "Zin! Zin! Zin!" ?  A book that could make even the most adamant preschool-aged philistine into an honest-to-goodness cultural guru.
2424900
If you appreciate real music (i.e., Sabbath, Deep Purple, early Scorpions), you'll be relieved to see that finally there is hope for the future.  These kids rock with skill and talent, and the production values are excellent.  Anyone who doesn't love this is a fool.
713754
Silverchair has gotten a lot of crap over the years and I never knew why, well with all the horrible pop and rap music flooding the airwaves and popular culture now we really need good bands like this now. To have so much talent in three guys and make a album like this at such a young age is something really special and extradionary. It has that grunge sound but I like that, and it has sort of a 70s rock sound too. Combing bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Tool, Helmet but combing all those elements and sounds to make something different. I can even hear a little bit of thrash on songs like Madman. Or punks on songs like findaway. So they had alot of different elements and sounds that made them sound different. They would go on to make classics like Freakshow (my favorite) and Neon Ballroom. And Diroma not many bands or musians could make a album like that twice their age. Its sad this band isn't around anymore I really enjoyed this album and freakshow and all their albums for what its worth, This album even got me to start playing guitar. A great rock album. A must have for any rock or metal fan.
658591
I agree with others who say that Bjork is strolling easily through the grounds Radiohead lurched on "Kid A". Bjork and her companions have made gorgeous and thoughtful music as opposed to the product or experiments that seem to dominate rock music right now. And though the pallette isn't guitars, bass and drum, this isn't pop, it isn't folk, it isn't ambient and it isn't techno. It's the dreamlike edges of rock that artists for decades now . . . an area with plenty of undiscovered lands.
912139
How much do I love this CD?  A lot!!!  It's children's music that I actually enjoy.  With clever lyrics and infectious refrains, it's musically diverse and so much fun.  Every time my three little boys and I listen to Lizza's "Commander Salamander" album in the car or at home...it's a party!!!  I love knowing that my little men are learning (stay safe rules, healthy eating, and self care) while they're listening and being inspired too.  My eleven month old bounces up and down and says "Bye-Bye, Bye-Bye" whenever he hears the chorus of "Hello, Bubbles".  My two year old says, every time he hears it, that "Safe-Ti Song" is "his song".  And my four year old, after hearing the cello solo for the first time in "Sleepytime", asked to hear it again (and again and again) and then said, "Mommy, I want seven of those!"  Thank you so much to Lizza for inspiring early childhood musical appreciation.
3420914
My two-year-old has no less than three guitars, a banjo, and a saxophone.  I have to say, this one is my favorite.  The variety of songs is great (what child's guitar plays Stairway to Heaven?), the concept is cool (Howl setting really fun), and the strap makes my Little Savant feel just like his hero on TV, Murray Wiggle. Some of the kids' toys we own get really annoying, especially after hours of repetition, but this one we don't mind so much. :)
2592464
Never been a fan until now, but this album definitely reaches out to a wider audience. It's fun to listen to and with a couple of exceptions, nearly every track is better quality than most of the songs being released on the mainstream charts right now. I'm normally an indie-rock fan and I'm also a classical musician, so this is outside of the genres I usually listen to. This band definitely has potential though, especially the kid who writes a lot of the songs. Judging from some of the other reviews, I wonder if their image and the expectations of their younger audience might be hurting them, because the album itself isn't bad at all.
2512099
Okay, I have to be upfront about this. I LOVE the Putumayo compilation CDs and have for years. I especially love the Putumayo Kids series, which is a great way to introduce world music styles to children and yet not bore their parents with "kid's stuff". There are also a few other benefits (mostly to the adults):

1. You get to discover new artists and seek out their other CDs. (The package lists the source of each of the licensed tracks)

2. In many cases - but not all - the label donates a portion of the net proceeds to a charity related to the theme of the album.

In the case of this particular album # 2 above does not apply but #1 is one reason to get this.

Now as to the music: It's great and - though kid friendly - and nice music to put your kids to bed with, it works for adults too! I've been playing the album to help me ease into sleep and it works. But it's also great to play in the background over Sunday morning coffee. There are a few common lullabies included ("Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"; "Brahms' Lullaby", but there are also tracks from Brazil and Japan and two from Hawaii (including one with my favorite artist, Jake Shimabukuro (the Jimi Hendrix of the Ukulele).

Another well done Putumayo release you will play again and again and again and.....

Steve Ramm
:"Anything Phonographic"
1041470
I adore these little KidSongs DVDs... It's a riot watching the kids sing and dance to these lively tunes. No matter how many fancy video games and board games are invented, nothing beats the simple, old-fashioned fun of singing and dancing around the house.

When I saw that the kids on this cover were older than Devon (who will be four in three weeks), I hesitated getting this, but I liked the songs, so...what the hey! I got it for him for Christmas and am I ever glad I did! Singing along with him and his mom to "Skip to My Lou" and watching him dance his awkward little beginner steps was the most fun I've had in ages. This DVD has several other songs on it, but he seems to favor "Skip to My Lou," "Oh, Suzanna" and "The Circus is Coming to Town." Can't wait till his mother sends me that promised video. :-)

Devon's too young to have hobbies yet--unless you call playing with cars, firetrucks and Transformers a hobby--but this book has a clever storyline about a boy name Billy who feels left out because everyone has a hobby but him. I'm sure Devon will enjoy the story more as he matures, but since he's having fun and getting exercise from the singing and dancing, that's enough for me!

For the fun factor, I can't praise&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/KIDSONGS-304-Were-Dancing-Now/dp/B002R6IIW2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">KIDSONGS #304: Were Dancing Now</a>&nbsp;highly enough. I heartily recommend this entire series.

Reviewed by Betty Dravis, January 6, 2011
Author of "1106 Grand Boulevard" and other books
3706143
This is a great album for kids from newborns up to teens. My 7- and 10-year olds have been listening to it for years. It's got a variety of musical styles, songs with lyrics that get children involved in the music, and songs that work on children's (and adults') understanding of the structure of music by example. One of the best children's albums that we own.
1857238
Music sucks today, let's face it. Emo and punk run the airwaves, and I've more or less lost faith in the people's current musical ability. Almost. Somehow, Red Hot Chili Peppers keep making awesome music....i don't know how, but they do. Stadium Arcadium isn't a masterpiece, but it's definitely a damn good double album. I've been looking for something like this for awhile, and I'm happy that there is a band in 2006 that can come up with good music. I'm seeing 'em in October, and they're gonna be awesome. Snow is the best song I've heard in a while, and Dani California, Stadium Arcadium, Hey, Torture Me, and Turn it Again are all excellent songs. Obviously it's a lot different than Blood Sugar Sex Magik, but c'mon these guys are getting older, physically and musically. This easily tops By the Way and Californication, and is different but on par with Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Its mellower, less funk-influenced, but if you listen to both albums it's kind of a nice change of pace. John Frusciante is without a doubt a very talented musician and I love his melodies. He has some cool solos in here, not too mention some addictive hooks (i.e. Snow). And Flea....that guy is what bass is all about. You don't hear the bass as much as you used to in their albums, but he's like a minor deity of bass guitar, so bow down. I mean, I'm more of a classic rock/metal kind of guy, but the Peppers are fantastic. They just know how to make music, plain and simple. I see a bright future for 'em. So do the musical universe a favor and buy this instead of whatever filth some trendy screamo group came out with and enjoy.
4278287
Fun songs - catchy riffs - great tunes - it's BFS!  Glad to hear they are still making records and still able to have fun while doing it.  Sure they could be more serious and sing serious songs - but then they wouldn't be BFS.  I like their type of music a lot and while I wouldn't mind them trying some serious stuff here and there - I'm fine with the fun songs like they typically play.