Still the Same Me

I’m always skeptical about music billed “especially for kids.” It can either be so banal it drives adults insane (you know who you are, Barney) or it is so healthy/wholesome/correct and over produced that parents just KNOW their kids SHOULD love it…but they don’t. Fortunately, this extraordinary collection of soulful, uplifting and entertaining songs for children is the real deal, with Sweet Honey using only their voices and percussion instruments to create an amazing and compelling sound. I especially like the four segments of “Improv Time!” which encourage kids (and adults) to make their own music. In fact, the whole CD is participatory. The liner notes provide background information about the music, but also personal interviews with the artists,who answered questions about their childhood ranging from “Do you remember your favorite hairstyle?” to “Have you had an experience that was a disaster (embarrassing, painful, etc) that you feel is all right for you to share?” The cover art is a special treat for any Sweet Honey fan…it features childhood photos of the six performers on front, mirrored by contemporary photos on the back. If I had such a list, I’d rank this in my Top Ten of the year, for adults or kids.