Ted Jacobs ~ Back to the Garden {Music Review}

September 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A calmer, more serene collection of music you will not find than that of Ted Jacob’s new album, Back to the Garden. This album is filled with the poetry of Robert Louis Stevenson, set to music. Even the voices singing the songs are calm, soothing, and relaxing, even featuring children’s voices. A few of the songs are more quick-paced, but most are very easygoing.

To give you a bit of background on Ted…. Ted Jacobs was musically talented from a young age, teaching himself to play both the piano and guitar at age 5.  He loved to write songs, and once out of college, headed to Los Angeles, where he got the job of staff writer at Sony Music. He’s worked with celebrities like Fergie and Clint Black, with his music also being featured on shows like Scrubs, Providence, Entertainment Tonight, and more.

Back to the Garden includes several songs….

  1. A Good Play
  2. The Swing
  3. My Ship and I
  4. Farewell to the Farm
  5. Autumn Fires
  6. Picture Books in Winter
  7. Keepsake Mill
  8. The Hayloft
  9. The Land of Nod
  10. To My Name Child
  11. My Kingdom
  12. Escape at Bedtime

Songs incorporate the sounds of many instruments, including the mandolin, dulcimer, accordion, fiddle, penny whistles, uillean pipes, and acoustic instruments. As I listened, I was overcome by the Scottish, Celtic feel of the music. The poems lend themselves to this genre of music, and it’s just so beautifully written. That lends, in part, to the calming effect. Of course, each piece of poetry tells a story, as well.

This album is perfect to play during naptime, at bedtime, or even when we need something calming, almost classical, for school time. One of my favorite songs is Good Play, which just reminds me of my own boys and the forts and vehicles and things they’ve built out of blankets and chairs. The whole album is very imaginative and beautiful, as poetry should be. Each song paints a picture of what I imagine Robert Louis Stevenson must have pictured as he wrote each poem. It’s the perfect new album for the fall season.

You can purchase Back to the Garden for $14.99 from House at the Corner. It’s geared toward Birth to Age Six and lasts 33 minutes.

(Disclosure: I received a copy of this CD, free of charge, from Waldmania! PR, for the purposes of review. All views/opinions remain solely  my own.)

Filed Under: Audio & CDs, Babies and Preschoolers, Music, Reviews & Giveaways, School Age Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Rocknoceros ~ Colonel Purple Turtle {Music Review}

September 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Rocknoceros is a band made up of 3 friends who’ve been together since high school: Coach Cotton, Williebob, and Boogie Woogie Bennie. Together, the three make beautiful music that includes jazz tones, the blues, and even a bit of bluegrass thrown in for good measure. Their music is their full-time job, playing more than 20 live shows a month.

Their latest album, Colonel Purple Turtle, released this past Tuesday, September 13. This album is full of songs that relate stories of friendship and songs that teach amazing concepts, like that of conservation. The following is a listing of the songs on this album:

  1. Colonel Purple Turtle
  2. Harry Elefante
  3. Early Worm
  4. What’s Your Favorite Animal?
  5. Pirate Harvey
  6. We Are Frogs
  7. Double-O Chicken
  8. How Do You Do?
  9. Rocky the Dog
  10. Conservation
  11. Sprouted
  12. Echolocation
  13. Ladybird Beetle
  14. Truman Coyote
  15. Did the Moon See You?
  16. Fire of the Sun
  17. Ain’t Nothin’ but a Fox
  18. Attention Citizens
  19. Friends

Yes, there are 19 songs on this album, making it last for quite a while, plus it comes with a book if you should desire a way for kids to visualize all of the characters depicted in the music. A favorite song would have to be Rocky the Dog, mainly because I can imagine that Rocky is actually singing the song. The voice is kinda low, slow, and really what I’d imagine an old dog’s voice might sound like. The song is quite comical but also quite adorable. Another song that stood out would have to be Conservation with its message of living green and conserving. Finally, one last fave is Did the Moon See You?. It’s after dark in the park, and the trees and animals of the night are coming alive. Fire of the Sun also talks about the heat of the sun, how it gives life, but also how it’s important to cover up. Simple concepts but great for kids to take in and learn.

You’ll hear a variety of instruments on this album, as well. In fact, I was impressed to read that one of the artists, Boogie Woogie Bennie, is kind of a “one man band,” playing the bass drum, snare drum, hi-hat cymbal, keyboard, keyboard bass, and singing. You’ll hear the guitar, mandolin, banjo, kazoo, tambourine, as well.

Rocknoceros ~ Colonel Purple Turtle is available for purchase for $15. It lasts 47 minutes (perfect for that long road trip) and is geared toward kids ages 4-12. Be sure to Like Rocknoceros on Facebook.

(Disclosure: I received a copy of this album, free of charge, from Waldmania! PR, for the purposes of review. All views/opinions remain solely my own, based on experience with the product.)

Filed Under: Audio & CDs, Babies and Preschoolers, Music, Reviews & Giveaways, School Age Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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