THEY MIGHT BE PARENTS.Byline: Chris J. Parker Correspondent Yesterday's rock stars have turned into today's parents. And they want good music for their children. That's why '70s hit-makers such as Kenny Loggins, Linda Ronstadt and Art Garfunkel Arthur Ira Garfunkel (born November 5 1941) is an American singer-songwriter and actor, best known as half of the folk duo Simon and Garfunkel. Early life Arthur Ira Garfunkel was born in Forest Hills, Queens, in New York City. He is of Romanian Jewish ancestry. recorded children's albums in the last five years. And now some popular musicians from the '80s and early '90s are releasing their own family-friendly CDs. Here's a review of four recently released children's CDs from artists who made their name in music years ago: ``No!'' (Rounder Records Rounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts but now based in Burlington, is an independent record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students. ) - Four stars They Might Be Giants might have found a niche for their quirky, intelligent ``dork'' music. In many ways, ``No!'' is just like TMBG's '80s CDs: razor-sharp lyrics set to a frenetic soundtrack. The difference this decade is the lyrics are universally appealing without being dumbed-down and the tunes have a retro appeal. In the '80s, two TMBG TMBG They Might Be Giants (band) singles - ``Don't Let's Start'' and ``Birdhouse in Your Soul'' - had enough broad appeal to be considered pop hits. Now, the duo from Brooklyn has created a near-perfect family album, with lyrics that'll make mom and dad laugh along with their kids and melodies that instantly hook in your head. For example, the title track begins, ``No is no. No is always no. If they say no, it means a thousand times no. No plus no equals no.'' It's a song every kid - and parent - can understand. ``Fun and Games "Fun and Games" is an episode of the original The Outer Limits television show. It first aired on 30 March, 1964, during the first season. Opening narration !'' (Listen Up Records) Three and one half stars This is an excellent follow-up to the Ben Rudnick and Friends' 2000 release, ``Emily's Songs.'' The lyrics are fun, the music catchy, and Rudnick's vocals - honed by 20-plus years of bluegrass bluegrass, any species of the large and widely distributed genus Poa, chiefly range and pasture grasses of economic importance in temperate and cool regions. In general, bluegrasses are perennial with fine-leaved foliage that is bluish green in some species. performances - are perfectly quirky. The strength of this CD is the humorous lyrics, sure to make any kid giggle who's old enough to follow along. Rudnick - and his friends - sing about everyday life with the enthusiasm of a kid on summer vacation. In ``Macaroni macaroni: see pasta. & Cheese,'' for example, he can't wait for dinner. ``My stomach's growling like a bear in a fight. My mother's telling me what I might like. I've heard it all, but I haven't heard it right. Nothing can please me like that gooey See GUI. , cheesy cheesy (che´ze) caseous. sight.'' ``Golden Slumbers: A Father's Lullaby'' (Rendezvous Entertainment) - Three stars Urged to create music for his niece, saxophonist Dave Koz has instead created a CD for the entire family. Koz, who co-hosts the morning drive-time show on KTWV-FM (94.7), enlisted the help of his brother, Jeff, and other new fathers or uncles in the smooth-jazz industry to create a lush, melodic 14-song lullaby. The Koz brothers shine on the first track, ``Blackbird,'' a remake of the Beatles classic, and ``Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,'' a remake of the children's classic. There's also a nice interpretation of Phil Collins' ``You'll Be in My Heart "You'll Be in My Heart" was the main single from the 1999 Disney animated feature Tarzan. Written and performed by Phil Collins, it appears on as well as various other Disney compilations. A version of the single performed by Glenn Close also appears on the soundtrack. ,'' from Disney's animated ``Tarzan'' movie. This is not cutting-edge jazz; it's not even cutting-edge smooth jazz. But it is exactly what you'd expect when a smooth-jazz artist produces a CD called ``Golden Slumbers'': a melodic, beautiful CD for quiet time. ``Night Time!'' (Festival Five Records) - Two and one half stars Dan Zanes, the former lead singer of the Del Fuegos, releases his third kids' CD. It's fun, silly and filled with guest appearances from alt-rock heroes such as Lou Reed and Aimee Mann. Overall, ``Night Time'' is a fun time. But the CD does have a few lulls, especially when the songs seem to melt together into a long-running test of wacky noise makers. There are some memorable songs on this CD, such as the remade re·made v. Past tense and past participle of remake. ``Down by the Riverside'' and Zanes' original ``Night Owl.'' |
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