The Lovely Mrs. Davis Tells You What To Think
Minivan Rotation
July 23, 2007

Very often, when I come across a new kids' album, I find out that the band or artist had/has a career making music for grown-ups. Some of these are or were well-known for their grown-up recordings--Dan Zande, Ralph Covert, Robert Burke Warren (aka Unkcl Rock), and They Might Be Giants come to mind. Others are lesser known as adult artists and end up making a bigger name for themselves recording and performing for kids--Justin Roberts, Laurie Berkner, Gewndolyn (of the Good Time Gang)...the list goes on. When getting acquainted with an artiest who is new to kids' music, or at least new to me, I sometimes look around online and sample some of their earlier recordings for adults. Rarely--very rarely--am I inspired to add some of this grown-up music to my collection.

Sugar Free Allstars are an exception. After hearing their brand new album Dos Ninos, their first album for kids, I headed to CD Baby to sample a few tracks from their three "grown-up" albums. Soon after, I was downloading one of their earlier albums from eMusic. Musically, it's hard to tell the difference between SFA's grown-up albums and Dos Ninos. And that's a good thing.

Yes, Dos Ninos has song titles that suggest something different-- like "Bathtub Boy", Petting Zoo", and "Banana Pudding". And lyrically, these songs are different, although still sharp and witty and incredibly funky. But the sound, the aesthetic, and even the tone of the lyrics all seem true to SFA's previous work.

One of my favorites on the album is "Poppy and Meemaw", which is perhaps the funkiest song about grandparents I've ever heard:

Well, I love my Poppy and Meemaw
They like cornbread and Hee-Haw
When I was little they would put me on the see-saw,
That's why I love my Poppy and Meemaw

With children who are now 7 and 2, it's getting harder and harder for me to find music that's a good fit for both of them. Some kids' music is more fitting for toddlers/pre-schoolers, and some is more fitting for bigger kids, but Dos Ninos is an album that's enjoyable for both of them, and one that I can see our family listening to for years to come.

Sugar Free Allstars definitely stand out from the ever-growing cowd of kids' artist, but what most clearly distinguishes them is theri masterful use of the Hammond organ, which is also the basis for much of their incredibly catchy songwriting. I've always insisted that I'm able to tell the difference between songs written at a piano (or organ, int this case_ and songs written with a guitar. And I've often argued that songs written at a piano are generally better (although my husband attempts to disprove my argument by pointing to Billy Joel). Regardless of where you stand on the piano versus guitar song-writing superiority issue, SFA's songs are shining examples of excellent songwriting.

I'ts hard for me to top the band's description of themselves, so I'll just share it with you" "Imagine that Deep Purple and Sly and the Family Stone had a love child that grew up in New Orleans listening to Ray Charles, Black Sabbth and Booker T." Way to be succinct.

Dos Ninos is available at CD Baby, where you can sample more tunes or order your own copy.

-Amy Davis
www.lovelydavis.blogspot.com