Artist: YUMZAH!
Album: Earth Party!
Age Range: 4 through 9
Description: If it looks like there's a lot of AKA-in' goin' on, you'd be right. Is the album from Nashville's Mr. Steve (AKA - sorry - Steve Lee), the guy who released the occasionally stunning What Did You Do Today, Stephen Scott Lee? in 2007? Or is it his mysterious new band project YUMZAH!? And is the album titled Earth Party as my iTunes player suggests, or is it Recycle Your Happiness as the Indiegogo preorder page says?
Does it really matter? These are educational songs, loosely themed around earth-friendly songs, but with so much wit and verve. "Trees Are the Hair of the Earth" packs wordplay, a plea against de-forestation, and a plaintive melody into less than 4 minutes of pop goodness. "Blue Whale" is so rousing and joyful that I feel like Lee could plausibly slap a "Smiles Guaranteed!" sticker on the album and not be accused of false advertising. "Don't Text and Drive" is waaaay better than any song with that title need be.
Note: I received a copy of the album for possible review.
At 8 tracks and 22 minutes in length, this is barely an EP. It's not clear when it'll see the full light of day. I like to think of this album as his portfolio for what should be true calling: writing kids music for Yo Gabba Gabba!. So good and joyful. Definitely recommended.
