Pick of the Day: Ozomatli Presents OzoKids (CD)

SLJ — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:57:17 +0000

Ozomatli Presents OzoKids. CD. approx. 37 min. Hornblow Group/Megaforce Records. 2012. ISBN unavail. $11.98.
PreS-Gr 3–The Grammy award-winning Los Angeles-based Latin fusion group, Ozomatli, continues to defy being pigeon-holed. Never afraid to try new things, they accepted a challenge from PBS television to shed gang-violence and explicit lyrics and record several education-focused songs. Their new album is aimed at youngsters yet maintains a gritty, urban edge that should have wide appeal. Fusing Latino, hip-hop, reggae, techno pop, and rock, these 14 original tunes will teach youngsters and please grownups, too. The sophisticated and engaging arrangements feature a wide variety of musical styles and instrumentation. “Trees” explains what’s necessary for a tree to grow. “Germs” talks about good and bad germs. “Exercise” espouses its importance and various forms. “Water” lists the many forms it takes. “Pirana” encourages facing fears. Among the catchy numbers are “Moose on the Loose” (a techno rap), “Balloon Fest” (a cha-cha), “Like It’s Your Birthday,” “Let’s Go to the Movies” (features a strong percussion beat), “Spelling” (a fusion-infused spelling lesson), and “Changito” (a high-octane song sure to get kids up and moving). Rock on, Ozo!–Stephanie Bange, Wright State University, Dayton, OH

Pick of the Day: The Mighty Sky (CD)

SLJ — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:16:16 +0000

The Mighty Sky. CD. 31:31 min. with lyrics. NewSound Kids. 2012. ISBN unavail. $14.98.
K-Gr 4–This production is the brain child of Grammy nominee and NAMMY’s Songwriter of the Year (given by the Native American Music Association), Beth Nielsen Chapman. She was joined in the effort by songwriter Annie Roboff and lyricist Rocky Alvey, director of the Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory. The trio has put together a fantastic album of 11 songs in various musical styles including rock, doo wop, zydeco, English music hall, country, blues, and folk. Chapman’s vocals are excellent, as are the instrumental performances on acoustic guitar, slide guitar, banjo, mandolin, piano, keyboards, flute, piccolo, penny whistle, trumpet, drums, percussion, theremin, harmonica, blues harp, accordion, squeeze box, and Jews harp. The songs, mostly about objects in outer space, include “The Mighty Sky,” “Through Hubble’s Eyes” (Dr. C. R. O’Dell, founding scientist of the Hubble Space Telescope, describes it as a time machine when it looks out at distant galaxies), “The Big Bang Boom,” “The Moon,” “Little Big Song,” “Rockin’ Little Neutron Star” (the rhythm track is an actual recording of the Vela Pulsar, 1000 light years away), “Zodiacal Zydeco,” “Test, Re-test and Verify,” “The Way That We Lean,” “You Can See the Blues,” and “There Is No Darkness.” The lyrics insert unfolds into a poster with awesome photos and outer space facts. This outstanding album belongs in every library’s collection of music for children.–Beverly Wrigglesworth, San Antonio Public Library, TX

School Library Journal» Grammy

Pick of the Day: Ozomatli Presents OzoKids (CD)

Pick of the Day: The Mighty Sky (CD)