REVIEWS+

Funky Fresh and Sugar Free

NOT- -AVAIL-ABL-E.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 5—The Sugar Free Allstars—Chris Wiser (on keyboards, saxophones, and bass clarinet) and Rob Martin (Dr. Rock on percussion) —perform with gusto 10 original songs in New Orleans funk, Memphis soul, Hammond organ gospel, hip hop, and disco. Two of the songs, "Tiger in My Backyard" and "The Train Beat Song," were also performed on their recent music DVD Gettin' Funky with the Sugar Free Allstars (SLJ, June 2010, p. 46). Wiser, who was also a guest musician on the recent Recess Monkey album, The Final Funktier (SLJ, Aug. 2010), does a mean saxophone solo on a couple of tunes. "6th Grade Band" features a section of horns playing "Mary Had a Little Lamb" in typical elementary school fashion—out of tune and out of sync. "Rock Awesome" is a terrific call-and-response song with an excellent children's chorus (who join in on other songs as well). The duo also performs a wonderful arrangement of the classic Beatles' tune, "Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da." Other song topics feature red wagons, pockets, and vehicles. This outstanding album, with outstanding musicianship, clever lyrics, and sassy tunes, will have listeners on their feet and dancing.—Beverly Wrigglesworth, San Antonio Public Library, TX
In this beautiful, heartrending, yet horrifying film, North Koreans tell their stories of imprisonment, sexual slavery, torture, murder, and escape to China or South Korea during the nearly 50-year regime of Kim Il Sung (1912—94). The interviews are illustrated through the interspersion of dance sequences, archival news footage, and drawings. Particularly interesting are the North Korean propaganda films celebrating Kim Il Sung as God and showing in the face of mass starvation happy workers, elaborate military displays, and the creation of a new flower in 1988 in honor of the 46th birthday of Kim's son and successor, Kim Jong Il. A valuable time line traces 20th-century events in Korea. Bonus features include previously unreleased footage of camp refugees. This mesmerizing film displays excellent production values and is highly recommended for Asia collections.—Kitty Chen Dean, formerly with Nassau Community Coll., Garden City, NY
Reviewed by Kitty Chen Dean , Aug 01, 2010

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?