Nature Jams

PreS-Gr 3—Singer/songwriter Farmer Jason (Jason Ringenberg) has added star power to each of the 16 original country tunes on this themed recording about the wonders of nature. They feature such renowned talents as banjo player Alison Brown ("Can You Canoe?"), R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills ("Take a Hike"), Grammy winner Suzy Bogguss ("Meadowlark in Central Park"), zydeco musician Terrance Simien ("Bayou Boogie"), Cheap Trick bass player Tom Peterson ("Spelunker"), and Hank Williams III and Tommy Ramone ("Manatee"). Lyrics carry the messages about each topic—whether it is about bison ("Buffalo or Bison?," featuring Webb Wilder), whales ("Well Oh Whale," with The Saw Doctors), glaciers ("The Glacier," featuring Jason and the Scorchers), or moose ("The Moose Lives Where?," with Todd Snider and Jo Nesbo). Parents may find the scripted song introductions tiresome, but kids may consider them goofy enough to be funny. A bonus DVD features music videos of four of the songs from the album. An intriguing concept that works.—Stephanie Bange, Wright State University, Dayton, OH