Spicy Kid

K-Gr 4—For their fourth album, Lunch Money explores the relationship between parents and their children. Led by singer/guitarist/songwriter Molly Ledford (who clearly pulls from her personal family experience for material), these ten original tunes are sure to tickle the fancy of younger grade-school kids and their parents. The album opens with the bubblegum pop song, "Gingerbread Man," which tells the traditional folk tale from the point of view of the cookie. Other highlights include "Spicy Kid" (praises the independent child who has a mind of his/her own), "Time Out" (described as an "intervention" for kids), "Awake" (a ballad about a child who debates checking in on her sleeping parents in the middle of the night), "S-P-E-L-L" (points out that spelling out words calls attention to whatever parents are talking about). The closing soft ballad, "What Will You Ever See?," correlates riding in a car and falling asleep. The band has grown into a quartet with the addition of Russell Ramirez on trombone who adds depth and variety to the band's sound. A fine addition to their body of work.–Stephanie Bange, Wright State University, Dayton, OH