Kathy O'Connell: MetroKids Sound Off
This remarkable performer and all-around goofy
guy is the pride of Newark, DE, but his music reflects experiences
of kids everywhere. There’s a heavy dose of humor on his latest
CD, Robot Monkey Head, starting with the Devo-tinged title
cut...
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Chip Withrow: Music Critic, The Muse's Muse
At first, I’ll admit, I wasn’t going to review this disc. We
listen to a lot of kids’ music around here, mainly folk and
world. It’s what my wife and I like, so we’ve sought that out
for our daughter as well.
But our five-year-old kept
clamoring for more Robot Monkey Head after the first
time I played it. She seems to dig the title track and
“Bunny Foo Foo” the most, and it is awfully cute to watch her
sit in a big chair between the speakers like the dude in the
old Maxell tape ads.
And several of these tunes ("Uncle Tony's
Dentures," "Duct Tape Festival," "Bad For the Road But Good On
Chicken") are my-kind-of-folky - demented, but folky. In
fact, the bluegrass players on "Uncle Tony's Dentures" shred.
Now, in order to get into some of these songs,
I had to think like a fourth grader. "I Like Beans" has
the obvious flatulence jokes, and the life-without-bathing
humor of "Stink Monkey" is sort of gross. But there's no
denying the hypnotic funk of "Stink Monkey," and I think it's
more important for fourth graders to learn about serious
groove than about what those pour Pilgrims did at the first
Thanksgiving.
"Duct Tape Festival" is my favorite, set to a
high lonesome, minor-key cowboy melody. And the words
are very, very funny. Hadfield does the lyrics - musical
collaborator Geri Smith and producer/multi-instrumentalist
Marc Moss deserve credit for the diverse stylings they add to
the words.
"Rhyming Song" - an anti-rhyming ditty - is
also clever. Hadfield is wisely building a fan base with
these tunes and "Bad for the Road" (It's about salt and it's
pretty educational) - songs more suited for older kids even
adults.
"Bunny Foo Foo" (anti-bullying), "Best Friends"
(imaginary pals) and "Ready Fire Aim" (think before you act)
have positive messages for kids. And "Ready" rocks sorta
like Green Day.
Funny touch, closing with "Principal's Office"
- an every-kid tale with a twist and a musical cross between
Peggy Lee's "Fever" and the old novelty chestnut "They're
Coming To Take Me Away."
I'm glad I changed my mind and decided to take
the full excursion into John Hadfield's brain. Parents,
you'll dig many of the songs. Your kids, particularly
around middle school age, may drive you nuts playing this CD
again and again.
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