Be Like You - Asylum Street Spankers, Marrs, Christina
Training Wheel Rag - Asylum Street Spankers, Sick
You Only Love Me for My Lunchbox - Asylum Street Spankers, Wammo
Everybody Loves My Baby - Asylum Street Spankers, Palmer, Jack
Sidekick - Asylum Street Spankers, Marrs, Christina
When I Grow Up - Asylum Street Spankers, Sick
Mommy Says No! - Asylum Street Spankers, Wammo
Don't Turn out the Light - Asylum Street Spankers, Marrs, Christina
Boogers - Asylum Street Spankers, Sick
Slover - Asylum Street Spankers, Channing, Chad
Super Frog - Asylum Street Spankers, Brown, Rachel
Think About Your Troubles - Asylum Street Spankers, Nilsson, Harry
The magnificently indefinable Asylum Street Spankers stand as one of America's most distinctive live groups. With an all-acoustic mix of genres hailed by Rolling Stone as "inspired, lunatic brilliance," what other band... more » can boast of appearances on both NPR's All Things Considered and The Bob & Tom Show? Mommy Says No!, the group's sixth studio album, features an inspired approach to childhood that one pundit likened to "Dan Hicks meets Dan Zanes." In the best tradition of classic Warner Bros. cartoons, the album is full of the sort of inside joke that will appeal to the Spankers' decidedly adult fans, even while the disc's sounds and themes catch the ears of children. Though family-friendly, Mommy Says No! pulls no punches in musical sophistication or songwriting. Addressing childhood from both kids' and adult perspectives, the songs nod to Dr. Seuss, Maurice Sendak, and Shel Silverstein in their clear-eyed view of the joys and anxieties of being a kid. Gorgeously produced, it's a rich listening experience for kids of all ages.« less
The magnificently indefinable Asylum Street Spankers stand as one of America's most distinctive live groups. With an all-acoustic mix of genres hailed by Rolling Stone as "inspired, lunatic brilliance," what other band can boast of appearances on both NPR's All Things Considered and The Bob & Tom Show? Mommy Says No!, the group's sixth studio album, features an inspired approach to childhood that one pundit likened to "Dan Hicks meets Dan Zanes." In the best tradition of classic Warner Bros. cartoons, the album is full of the sort of inside joke that will appeal to the Spankers' decidedly adult fans, even while the disc's sounds and themes catch the ears of children. Though family-friendly, Mommy Says No! pulls no punches in musical sophistication or songwriting. Addressing childhood from both kids' and adult perspectives, the songs nod to Dr. Seuss, Maurice Sendak, and Shel Silverstein in their clear-eyed view of the joys and anxieties of being a kid. Gorgeously produced, it's a rich listening experience for kids of all ages.
"I heard the librarians at the public library cracking up listening to this CD before they put it in the children's collection, and I reserved it immediately. It's music kids and parents really can enjoy together at different levels. "You only love me for my lunchbox" is our family's new favorite song. The naughty tongue-twister in that song made laugh so hard that tears rolled down my face. My seven-year-old son kept asking, "What? What's so funny? Tell me, tell me, tell me!" I have to admit, that I did finally tell him, and I made him promise never ever to repeat it! I've listened to bits of this band's other work, so I'm not an expert, but I definitely recommend this CD as one that will make everyone in the car happy!"
A Wonderful New Discovery
C. R. Nelson | Reno, NV USA | 08/21/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"**Note** While this album is most definitely child-friendly, and indeed is more or less made for kids (or kids at heart like myself), much of the other albums of this band are very adult in content. Please don't assume ALL of their music is child-friendly. Just thought I'd warn those who hadn't heard any other songs from this wonderful group. So saying...
I don't know how long this group has actually been around, but I myself just recently discovered them through a friend's suggestion. This cd and the others by this group are all excellent. With almost limitless bands and artists out there who sound like clones of one another, it's extremely refreshing to find a group with a style all their own. So saying, it's sort of hard to describe the sound if you've never heard them. The best I can do is say they sound like a combination of the Squirrel Nut Zippers (neo-swing/20's and 30's music), Southern Culture on the Skids (Rockabilly and Kitsch) and throw in a healthy amount of comedy with extremely talented muscians and songwriters. It's been awhile since anything original has popped up in this age when terms like "indie" and "alternative" have gone corporate mainstream. If you like originality, a swing/bluesy/rockabilly-ish sound and just like to smile and laugh with your music, seek out this group and this album.
"
Fun and kid-friendly!
jda2 | Ann Arbor, MI | 07/12/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"We love the Spankers (you MUST see them live!!) and this is a great album. Our son is only 3 months old now (we bought this CD when I was pregnant with him) so he can't really appreciate it yet, but my husband and I have been enjoying it anyway. Our favorite song is Sidekick, but we also love You Only Love Me For My Lunchbox, Think About Your Troubles, Be Like You, and Everybody Loves My Baby (a classic done really well by the Spankers). Other songs are fun too, and I'm sure our son will soon like this CD as much as my husband and I do.
By the way, we love all the Spankers stuff, but it's not all what I'd call kid-safe. I'd stick with this CD for the little ones and reserve the others just for the grown-ups."
Fantabulous!!!
Blondie | Alameda | 03/09/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Big fan of the Spankers- and this is just a wonderful CD we get to share with the kids (even though they are already fans as well). My kids love "Boogers"- which makes all of us laugh. And the cover of Harry Nilson's "Think About Your Troubles" is beautiful.
I am buying another copy for my niece and nephew as an Easter gift :-)"
Irreverent, Silly and Touching
C. Henry | San Diego | 10/15/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"My wife and I really enjoy the tracks on this CD. It may not be for the more timid or stuffy, though I don't think there is anything that bad on it at all. But if a song about boogers and decomposing whales are evils you must protect your child from head elsewhere or just buy the CD for the other very touching tracks "Be Like You" and "Sidekick".
These guys and gals are very talented and seem to have a very good time with it which translates into the songs. It is refreshing to have real music geared toward the mind of a child. I don't care what they say about Baby Einstein and those other tinny, toy music CD's...they are just not for us, and if we aren't enjoying it he will no doubt pick up on that.
Our boy is just an infant so he obviously can't enjoy the songs other than via mom and dad singing and dancing around and truly having fun with him while listening to the CD. But my guess is as he gets older he'll love em, decomposing whale and all."