"Love-A-Kitty" is an amusing and entertaining storybook song about love for cats, and one particular puss that runs away for a while, returns and then mysteriously multiplies! The tune also scores highly on the stuck-in-the-head-o-meter. One week and counting. It might end up on infinite repeat in a kiddie household, a la Maggie Simpson's demands in the Roofi song episode where Springfield's children turn into a rampaging mob.
"Where are the yeses"; an antithesis to the Christmas classic Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, perhaps, is a witty take on what it's like to always be told NO. It made me smile, particularly because the "Don't touch!" dialogue is so familiar to me from work - everything in my shop is so fragile that the soundtrack of frantic parents forbidding their children to so much as breathe near the shelves is a permanent accompaniment to any working day.
"Baby-Shaped Hole in My Heart" tips the saccharine scale a little too far for me, but John's delivery rescues the song somewhat and the overall impression is that of a genuine relationship.
The instrumentals are a winner for me, and would provide a soothing background track to any children's activity, be it a pyjama party, playtime with parents, or indeed, a session with the colouring booklet that comes with the CD - to call it a colouring book is a little misleading, as it's really just the booklet that comes with the CD with printed song lyrics accompanied by illustrations, but the idea is there and I am sure some of the slightly older children might be able to work with it without tearing the thin paper, or going completely outside the lines. In fact, none of that probably matters too much, as long as there is some fun to be had.
Article comments
1 - Bonnie
Nukapai, great review. You really give a sense of what the product is, what its strengths are and where the weaknesses lie, along with conveying your personal "ymmv" reaction. I like your style!
2 - Anna
Well done! I like reviews that give me the low-down and aren't just another PR tool.
3 - Nukapai
Thank you Bonnie and Anna - encouraging feedback from both of you! Thank you, also, for taking the time to post a comment.
I try to be balanced, but ultimately, reviews are opinion pieces and highly subjective. Most people who end up following the work of a particular reviewer just use the end result as a yardstick (if reviewer X hates this, then I'll love it and so on).
4 - Dave Nalle
Perhaps it's not presented as Christian in theme specifically because they want non-Christians to pick it up for their kids and be exposed to the redeeming messages of the songs and embrace Jesus as a result. Basically a stealth conversion vehicle.
But I could just be paranoid. No good Christian has ever done something like that before.
Dave
5 - Nukapai
Oh Dave, you made me laugh. But I think I'll leave it at that. ;)
Except I think I need to tell you that "Nalle" means "teddybear" in Finnish.
6 - Grozdan Popov
So very tactful words and such a compassionate approach for somebody who had just demonstrated so poor manners does not only speak of a very understanding reviewer but of his chivalrous nature as well. Pressed the way you were I would have reneged on writing anything about a brat like Mrs Pamela Hopkins selfportrays herself.
Believe you me, this will be the best, the most exhaustive and most explanatory review her CD will ever get.
7 - Nukapai
Grozdan, thank you - but you know, I'm sure someone out there will give her the glowing review she wants.