Most new parents are a bit lost when faced with the dilemma of weeding out the good children’s music from the bad. For musician couples, like singer/songwriter Laura Viers and her producer/husband
Tucker Martine, the solution is simple; make your own. On the appropriately titled
Tumble Bee: Laura Veirs Sings Folk Songs for Children, Viers and
Martine, along with special guests
Béla Fleck,
Basia Bulat,
Colin Meloy (
Decemberists), and
Jim James (
My Morning Jacket), explore some of the genre’s oldest tunes, including work songs (“Jump Down Spin Around”), Civil War tunes (“Soldier’s Joy”), and even a calypso (“Jamaica Farewell”). Each cut is tastefully arranged and never cloying (kudos for allowing “All the Pretty Little Horses” to retain its subtle darkness), and Viers' simple, honest delivery helps to keep the mood fun, yet stable and sweet, without the inevitable sugar rush. ~ James Christopher Monger