"This Sunny, Charming Disc Is A Fun Listen..."
author: Joseph F Hutchinson
CD Review: This sunny, charming disc is a fun listen, and it is dedicated to a cause close to my heart. The Conductors play punchy, ‘70s-style folk-rock to bring awareness to Autism Spectrum Disorders and the advocacy group Autism Speaks.
Navigating the Spectrum is family music of the best kind – catchy and breezy songs that send positive messages for kids, and the grown-ups will find themselves bopping along too. “Great Freight Train” chugs along like a good ol’ Steve Miller-style rocker; “Twelve (Kisses For My Baby)” and “Won’t You Be My Friend?” groove like the great Scooby Doo theme song.
“My Backyard” is a fun, loping tune filled with vivid lyrical imagery – it boasts fine harmonies and a couple of nifty musical twists, too. I dig the off-kilter chord changes in “Twelve” as well. This is in no way dumbed-down kids’ music.
The old favorite “I’ve Been Working On the Railroad” is rockabilly/power pop fresh, and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” is joyfully remade as a propulsive, hand-clapping number.
“Hush-A-Bye Darling” is a simple and beautiful, fitting conclusion – just acoustic strumming and Joe Hutchinson’s warm, rich, just-a-touch-raspy voice. Hutchinson also wrote or co-wrote all the original songs on the set.
There’s no way to get bored with these nine short and snappy cuts. The Conductors have created a wonderfully rocking family listen - I can think of may uses for it with my six-year-old (car rides and clean-up time, to name a couple), and here I am digging it by myself.
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The Conductors
author: Porter Family
We saw them perform and the kids immediately started to sing along. Now this CD is our family's choice for drives everywhere. Our favorites include "Twelve" "It's fun to be a kid" and "Great Freight Train" Whoo whoo, the Conductors are cool!
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