Album Notes

THE PIXIES MEETS THE CARPENTERS – FOR KIDS??? Here's what people are saying about "Best Friends" by Ellen and Matt: "The surprises never end on this CD, and that's one of the things I love about it. First, it's a lot of fun to hear a kids' album and wonder if it really is a kids' album. The music is so great that, if you didn't listen to the lyrics, you would swear this was some new indie rock CD. Second, every time you think you know what's coming next, you get thrown a curve melodically or composition-wise...The Kennedys' empathetic lyrics about kid concerns like friendship, courage, bicycles, bedtime, dreams, zoos, and, of course, juice boxes, show a great talent for writing from and relating to a child's perspective. Musically, the songs on Best Friends are shaded with light brushstrokes of George Harrison, Sloan, the Sundays, the Byrds, Fleetwood Mac, Smashing Pumpkins, Blondie, the Ramones, and, yes, (even their website admits it) the Carpenters...Great tunes, great production (especially the drums), great debut CD." - Warren Truitt, Children's Music That Rocks www.kidsmusicthatrocks.blogspot.com/2006/09/ellen-and-matt.html *Also ranked #11 in Warren's Top 20 Kids Albums of 2006!: kidsmusicthatrocks.blogspot.com2006_11_01_kidsmusicthatrocks_archive.html "The writing is excellent - lyrically clever and musically complex. Ellen's vocals are deep and throaty, so when Matt joins in with tenor harmonies on songs like "Airplane", the blend is close and tight...Clever writing, a strong band, distinct vocals, tight harmonies....Airplane and Under Construction are both reminiscent of early REM, and made me feel an odd connection to Ellen and Matt - like we had gone to college together or had some other common experience. Overall, the album is kid-friendly, and…it could easily appeal to toddlers and pre-schoolers on up through third or fourth graders. Best Friends is fun for adults, too, and the sounds will resonate especially well with those of us in our 30's or early 40's." - “THE LOVELY MRS. DAVIS TELLS YOU WHAT TO THINK”: A Cool Mom’s Views on Kids’ Media, Pop Culture, and Motherhood www.lovelydavis.blogspot.com "Ellen & Matt’s bright and energetic debut CD of original tunes captures clearly the joys, hopes and dreams of childhood and reinforces just how important it is to have a best friend or two." - John Wood, Kidzmusic.com Kids, grab your parents...parents, grab your kids...come along and become "Best Friends" with Ellen and Matt!