Album Notes

‘Family Tree,’ according to music critic Bill Childs, “is going to be a top-of-the-list record … The music is probably best described as indie folk, with the focus on Frances\' gentle, playful, and expressive voice. The lyrics somehow strike a remarkable balance between simplicity and sophistication…. I don’t think I’ll hear a better record this year.”


Here\'s what the critics have said about Frances England\'s music:

Sole Winner 2007 Oppenheim Platinum Music Award: Once in a while a new and distinctive voice arrives with songs that are bright and clever and totally on the mark for young listeners. This is one of those! England’s indie-rock style will pass the car test…A keeper!

Fids and Kamily Music Award Frances England\'s debut album was voted among the best kids and family albums of the year in the 2006 Fids & Kamily Poll (placing right after Grammy-winner Dan Zanes). The poll, modeled on the Village Voice’s Pazz & Jop Poll, is a compilation of year-end kids and family music \"best of\" lists from critics, writers, radio programmers, and others involved in the music industry.

COOKIE MAGAZINE If some genius concert promoter ever puts together a Lilith Fair for 5-year-olds, Frances England should be the headline act. The singer-songwriter brings a little bit of Sarah McLachlan and a little bit of Nora Jones, yet manages to create a sound that is distinctly her own.

School Library Journal: Calling to mind such performers as Sarah McLachlan, Ani DeFranco, and Neko Case, England is the indie/alt rocker for the preschool set. While the songs’ lyrics address subjects that toddlers can relate to, they also draw on experiences and moments that every mother will recognize. A must for every collection.

Los Angeles Times: Children\'s music is a burgeoning field, but stand-out artists like Dan Zanes or Jessica Harper don\'t come along every day. This gorgeous, alt-rock/roots music first album puts singer/songwriter/guitarist Frances England squarely in that top tier. England\'s delicately layered vocals -- Lisa Loeb and Aimee Mann come to mind -- are a perfect match for her captivating spin on a child\'s world.

Cool Tunes For Kids: These songs.. are a perfect example of what Leonard Bernstein once described as the definition of great art - \"fresh, but inevitable\" ....they have that same kind of simple yet elegant brilliance and they become timeless the first time you hear them.