Monty Harper is a singer-songwriter from Stillwater, OK, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at a gathering of The Children's Music Network about twelve years ago.  He impressed me then as a very creative and energetic guy with a knack for clever, melodious songwriting.  This past week I received my copy of Monty's new CD and have been listening to it  while preparing "Judy's Tune Room" radio  show for March.  Bravo Monty!!  It's FANTASTIC!

Judy Pancoast, singer-songwriter
2011 Grammy Nominee

 

Monty's concept was to take current scientific research and knowledge and craft it into clever, creative and memorable songs that would not only educate, but entertain as well.  Sounds like a daunting task to me, but apparently there is a science geek hidden in Monty Harper who has decided to come out to play, and we are better for it!

 

 

 

Monty's songwriting has come so far in the years that I've known him, and he's really reached new heights with this one....and he had to work with some seriously complicated words, terms and concepts. Consider the song "My Molecular Eye,"   with lyrics like "I spin my flagella" and "I am a phototaxic bacterium."  (forgive me if I spelled that wrong Monty).    But with his catchy melodies and clever, creative lyrics he has fashioned an educational CD that will bring a new and fun dimension to any science classroom.   Every elementary school teacher (and even middle and high school teacher)  who ever looked for a way to make the often difficult concepts of science more appealing to students should zip right over to CD Baby and order a copy NOW. In fact, I might just send it in to my daughter's high school Chemistry teacher.   I think she'll love it!  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/montyharper7/from/montyharper 

 

In a really smart move, Monty hired the producer of The Sugar Free Allstars, one of my favorite children's music groups, to produce this CD, and Boom and Dr. Rock from the band helped out as well.  The result is a fresh new sound for Monty that revs up the boogie in his beats.  As I listen I hear traces of  The Beatles, The Monkees, Devo, Queen and more.  It's eminently listenable. 

 

I get a lot of CDs from musicians all over the children's music spectrum, and I would stack this up there among the top three percent. 

 

Monty raised funds to record this project from family, friends and interested bystanders.  

I'm so proud to have done my little part to help finance such a work of musical genius.
                            Read more...
                        

                            
The vast majority of science songs simply deliver textbook facts, and there's nothing wrong with that. "Songs from the Science Frontier," however, is a true rarity: an album by a lay person that really captures what it's like to be a practicing scientist in the 21st century. Monty Harper has apparently spent a lot of time talking to the scientists whose work he portrays here, and his songs include details that go well beyond the generic textbook stuff. The catchy folk/pop melodies make it all very listenable, however. I especially admire "Wind Energy," which has a "There was an old woman who swallowed a fly" song structure, (i.e., A, BA, CBA, DCBA, etc.) that reinforces the key concepts without ever getting boring. Bravo, Monty!
                            Read more...