Album Notes

THIS SUMMER, TAKE A 'WAY OUT' MUSICAL TRIP WITH JUSTIN ROBERTS

The Newest CD from Award-Winning Artist Delivers 12 Smart Rocking Tunes for Families

"a rising star in the world of children's music."
- New York Times

"One of the most outstanding new children's troubadours."
-Disney's Family Fun magazine

"Roberts turns very real childhood experiences-silly and serious - into vibrant tunes and deft lyrics that resonate in adult ears, too."
-Parents' Choice 2003 Gold award review

"Among the best craftsmen of sweet and silly kid tunes out there, making irresistible music out of small, well-observed moments from the lives of children and parents."
-Los Angeles Times

"Justin Roberts' original songs are sure to bring plenty of smiles to the faces of every member of the family."
--DiscoverySchool.com Review Corner Award of Excellence

"Hits all the right magical buttons to charm parents and children alike."
- Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Chicago (Summer 2004) -- Two-time Parents' Choice Gold Award winner Justin provides a fresh perspective on family life and the kinds of things that kids - and their parents-- deal with all the time: getting a shot, making it through photo day, and losing a tooth. Way Out is truly a recording for family listening, with 12 original tunes in musical styles ranging from Afro-pop to country-rock. Way Out will be available on July 20, 2004 from Carpet Square Records.

The sophisticated arrangements and insightful lyrics of Way Out speak to people of all ages. Justin regularly performs and hones his songs with live audiences, so the songs are family-tested and approved. Songs like "Day Camp," "Doctor Doctor" and "Picture Day" offer pure zany fun, but they have a deeper message that derives from the complex issues that kids face as they grow up. The title track "Way Out" appears to be a fantasy romp, but it delves into the wider human issue of wanting something beyond your lot in life. And a few of the tracks provide plenty of room for reflection - like "Best Friend," "Roller in the Coaster" and the quiet "Suppertime" track that ends the recording. Sing-along refrains and an irresistible invitation to dance and move make Way Out an interactive musical experience. Colorful cover art by artist Sarajo Frieden reflects the offbeat and colorful feeling of the songs.

A Chicago based artist making national headlines, Justin Roberts defies categorization. His tunes delight parents and kids alike with snappy-smart lyrics and an upbeat acoustic rock and pop sound. Justin hasn't forgotten what it's like to be a kid. From the woes of moving day to the wacky silliness of imagining a brontosaurus with a sweet tooth, Justin's music appeals to the kid in all of us. "Many of the issues of a 3 year old are not so very different from what a 30 year old deals with," he notes. His tunes will have even the most overstressed parent bopping around to his infectious beats. His career as a children's musician began in the mid-1990s when he was a Montessori preschool teacher and music director, writing original songs related to monthly themes in the school curriculum. The song "Apple Tree" written during this time became one of the highlights of Roberts' first family recording, Great Big Sun. Roberts' second family release Yellow Bus won national acclaim and awards, including Gold Awards from both Parents' Choice and the National Association of Parenting Publications. It also was selected as one of Amazon.com's "Top 10 Children's CDs of 2001." The 2003 release Not Naptime garnered numerous awards and acclaim, including another Parents' Choice Gold Award, a NAPPA Gold Award, an "Award of Excellence" from DiscoverySchool.com, and others. Formerly with the Minneapolis band Pimentos for Gus, Roberts also recorded a solo release for adults called Bright Becomes Blue. Justin now lives in the Chicago area with his wife Chris and dog Udo.