Reviews for The Big Bang!, a 2007 Los Angeles Music Awards nominated album.
Be honest: don’t you think that there’s no age too young for your son or daughter to start getting their asses kicked by the sheer awesomeness of rock and roll? Then you’re clearly on the same wavelength as Rockosaurus Rex. And they’re performing hard rock versions of classic kiddie tunes like “This Old Man,” “Hush Little Baby,” “John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt,” and “Itsy Bitsy Spider.” It sounds laughable, but Rockosaurus Rex are taking their task seriously, offering some sweet, melodic guitar licks; their version of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” may well replace Wings’ version as the definitive rock take on the song. But if you need a proper testimonial from the demographic at which the album is aimed, here’s one for you: I put on the disc, and as God is my witness, within two seconds of the first track (“Six Little Ducks”) beginning, my daughter was dancing her 18-month-old butt off, doing something between Michael Flatley’s Riverdance and that punk rock perennial known as the pogo. Your kids will enjoy the enthusiasm of the performances, and while you find yourself giggling at the concept once in awhile, you still won’t hesitate to rock out right along with them.
--Will Harris www.bullz-eye.com
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Ridiculously heavy-metal interpretations of children's music standards like "This Old Man" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" prove that loud, in-your-face rock is not extinct. Rockosaurus Rex holds nothing back here - with this explosion of sound, the album title is well-deserved. There are a lot of tracks (21!), so the constant barrage of metal might get tiring after 15 or so songs. Luckily, there are some well-placed, softer interludes to get you through the album.
-- CHARLIE HELLER The New York Post
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HELL YES!!! Tired of hearing toy piano versions of your favorite Toddler Time classics? Prepare your preschoolers to have their faces rocked off by "Wheels On the Bus"; "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes"; and "This Old Man" as performed by our favorite prehistoric metal gods, Rockosaurus Rex!
-- WARREN TRUITT, Head Children’s Librarian at The New York Public Library, from his blog, "Children’s Music that Rocks"
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A few years back, there was a distinct spike in children's music catering to parents who shared the conviction that a baby's CD collection should run away from Raffi and toward The White Stripes. But once the thrill of rejecting the Wiggles wore off, the new breed of kids' rock started to seem less like the music of revolution and more like the cutesy regime it once sought to replace.
No such worries with The Big Bang! For their first release, the hard-grinding head bangers of Rockosaurus Rex wisely stick to covers of public-domain nursery classics, welcome news for anyone weary of tongue-in-cheek lyrics concerning strollers, teddies and naptime. It's kind of amazing how perfectly "This Old Man" translates to arena rock, complete with screeching guitar solo and lead vocals worthy of Beelzebub. Van Halen couldn't hold a candle to the whispery bombast of "All the Pretty Little Horses," but you might seize upon it as the perfect opportunity to school your toddler in how to hold a childproof lighter aloft
--AYUN HALLIDAY "Author of No Touch Monkey!" www.babble.com
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I am pretty surethat at one point in my life I swore that I would never listen to songs like “This Old Man” or “Skip to My Lou” again in my life, but with Rockosaurus Rex, the standards are not so terrible! Actually, they are really good! A dinosaur themed band, fronted by a T-Rex with sunglasses, this band recreates classic kid’s fare from the ground up, with huge guitar riffs and solos, thudding bass lines, and a pounding drum that keeps it all together. Although this album might be too heavy for the littlest of babies, it makes an excellent transition album. The kids will know all the songs, but played in a brand new way! I reccomendation for those who like solid 70’s style rock and roll.
--KINDIE ROCK
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If you looking for a completely different take on Twinkle, Twinkle, This Old Man, Itsy Bitsy Spider and others there is a new CD out called The Big Bang! It's by Rockosaurus Rex. This rock/heavy metal CD hits the spot, getting the balance absolutely right. If you prefer the traditional way they are sung then this is probably not for you. But I liked this version; it gives it a new edge. Twinkle, Twinkle with drums and electric guitar may freak you out at first, it's rough, loud and hard rock. My favourites were Six Little Ducks and the Ants Go Marching. Having spent years working in nursery schools the sound of tape recordings of these songs/rhymes is all too familiar. When children sing them they are always great but it is sometimes fun to experiment and try it in a different way. It is sure to have you singing, dancing and jumping around.
dinosaur dancesThis will be loved by everyone but perhaps not granny, although it does depend how cool your granny is.
--www.childrenswebmagazine.com
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