Dog Train

I love Sandra Boynton! I give her boardbooks as baby gifts! I am so thrilled she is doing music. I was given a copy of Philadelphia Chickens a few years ago for Christmas and was excited to see she has other albums out as well. This is "childrens" music for grown-ups too! I bought Dog Train for myself--my only child is in her 20's and no grandchildren anticipated(I hope) for many years. And believe me, I can still relate to a song about wanting to have a tantrum!

I am an adult with no children but I love Sandra Boynton's recordings! At first I thought "Dog Train" wasn't quite as good as "Philadelphia Chickens" but after listening to it again (and again!), I have changed my mind. It is so much fun and so creative!

This book and accompanying musical CD appeals to the whole family. We love listening to it in the car. Even my 4 year old niece likes it, though she has a hard time trying to sing the songs.

I like this CD. A friend gave it to me, describing it as (I think) "grown-up music with kid's lyrics." It's not harsh on the ears (which is how I'd describe the Wiggles most of the time) but I don't find it quite as kid-friendly as Laurie Berkner or kids music with more of a folky sound. It's not music my daughter or I can sing along to easily.

Some of the songs stand out more than others. She really liked "Tantrum", "Pots and Pans", and "The Penguin Lament". The only ones we didn't like were "The Boring Song" or "Thus Quacked Zarathustra". She loved the title song and "Cow Planet" which is good since each of them repeats.

There are some artists on this I really like and others I could live without but we definitely like far more of it than we dislike. This is more for parents who'd prefer to listen to their own CDs of these type of artists but find the lyrical content not really child-friendly. It may be a nice change of pace for those who have other CDs for kids and want something a little less saccharine. I don't find the songs to be "edgy" but they're not as bubble-gum as on most kids CDs. I'll definitely check out other Boynton CDs now.

Since it's currently missing here's a song/artist list:

1. Tantrum - Spin Doctors
2. Thus Quacked Zarathustra - The O.K. Chorale
3. Dog Train - Blues Traveler
4. Sneakers - Mark Lanegan
5. Cow Planet - Billy J. Kramer
6. Boring Song - Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme
7. Pots and Pans - The Bacon Brothers with Mickey Hart
8. I Need a Nap - Weird Al Yankovic & Kate Winslet
9. Evermore - Alison Krauss
10. Cow Planet episode 2 - Billy J. Kramer
11. Penguin Lament - John Ondrasik of Five For Fighting
12. (Don't Give Me That) Broccoli - The Phenomenauts
13. Dragonfire - Rob Hyman & Eric Bazilian
14. Cow Planet episode 3 - Billy J. Kramer & Mootopia
15. Wave Bye-Bye - Doshie Luther
16. Rock to Sleep 54 - Hootie & the Blowfish
17. Dog Train Midnight Jam - John Popper & Brendan Hill

This is an excellent package! The CD has wonderful, fun and irreverant songs that my son loves. All songs are performed by musicians/groups including The Spin Doctors, Blues Travellers, The Bacon Brothers...Steve and Edie Gormet, Wierd Al Yankovic and more. The book has typical Boynton illustrations and song lyrics... also, sheet music and info on the various musicians. Definately a good buy.