My kids like to ask a lot of questions, both hypothetical and practical. Like “How did that tree get there?” Or “What does ‘trustworthy’ mean?” And “What if there was a pizza as big as our house?”
Luckily, the new album When the World Was New from Dean Jones speaks to their inquisitive side. And has given us even more questions to ponder.
The solo album from Dean Jones of the band Dog on Fleas gets released May 14th. Or drops. Because I’m down with music lingo like that.
Dean Jones is responsible for one of my favorite tracks off the Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti album, “Little by Little”. And he produced the Grammy award-winning album Can You Canoe? by the Okee Dokee Brothers. His latest album exudes a unique combination of funk, quirk, and originality that takes some getting used to, but provides a depth that is rarely found in children’s music.
I’m not going to lie to you, at first listen, it’s an odd yet delightful album. The variety of instruments and sound scapes on each track increases the chances of any listener finding something on this album they will click with.
What I like most is that Dean Jones’ songs have a sneaky educational spin, serving up vocabulary and concepts your child may not be accustomed to but can open a door to further discussions about things like the food chain, First Man, and prehensile grips.
Remember getting letters and how exciting it was? Even now, my husband eagerly awaits the mail truck every day. In the age of instant technological communication, the lost art form of letter writing gets a shout out in “Snail Mail.” With it’s funky beat, this tune invites kids to write a letter and send it via the good ole USPS.
Another standout on this album is “Human Bean.” The song expounds a variety of animals that started out looking like a bean, which probably has to be one of the more popular in-utero nicknames around. The nice play on the similar sounding Human Bean vs. Human Being is a great touch.
“A Sparrow’s Soul.” poses questions for your child to consider, like “Does a caterpillar have a heart?” And the title track, “When the World Was New” explores what it must have been like for man at the dawn of time.
“Peace in the Valley” breezes in with a lounge-music quality that makes me feel like I should be drinking a virgin martini while wearing a macrame dress. But the vision is simple – a peaceful future where humanity will be free of anger, greed and power plays.
But perhaps my favorite song on the album is “Stand with Me”, sung with Marianne Tasick. It encourages kids to help the lonely or scared kids that stand alone. I absolutely love the message behind this song. If we can all just stick together, help out and lend a hand, we could end things like hate, ignorance or bullying.
Dean Jones’ When the World Was New is a refreshing presence is children’s music. If you’re looking for fun, thought-provoking tunes for the whole family, look no further. Be prepared to explore the answers to some interesting questions. And while you’re at it, would you mind telling me how sump pumps work?
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