Coal Train Railroad

Coal Train Railroad | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: December 25, 2009
• Label: All Aboard Music
• Copyright: 2009 All Aboard Music
• Total Length: 23:15
• Genres:
• ASIN: B002VFCCGM
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #140,507 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take a ride on the Coal Train, January 2, 2010

By 

David E. Grosser - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Coal Train Railroad (MP3 Download)

This CD definitely fits into the category of "music your kids will love and you'll enjoy too." It's a lot of fun, and my 1.5 year old is already asking for "Coal train! Coal Train! Coal Train!" after just a couple spins.

Musically, the main stream the album seems to be wading in is straight ahead small combo style jazz, ala the first Miles Davis quintet, but it playfully explores other tributaries from the history of the genre, using older and newer styles of jazz to broaden it, keep melody central, and keep it accessible. The band is playful, competent, tight and fun. The songs cook, swing, simmer, jam and jump. Jazz enthusiasts will smile at the syncopation, creative melodies and hooks, and various homages throughout the disc, while everyone else will tap their feet, dance, and/or sing along.

Beyond the band, what really makes the Coal Train are the lyrics and vocal performance by the singer. She's great--got loads of soul and a sense of wild fun in her delivery that brings the songs to life. The lyrics are as fun as the music, about various kid experiences like snuggling, napping, and drinking juice. They take a "kid's view of the world" approach to those experiences without condescending. For example, the bluesy "It's Hard to Listen" doesn't offer any closure to this common childhood dilemma--just like a more "adult" blues song wouldn't resolve its dilemmas. The standout track for me, and I think for most people, is "My Mouth and Me", a song that celebrates the fun of making noise while also introducing the concepts of improvization and the sounds of the band. But seriously, the whole disc is fun, so it's hard to name a standout. The lyrics are clever and will ring true, and the delivery of said lyrics only adds to the fun and the "truthfulness" of the experiences the lyrics describe.

Age-wise, the lyrics target audience is toddlers and their parents. Since the songs don't condescend and the music is interesting and fun, though, those toddlers who grew up with it will probably return to it as they're older. That is, despite the specifics of some of the songs (throwing tantrums when you don't get a nap, being required to hold someone's hand or put down a fragile object), the themes are pretty universal (who doesn't love snuggling in clothes fresh out of the dryer?), and older kids will still identify with the experiences even if the songs aren't "for them" anymore. This is baby music that isn't babyish.

Point of comparisons: This album belongs on the shelf with Let's Go Everywhere (Dig), in that it's creative, jazzy, and intelligent music for kids and their parents, with lyrics from the child's perspective. They both have their strengths over the other and I recommend both. But if I had to pick a favorite, I'd pick Coal Train. Simply put, lyrically, this just comes by its "kid perspective" more naturally. It's like it's trying less hard to be relevant and just is more relevant. The album is shorter, but the benefit is that musically it is less self-indulgent. It delivers tight, fun, accessible but no less interesting songs. The album doesn't have the burden of "we're an established band, we have to make it sound like MMW" so it can just cut to the chase and bring the tight, fun songs. (The MMW album wins in the following categories, though: It's MMW, it has songs about pirates, and the title track is awesome.)

Hope that helps. My family loves it, hope you do too. Please buy it. Maybe they'll make more.

5.0 out of 5 stars So catchy you'll be humming it to yourself!, October 13, 2010

By 

Erin Mcdonnell (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Coal Train Railroad (MP3 Download)

This music is infectiously catchy, the sort of thing that has me singing it to myself even when I'm at work away from my toddler. Just thinking about this review has some of the refrains rolling through my head: "Its hard, its hard to listen, its hard, its hard to obey, its hard, its hard to listen, when I really wanna do it my way" or "Can I borrow your toes? mine are nearly froooooooze, snuggling suits me just fine!" or "just gimme that juice jack! I really gotta have it, pear peach or strawberry don't matter to me."

Has nice learning value in that it exposes kids to a canonical music genre--jazz--through fun songs that engage issues toddlers and young children are concerned about: sharing, snuggling, juice, or listening, just to name a few.

I love this CD without reservations, though it is possible that some people might object to some of the implicit messages in the lyrics. For example, we don't give our son any juice, so part of me wishes that there were not a song that seems to exalt the glories of fruit juice, even though it is likely an experience many toddlers identify with and which shows attention to the world view, expressions and perspective of an average toddler.

4.0 out of 5 stars Cool little CD, September 30, 2010

By 

Momuv2 (Atlanta) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Coal Train Railroad (Audio CD)

This is a cool CD that introduces your child to jazz and instruments. Most of the upbeat songs are in the beginning of the CD. My daughter loves copying the uniques sounds made in the songs.