Customer Reviews

Field Trip

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a Seattle-based parent, our family has been fortunate enough to see/hear Recess Monkey numerous times Live in the Seattle area. If you have not heard them, I like to describe the music "Adult Music with Kids Lyrics". Their music is definitely more adult-friendly than traditional "kids" music.

We own all of Recess Monkey's CDs. However, Field Trip is our family's favorite. It can be listened to from end-to-end without skipping tracks, the last CD I that I could say this about was "40oz. to Freedom" by Sublime. Field Trip is similar, in that every song is great and has a different feel to it.

I don't write reviews very often, but found myself inspired to do so after this morning, when I found myself in the car: rocking out to this CD, singing loudly, and tapping the steering wheel - WITHOUT my kids in the car!!

If you like Recess Monkey, also checkout other Seattle kid's bands: The Not-Its! and Caspar Babypants

The Seattle-based band 'Recess Monkey' is comprised of three elementary school teachers and "Field Trip" is their fifth CD music release consisting of musical numbers performed live in front of a children's audience as part of a Valentine's Day 2008 Seattle show. The individual and original pieces comprises this expertly recorded CD include Fort; Marshmallow Farm; Sack Lunch; Knocktopus; haven't Got a Pet yet; New Shoes; Hot Chocolate; Ice Pack; tiny Telephone; L.I.C.E.; The Teens; Secret Agent Watch; Bubble Factory; Centipede Pirate; and concludes with Firefly Lullaby. A toe-tapping treat for young listeners, "Field Trip" will be enthusiastically received by the band's legions of fans and serve as an excellent introduction for those new to them. "Field Trip" is very highly recommended for family, school, and community library CD music collections for kids.

We have been fans of Recess Monkey since their first album (Rainbow Road) and we own all their CDs. While we enjoy all their albums, this is hands-down their best album yet. The lyrics are clever and engaging--both for children and adults. The songs are catchy and upbeat (and some, such as Firefly Lullaby, are simply beautiful). To make this album, Recess Monkey included a live audience of children, the Northwest Boys Choir, and even John Vanderslice. While it is officially children's music, it is sophisticated enough to appeal to adults. My husband and I catch each other humming or singing the songs often.

My two- and nearly-four-year-old daughters LOVE this album. We listen to it all the time, but I have yet to come close to tiring of the songs. I love hearing my two-year-old sing along to "Fort".

Check out the videos for Marshmallow Farm, Haven't Got a Pet Yet, and Hot Chocolate on Recess Monkey's website.

I picked this based on reviews and a little faith - and it doesn't disappoint. Give it a chance if you haven't heard these guys. Great lyrics and fun tunes.

Recess Monkey is a very fun kid band that parents enjoy listening to as well. We live in Seattle and have seen them live several times which is such a treat. To me, they are like the Beatles with kid lyrics. Fun music, fun group, great cd. Family friends of ours are groupies and they really love Tabby Road and they have all their cd's. We love this one and will be purchasing Tabby Road as well.

We just bought this album - our first by Recess Monkey. The band, for those perhaps unfamiliar, is a fabulous group of three super-talented Seattle elementary school teachers.

Before buying this, we had ample time to review most of the songs on the album before deciding it was 'for us.' Recess Monkey has a great collection of videos for most of the songs on the album at their site - or you can search for them on their YouTube channel. It's definitely worth the time and effort. The best videos - and some of the best songs - are 'Sack Lunch', 'Haven't Got a Pet Yet', & 'Fort'. In my opinion.

But really, all the songs on the album are great, with the possible exceptions of Secret Agent Watch & Centipede Pirate. But these may yet grow on us.

So what is it that makes Recess Monkey different than other kids' music? Primarily, it's that the music is good. It's well-arranged, it's catchy, it's utterly happy and carefree, and totally silly, without being obnoxious. The band has a sort of Beatles-esque style, with a lot of other stuff mixed in - Devo comes to mind, but there are other stylistic quirks I can't quite put my finger on. It's definitely pop-rock, which in not exactly my favorite genre, but it seems to almost transcend that blase' genre because of the ingeniously child-centric lyrics.

The songs range in topic from building forts, to missing home, to being the only kid who 'hasn't got a pet yet' to magical trips to imaginary lands, to seeing these things which we as adults have come to view as mundane - through a child's eyes - cold weather and hot chocolate, buying a new pair of shoes (and the sorta sadness of saying goodbye to the old pair), cheesy knock-knock jokes and playground boo-boos.

We have a amassed a relatively large collection of 'alternative' children's music. From old folksy stuff like Sam Hinton, to the off-the-wall Asylum Street Spanker's kid's album "Mommy Says No!" and it's all been relatively well-liked by us and the children alike, but most of it is stuff I can't listen to all the time. All except the mellow tunes of Elizabeth Mitchell - and now, Recess Monkey.

While I had my reservations that something so busy and upbeat could be music I could tolerate even in the midst of a crazy hectic day, there's something about it their music that actually *improves* my mood.


Oh, and I guess I should have mentioned that my kids LOVE this album too. Because I totally didn't buy this album for myself! No way! That would be indulgent and selfish of me! It's for the kids!

Uhm... anyway, in all seriousness my kids hijacked this CD the minute it came in the mail (I'd shown them a couple of the videos beforehand) and it hasn't left the CD player since it arrived. It only took a couple of days for my two and four year old to memorize most of the words to 'Haven't Got a Pet Yet' (their favorite song) and they dance wildly about their room singing along with huge enthusiasm. They're also fond of 'Marshmallow Farm' and 'Hot Chocolate.'

But don't take my word for it. Go have a look-see at their videos. Listen to their songs a couple of times. I tell you, they get stuck in your head, and you'll find yourself packing the kids' lunch for preschool with 'Sack Lunch' playing in your head and suddenly realize you actually *want* to hear the song again.

Big thanks to Recess Monkey for making music for kids that is *actually* music!

Just an all around great CD to listen to at home or in the car. Unlike most kids music that can get under your skin after the 4th go around this one is great over and over again!

We love love love the silly and up-beat music of The Recess Monkeys.
It's so nice to listen to kids music that adults love too and doesn't make us want to rip
out our hair.
Also makes car trips go sooo much faster.
Keep making that music.
We also love the fact that the Recess Monkeys are teachers in the Seattle School District.
Awesome!