Customer Reviews

Rockin in the Forest With Farmer Jason

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Personally I can't stand kids music in general but this (and the first installment) gives me something to play for my nieces and nephews. They really love it and it doesn't grate on adult ears.

Definitely works for ages 2 to 10 and 35-42 (sample size limited by number of relatives who've heard it).

Easily the most enjoyable children's CD I have ever heard, Rockin' In The Forest With Farmer Jason (Jason Ringenberg) will appeal to people of all ages with its mix of stellar music craft, sense of adventure and humor.

Credit for the magic is shared by Ringenberg, with his heartfelt, well-constructed songs and performances, and producer George Bradfute of Tone Chaparral in Nashville, who takes children's music to a whole new level. I've listened to this recording two dozen times and hear something different on each spin; horn flourishes, strings, intricate vocal harmonies etc.

Favorite tracks include the wonderfully raucous Punk Rock Skunk, which will have parents and their kids playfully and gently slam dancing with each other in the living room and the hilarious He's A Moose On The Loose with guest Todd Snider. Snider's deadpan narrative intro is guaranteed to incite a belly laugh from every listener.

Rockin' In The Forest delivers something more profound than simple entertainment, although it does that in spades. It's bridges the musical generational gap between parent and child, allowing parents an opportunity to introduce their children to musical touchstones from their own formative years, like the Ramones, Jason and The Scorchers, REM and many others. One can envision parents dusting off old vinyl copies of Rocket To Russia to show their kids the remarkable range of influences that shaped what is sure to be their favorite musical experience of early child hood.

After conquering both the farm and the forest, listeners will also look forward to visiting the next place Farmer Jason's special musical journey takes them.

Farmer Jason sings about all the different animals in the forest. My favorite animal is the skunk, and I like the song "Punk Rock Skunk" a lot. I also like "Moose on the Loose." I like how Farmer Jason sings-his voice makes me feel like I'm right there in the Forest. I listen to it a lot ! - Josie in Baltimore

Whenever a friend of mine hears news that is startling, she yells, "Oh my God! Soylant Green is people!!" Okay, that's an obscure movie reference, but I thought of her when I first played "A Day at the Farm with Farmer Jason." Listening for the first time, I figured I was listening to just another corny kids disk. Then, somewhere around track three, I suddenly yelled, "Oh my God! Farmer Jason is Jason Ringenberg!!"
Yup, `Jason' from Jason and the Scorchers has invented a new persona for himself, one that is hoping to anoint the ten-and-under set with an appreciation for roots-based Americana. But where exactly is he aiming? Anybody who ever raised a child knows that there's a world of difference between a four year old and an eight year old, and age ten is already out of bounds for kid's stuff. Left with no clear reference point, how am I to judge this? My own kids are in their teens, so their opinions would be worthless in this particular situation. As far as I know, none of my readers are in the second grade, either, so I guess I ought to review these disks from the parent's perspective, which is a trick when the music is squarely intended for the waist-high, single-digit crowd.
When my own kids were three or four or five, I can remember how they latched onto one specific recording. My oldest listened to Disney recordings for hours at a time, and my youngest listened to Thomas the Tank Engine until I thought my head would explode - the poor kid is fourteen, and he's still waiting for my ex-wife to remove the train stencils from his room. If you're a parent, you could do a LOT worse than Farmer Jason's disks. Ringenberg has an intrinsic grasp of Americana, and he utilizes his knowledge to write a few singalong tunes that kids can latch onto. If they stick, then the most important `grown-up' factor is just how bearable this will be for the parents. Will you find yourself singing along, or will you be smashing your head against a baby blue or pink wall?
To my taste, "A Day at the Farm" is a bit more juvenile than "Rockin' in the Forest." Translated, that means that "A Day at the Farm" was considerably more cringe-worthy. The `farm' tunes are much more suited to pre-schoolers, while the `forest' collection is a bit more tongue-in-cheek. It's sort of like comparing Barney to Bugs Bunny, and as a parent who by necessity is repeatedly subjected to this stuff ad infinitum, I'd choose Bugs every time. "Forest" has songs about a chicken, a pony, a dog, a cow, a cat, a hog, a lamb and a tractor. Hoop-de-woo. "Rockin' In the Forest" stretches the concept a bit, though, and even has moments that make me smile; the guest appearance by Todd Snider is a bit of fun, as is the spot where Farmer Jason has to stop the song because his harmonica was in the wrong key. It is stylistically more diverse, too, as the titles "Ode to a Toad" and "Punk Rock Skunk" suggest.
So, what's a young mom or dad to do? If your kids are four or less, suffer through "A Day at the Farm." Otherwise, let "Rockin' in the Forest" do the trick; you may even find yourself `borrowing' it.
"A Day at the Farm with Farmer Jason" B-
"Rockin' in the Forest" B Tom Ryan

This is truly an amazing CD. Unlike most kids' music, the parents will love it too -- the lyrics are cute and charming for all ages. A lot more musicianship is present in this disc (and in "A Day At the Farm with Farmer Jason) than any other kids' CD I've ever heard. There are hilarious guest turns by Todd Snider and Webb Wilder also. And, it's funny -- who can resist "I'm A Punk-Rock Skunk"? My three-year-old daughter loves this disc and "A Day At The Farm," in fact we might as well throw out all other kids' CDs we own.

I gotta be honest and say Farmer Jason is a new friend of mine, so perhaps I'm not the most unbiased reviewer. But I have seen with my own eyes how Farmer Jason, at a concert, focused his full attention on a disabled five-year-old who wanted his autograph, talking gently to her and telling her how pretty her name was while a rabid Jason Ringenberg fan with several Jason & The Scorchers EPs impatiently waited. Jason truly loves kids, and actually respects them -- it's obvious in both his behavior and in his music -- this isn't just a lark for Jason Ringenberg, who is Nashville's own rock-and-roll legend. Do yourself and any young fry in your life a favor -- get this disc!

What a great children's album!! My two year old son LOVES this CD, and asks for songs by name. The songs are great fun, and have good educational value and message. Usually, children's music makes me cringe, but I find myself singing along to Farmer Jason's songs, too. We've been enjoying this CD in the car and at home for a long time now, and I have yet to get sick of it. By the way, Farmer Jason rocks in concert, too!!

"Farmer" Jason Ringenberg's sophomore release continues his winning streak of music for the whole family, from the contagious "Punk Rock Skunk" and its "hey ho, let's go" refrain, to "Arrowhead," one of the finest songs of Ringenberg's storied career. This record bubbles over with wit, heart and the pure, guile-free joy of playing music, singing along, dancing along, and trying to find your wayward moose.

Listen to this disc with your kids and dare them to knock the smile off your face. Heck, turn it up if you're a double-digit, too.

Jason Ringenberg has done it again! 'Farmer
Jason', his alter ego has been entertaining
kids around country with family oriented shows
for some time now and the video and LP here w/
him has been in the works for a while. My fav-
orite here is: 'He's A Moose on the Loose', the
duet with Todd Snider. The former lead frontman
for the terribly underrated Jason & The Scorchers
is back and your kids will love it! Hope you do too.