Customer Reviews

Sea Music

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The only Zanes CD at the local store was his Sea Music CD. I picked it up, thinking it would be something in the vein of his song "Wonderwheel", which I know and love. Well, this CD is not at all what I thought it would be. It's not even kids' music, strictly speaking. But it is something really compelling.

For the past few years I've enjoyed reading tales of maritime exploration and adventure. I am fascintated by the maritime heritage of New England. Well, Sea Music is a compilation of authentic sea shanties, the folk music of maritime culture.

It's a compelling glimpse into the life of the sailor. There are songs of mermaids, storms, drunkenness, and women, and yearning for home on old New England. This is great stuff.

More than that, these songs are eminently singable. Zanes has made it his crusade to re-introduce communal singing into the modern world, and it's a compelling vision. I didn't grow up with much enthusiasm for music, whether singing, playing or listening, but somehow this idea speaks to me. I can imagine singing these songs with my kids at a campfire, or even in the car en route to grandma's house. This is great stuff indeed.

This has become a favorite CD around the home -- the kids love it as do the parents. Zanes is a great musician, playing old sea songs the way they should be played -- with heart.

In Sea Songs DZ sucessfully captures the powerful dynamics and mysticism of traditional maritime music. A lot of these songs are slower, and softer; my daughter loves to listen to this album when she goes down for a nap. As DZ noted at his website, he originally recorded these "Sea Songs" for friends and family because he just loves maritime music. You can definitely sense his passion for the genre on "Sea Songs". Just an outright beautiful album.

As others have noted about Zanes' music, it's "Family Music", not strictly "kids music". My daughter fell in love with DZ's music via Noggin when she was 15 months old; we've purchased every DZ album because we enjoy them as much as she does!

This is a truly amazing CD. Kids love it, parents love it. Interesting both lyrically and musically-- try saying that about most kids' music.

I LOVE THIS CD! I bought it for my kids at Christmas this past year and we haven't taken it out of the CD player in the van since. Buy this CD if you are looking for something for your kids, mine are 4,2 and 1. It's perfect for boys and girls. I promise you that you won't be sorry. I can't stand kid music - most of it makes me want to scratch my eyes out. This one is easy on the ears, and best of all, the kids love it. There's even a great version of Shenandoah that's better than any other rendition of this classic song that I've ever heard before. My kids love Sloop John B, as a matter of fact, the kids know most of these songs by heart. Which is great - except for the morally questionable "All for Me Grog", which is what it is...actually a catchy tune. All the other songs are perfectly appropriate for kids of all ages. Every single song on this album is great. It's hard to find CD's in the kid world like this one. I hope I can find something else like it!!

My personal favorite of DZ's "kids" records.

This one *is* great for sing-alongs with the kids, but is a fine old timey record of sea songs that can be enjoyed by anyone. Loose-limbed versions of "Shenendoah", "Sloop John B" and "Cape Cod Girls" are fine and fun.

"Strike The Bell", "Blow Ye Winds", "Leaving of Liverpool" and others are fun sing-alongs as well as good history lessons. My 3.5 year-old and I enjoy this record equally.

It's particularly nice that Zanes' website has the lyrics AND chords -- really helps extend the listening and playing pleasure. I also appreciate that DZ doesn't dumb down the music for kids at all -- you get a real feel of the folk tradition of handmade music here.

I played this CD in the car while taking my great granddaughter (8 mos) to work yesterday. The songs were so irresitable I found myself singing along, even with chanties I'd not heard before. Then, from the back seat, I heard loud cooing and chortling noises in a little voice. Morgan was singing along too. Guess this CD is a hit with everyone.

You ever have one of those fantasies where you could spend an afternoon with a version of yourself that was 20 years older? That older you would not only warn you off certain jobs, certain people, and certain books, but draw your attention to certain things: "You will read many books," he'd say, "listen to many CD's, watch many movies. But only a few of them will really be your favorites. Let me show you them."

Boy, that'd be great. You'd save so much time and money. As it is, of course, there is no future you. So you have to wade through tons of crud in hopes of finding the rare diamond.

Anyhow. I wish I could have clued my younger self in to this CD, "Sea Music," by Dan Zanes. It immediately became one of my favorites. I've listened to it over and over again and never gotten sick of it. If that older me had been able to explain how much enjoyment this CD was to bring me, he would have demanded I acquire it at any cost, even paying hundreds for it if necessary.

Zanes' other CDs -- at least since he started singing for children -- are also great stuff. But this particular one is in a league of its own.

Great, catchy songs that all our family loves after having the disc for just a few weeks. 47-year-old dad, 41-year-old mom, and 2- and 5-year-old boys all enjoy singing along. The music has an inviting, traditional feel with a good bit of accordion and banjo sounds along with the guitar.

This is the perfect sing-a-long album. After two weeks of owning this album everyone in my family - including my 4 year old daughter - knows all the words to all the songs. My children sing "All for Me Grog" with a gusto worthy of pirates. I listen to it even when the children are not with me because songs are both beautiful and accessible to all. I am happy that Dan Zanes is working hard to introduce such wonderful traditional music to young families.