Customer Reviews

Songs for Dustmites

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The origins of Steve Burns' "Songs for Dustmites" is the stuff of future rock legend, which turned him overnight from the star of kiddie show "Blues Clues" to a respected indie-rock musician. His spacey-rock debut is one of those albums that won't be noticed by critics, but will be appreciated by music-lovers.

It starts off with the elusively melodic "Mighty Little Man," which explodes into a fuzzy bassline and an orchestral display of sound -- and that's only the first few seconds. That sound continues in the even more epic trumpet and cello of "Stick Around," and the waveringly acoustic splendor of "What I Do on Saturday."

Oh wait, what was the story of Burns' sudden reinvention? Simply put, Burns was at a party when someone spun the Flaming Lips masterpiece "The Soft Bulletin." He immediately left, bought the album, and began working on his own music, leaving behind blue dogs and dancing with kitchen utensils. And in a display of good-music karma, he got Flaming Lips' Steven Drozd and Michael Ivins in on the work.

The result is melodic yet fragmented rock music, the sort of larger-than-life stuff that appeals to the grown-ups that have a kid inside them. Burns creates sweeping orchestral epics and weaves them in with bassy rock), and overlays wavering keyboards over acoustic guitar. There's a slightly folksy bent to the songs, as if folk were played on a spaceship.

Burns' gentle croon is pleasant to listen to; he blossoms especially in "Mighty Little Man," where his voice echoes majestically over the orchestral bass. That seems to be in keeping with the theme of the song, about an ordinary man becoming a hero ("Nobody else is stronger than I am/Yesterday I moved a mountain"). That theme continues in songs like "Henry Krinkle's Lament," but in between those Burns bares his soul, sings about angels without wings, and battling gravity.

Forget Blues Clues -- there isn't a trace of goofy juvenility in this album. "Songs for Dustmites" is a solid debut, transforming Steve Burns into a mighty little man. A fun album that hints at possible future greatness.

I had no idea who Steve Burns was, but I am a Flaming Lips fan, and when I read that they were working with this strange fellow from a children's TV show, I got curious. I followed the link to Steve's website, listened to the songs, and decided I had to have this.

The music is expansive, open-hearted and nerdy in a good way, and occasionally reaches liftoff, as on "Mighty Little Man," which deserves all the good stuff said about it. Sure there's a Flaming Lips influence; there's a lot of that going around these days, which is why Dave Fridmann (producer) stays busy. Occasionally, "Songs for Dustmites" sounds like an alternate-universe Flaming Lips, one without the melancholy of Wayne Coyne's overall vision. The beeps and swooshes frame songs that are more upbeat and hopeful than Wayne Coyne's, and Burns' voice is probably a bit easier for some people to handle than Coyne's Neil-Youngish yawp. However, there are also songs that don't sound like the Flaming Lips at all, as in ">1" with its prominent fingerpicked guitar, and the moody neo-folk-space-jazz of "A Reason." And to be fair, the influence of the Beatles and David Bowie (especially early Bowie of the "Space Oddity"/"Hunky Dory" era) is at least as present. (there's also a spot on "Troposphere" where he sounds like a dead ringer for David Cassidy! but don't tell anybody.)

Overall this is a thoroughly charming and intriguing CD, and I can tell already it will reward closer listening. This is the best debut CD I have heard this year. I have a feeling we're going to be hearing more from the newly un-green-shirted Steve Burns.

First of all, yes, this is the guy from Blues Clues. No, he didn't die of a drug overdose. Instead, he got together with members of the Flaming Lips and made this great CD. The first track, "Mighty Little Man," sets the tone for the whole album: it's an innocent, uplifting song about a man who likes to watch TV, then gets super-powers. It has crashing cymbals, booming drums, and a fuzzy bass. If you like the Flaming Lips, you'll like this. As the CD continues, Steve sings some beautiful harmonies with Steven Drozd, plays some laid-back acoustic indie-rock songs, and muses about such things as micro-gears and superstrings. This CD isn't aimed at kids, but Steve's childlike enthusiasm is evident throughout, as lyrics about Spider-man and G.I. Joe abound. Don't be put off by the fact that Steve Burns used to be the host of a popular children's television show; this CD is the real deal.

I have to say I was a little surprised at how great this album is. I mean we all know Steve Burns can sing from watching that certain kids show, but this CD, with help from the Flaming Lips, is probably one of the best I have heard in a long time. Songs for Dustmites is full of ethereal odes to science and love, none as evident as the title track. However, Steve lifts you up on those rainy days with Mighty Little Man and What I Do on Saturday. Then we mellow out for a while with >1 and Troposphere.After a while, we go back up with my personal favorite, Sniveling Mess. I even bought an extra copy for a friend. It's definately an adult album, but my musically inclined 8 year old loves it, as does my husband who is a music snob. I would recommend this to anyone looking for something a little different,whether or not you have children. Steve needs to do more of this!

My 3-year-old daughter has watched "Blue's Clues" for most of her life, and when Steve left the show, she was bereft. But then, through Steve's website, I learned of his CD. Unfortunately for my daughter, it's not a CD of kid songs. Fortunately for the rest of us, it's a fabulous listen for grown-ups! Steve is talented at both the songwriting and the performing, and it doesn't hurt that he has some of the Flaming Lips behind him. He rocks, he is pensive, he makes my fingers tap without my realizing it. Like many professional music critics, I was surprised at how good this CD is. My husband and I now fight over who gets to have it in the car.

This album is many things. It is for those of us who drift off to sleep at night listening to "My Bed", for Flaming Lips fans who want to see what this TV show guy is all about, and for lovers of science and love. It is not for lobsters, however. My favorite songs on the album are "Troposphere" and "A Reason". I wish I could sit and listen to Steve play "A Reason" on his guitar about twelve hundred times, because that is how many times I have listened to it already. ROCK ON STEVE! Rock...on.

This is a very solid alternative rock CD. It mixes some very nice melodies with driving bass lines, pounding drums, and synthesized distortion. While certainly a departure from Steve's Blues Clues days, his good guy affability still comes through (and that's a good thing), making for both a cool and likable CD.

Tracks 1, 2, 5, 9, and 10 are my favorites, but there's not a single dog on the disc (overall, it's pretty solid from top to bottom). If you go to his web site (steveswebpage.com), you can listen to the whole disc, watch two videos (Mighty Little Man is a VERY good video), and get a feel for Steve's quirky sense of humor. It's a great web site.

I would say this is a great debut for Steve Burns, which should silence some of his critics for leaving Blues Clues. Unlike Suzanne Sommers leaving a hit TV show or William Shattner trying to cover popular music, Steve Burns has demonstrated that there is a lot of substance behind his Blues Clues persona, and this should keep him off of any ignominious lists of worst all time career moves.

Steve Burns can write! Steve Burns can sing! It's too bad he's afraid to show you how well.

It's no secret that Steve's been hanging out with the Flaming Lips, and their influence is heavy on "Dustmites." But where the Lips have a knack for using sonic mayhem to enhance their lush melodies and deceptively simple song structures, Steve piles on the sound effects almost at random until they threaten to upstage his music. Steve has a strong voice, but you might not know it from "Dustmites," since it's often buried under layers of effects (The Lips do that mainly to cover for Wayne Coyne's vocal shortcomings - and it's not even necessary for Wayne, either, since he sings from his soul).

And unfortunately, some of Steve's songs just can't stand up to the weight of their productions. ">1" and "A song for Dustmites" are nice songs that probably sound great on the piano or guitar, but the arrangements drain them of all their personality. Similarly, the Beck-like approach can't save "What I do on Saturday," a midtempo offering that goes nowhere.

But sometimes everything clicks, and you start to accept Steve as a major player. "Mighty Little Man" is indeed mighty and anthemic - play it in your car and play it loud, my friends. And blast "Troposphere," which may be derivative but soars like a true original. "A Sniveling Mess" feels like the coolest song in 1989. And...well, discover the other moments for yourself. Buy the album, listen to it, then just think how great he'll be when he no longer hides his music and voice behind electronic gimmicks and overdubs.

THANK GOD THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE LIKE STEVE WRITING SONGS FOR PEOPLE IN THEIR LATE 20'S AND 30'S TO LISTEN TO. I am so sick of buying a catchy CD, only to have it whine on about teenage angst or superficial prattlings. The other extreme is to find something mature that puts one to sleep. This album balances "catchiness" and maturity. Steve's work is inspiring in two ways. 1) He's shown that he has GROWN AS A PERSON and successfully moved beyond an admirable time with Blues Clues (not something most musicians from 10 years ago aspire to as they go onto their third decade of being teenagers). 2) The songs are really cool without being annoying. Why AMAZON doesn't let people listen to this one I don't know. There are 3 or 4 up tempo songs and the rest are more melow. Give it a try.

Not many people can imagine the same strange guy who pranced around on Blue's Clues making, what Burns claims to be, a rock album. I admit I was dismissive when I first read the article in Newsweek about his endeavour. Yet when I saw on his webpage the aid of Steve's friends The Flaming Lips on his album, I was intrigued. After a quick listen to the first track, I was hooked on the soaring, powerful melody. Steve Burns has proved himself to be a versatile performer in being able to entertain pre-schoolers and effectively create an album that buyers of Radiohead's newest release are picking up. Mighty Little Man, with its inspiring anthem theme, kicks off the album and sucks the listener in. After a few songs of varying grooves, Burns brings it way down with a breathy number, Stick Around. Listeners of Beck's Sea Change and Sigur Ros will like this melody filled with orchestral swells and a rambling melancholy trumpet line. Burns picks up the pace again with the fun cut Super Strings and ends the album with the doleful Henry Krinkles Lament. Although it may not be the volume-cranked-to-11 rock that Steve seems to indicate it would be, this mellow album is a gem. Check out for a taste of his weirdness and a listen to the ablum itself. By far one of the best of 2003.