Charity and the JAMband - Party Like a Twinkle Star

Over half the songs on Party Like a Twinkle Star have been previously offered for free download on Charity and The JAMband's website (hey, they're still there...and free!), and now they're part of one of the best kids' music CDs of 2010.

San Francisco-based Charity Kahn has been conducting movement and music classes for children for over a decade, and her music CDs play a big part in her philosophy of Joy and Music for kids and their families. Party Like a Twinkle Star is Charity and The JAMband's fourth album, and one of the very few non-compilation double albums in the kids' music genre.

The tunes on the first CD of Party Like a Twinkle Star, subtitled "10 Songs for Rocking Out," are unmistakeably designed for maximum movement. Songs like "Get Your Booty Out of Bed," "Party," and "Rockstar" refuse to let the listener sit down, using a fusion of rock, New Orleans funk, call-and-reponse, and percussion to command non-stop dancing. Even tunes about "Pancakes," the "Beach," and a cover of "Row Row Row Your Boat" become full-on rockers in the hands of Charity and her band. And "Some More S'mores" begins as an acoustic ode that grows into a crunching wink at Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar On Me." Disc 1 ends with the lighter-hoisting power ballad "We Are Stardust," with lyrics based on Joni Mitchell's song "Woodstock."

The second CD of Party Like a Twinkle Star is subtitled "10 Songs for Tucking In," and begins with the tonal ring of "One Golden Bowl," followed by the layered, a cappella harmonies of "So Long to the Day." The tunes on this second disc can't really be described as lullabies, but more like atmospheric, Daniel Lanois-like ballads. Dig the Neil Young-esque chords of "A Little Night Music" and the waltzing, ethereal "The Reminder." Quiet piano accompanies the ballads "Moon Hug" and "Juggle the Stars," while Charity's takes on old standbys "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and "Rock-A-Bye" are more like Joni Mitchell tunes than lullabies. And all the songs are supported by loads of harmonies.

Great classic rock-inspired music for kids and their families. On Party Like a Twinkle Star, Charity Kahn and The JAMband offer up a combination of energetic rockers and cosmic lyrics to make some of the best kids' music of 2010. Visit the band's website and check out Charity's notes on each song from the album.

Released December 15, 2009; MusiMatics

Disc 1: Party

1. "Get Your Booty Out of Bed"
2. "Pancakes"
3. "Party"
4. "Some More S'mores"
5. "Row Row Row Your Boat"
6. "Beach"
7. "Rockstar"
8. "Amazing Rocket Ship"
9. "Into Space"
10. "We Are Stardust"

Disc 2: Twinkle

1. "One Golden Bowl"
2. "So Long to the Day"
3. "A Little Night Music"
4. "Moon Hug"
5. "Song in Your Heart"
6. "Rock-A-Bye"
7. "The Reminder"
8. "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
9. "Juggle the Stars"
10. "The Bird"