cd review: ranky tanky

as a librarian, one of my favorite current responsibilities is learning about new children’s music to consider adding to the library’s collection.  a handful of albums each year become personal favorites of mine that i’d happily listen to over and over again even if i didn’t have a kid in my house.  the newest addition to that short list is ranky tanky by rani arbo and daisy mayhem.  this is one of those rare albums where i really enjoy listening to (and singing along with) almost every song (sorry, purple people-eater, you are the most frequently skipped track at my house, but i know there are other homes where you are the favorite song on this album!).  there are awesome folky favorites like “if you want to sing out, sing out” and “bushel and a peck,” there are some covers of songs i’d never considered for a children’s album but which fit perfectly (“wildflowers” & “where did you get that hat”) and there’s a few songs that sort of fly under the radar the first few listens but then when you finally pay attention to them they might become your very favorite song on the album (for me that was the song “tinny”).  the whole album is a lovely mix of tempos and aural textures and at least one of these songs is bound to become your new personal favorite.  you can hear samples of all of the songs here at cdbaby and then purchase your favorite songs or the whole album.