Mommy Knows Best by Jeanie B! and The Jelly Beans

“Colorblind” successfully portrays a variety of ethnic characters in a realistic and respectful fashion, while singing the praises of diversity. “The Tooth Fairy Rap,” and the pointed punk of “Mommy's in Menopause,” are well-placed humorous additions."

Lahri Bond ©2006 Parents' Choice

Parent to Parent Review:

"Our Family Testers found the Mommy Knows Best CD to be a wonderful collection of songs that are fun, educational and inspired by children and their families. The kids are always asking for it to be played. All of the adults are pretty happy with that request. It's especially delightful for preschool children. Great job...we can't wait for her next one!" ~ Jodie Lynn, syndicated parenting/health expert, CEO/founder of www.AddingWisdomAward.com, and author of parenting book, Mom CEO (Chief Everything Officer) - Having, Doing and Surviving It All! (June 2006).

November 2006 School Library Journal Review!

PreS-Gr 3–“This themed CD by Chicago-area band Jeanie B! and the Jelly Beans rocks! The title cut sets the tone by celebrating mothers and motherhood; it’s cheerful, upbeat, and heartfelt. Musical styles lean toward country/swing/two-step/rockabilly, but also include blues (“Red Pants People”), punk rock (“Mommy’s in Menopause”), and rap (“The Tooth Fairy Rap”). Standouts include “The Bootay Dance” (a ’60's inspired rock ’n’ roll number sure to get everyone up and moving), “Hey, Hey, I Can Read!” (a driving country swing proclaiming this milestone achievement), “Colorblind” (a folksy celebration of diversity), and “Clap the Beat” (a funky song with action, set to guitar bridge music). Band leader Jeanne Bonansinga provides strong, often gutsy vocals for the clever lyrics. The backup band is solid, providing a full sound throughout. Great for preschool story times as well as entertainment for the whole family”.–Stephanie Bange, Wilmington-Stroop Branch, Dayton Metro Library, OH

Walkin’ Oliver Review November 2006

“Jeanie B. and the Jelly Beans latest CD, “Mommy Knows Best,” is a wonderful blend of countrified songs featuring the truly beautiful and expressive voice of Jeanie B., as well as the very capable band that backs her.

When I say that these songs are countrified I mean that in the contemporary sense––this is country music in the way Lucinda Williams, for instance, is country music. It’s a mix of styles from traditional country and country swing to blues and pop and even a gentle go at some rap. Never heavy, never crude, though. And always very musical. Not a condescending moment, musically speaking, on this CD––if you didn’t listen to the lyrics you wouldn’t know it was aimed at kids. That’s rule number 1 here at. . . (more)

. . . Walking Oliver and it’s one of the things I really love about this disc. It’s also one of the reasons why both you and your kid(s) will probably love it, too.

The songs are a good mix of up-tempo and slow songs, enough to keep you dancing around through most of it while you sing along, with the occasional mid-tempo number mixed in so you can get a breather. Jeanie brings the mood and the tempo down for the last 4 songs, though and the CD ends on a very sweet and gentle lullabye. Lovely.

Some of the stand-out tracks are the infectious pop of “The World is a Wonderful Place,” the driving drum beat of “The Bootay Dance,” (You gotta skip, jump, stick out your little rump and do the Bootay Dance), and “Colorblind,” which is the best song about love and tolerance I’ve heard since Marla Lewis’s “We All Laugh in the Same Language.”

“Clap the Beats” is a fun way to teach kids some ear training basics about rhythm in music and “Mommy’s in Menopause” might win the prize for one of the most outrageous topics ever tackled in a kid’s song. I’m still not sure how I feel about it but I’m glad I heard it because I’m still laughing.

“She'll have her own personal summers,

rip off all her clothes

It's really quite a bummer that only women know

Never give you warning

Happy, then sad

Don't even try to touch her

Feel sorry for your Dad cause…

CHORUS:

Your Mommy's in menopause

She'll burn like a yuletide log

Get hot flashes all the time

All the sudden she'll be fine

Poor Mommy"

Toward the end of this set is the touching generation-spanning “Mama’s Love:”

“When this world got too large

She taught me to stay in charge

When I felt small she stood me tall

Mama’s love

Chorus:

Mama’s love is like the sun

Like the moon and stars above

There’s one thing I’ll always have

Mama’s love.”

All of the songs here are at least catchy and up to a high professional standard. Some of them I think will stand the test of time (certainly “The World is a Wonderful Place” and “Mama’s Love”) and nearly all of them are sure to delight your kid(s) and be at least a welcome relief to you since you’ll have to hear them over and over again. More than likely you’ll find yourself enjoying it as much as the kids do.

Check out the Jeanie B. and the Jelly Beans website, too, since all the lyrics are posted there and plenty of info on Jeanie and the band and even notes on how she came to write many of the songs. You can buy the CD through their website or click on over to iTunes and download it. No reason to wait. This is good stuff! PKelly; www.WalkinOliver.com

ABOUT THE CD:

Mommy Knows Best is Jeanie B!'s contribution to "help reshape the children's music market by offering songs that are complex in both musicality and meaning, while also making people laugh."

This CD offers a variety of songs and musical genres for grade school children and younger, but also features cuts that older children (as well as hipster parents) will truly dig. "Colorblind," for instance, lays down a Bangles-like power-pop riff about tolerance and peace, and "Mommy's in Menopause" recalls the Ramones and their hard-driving wall of sound while honoring a growing segment of the parenting population. "The World is a Wonderful Place" is reminiscent of R.E.M in their austere, acoustic period, and the anatomically-correct, dentist-approved "Tooth Fairy Rap" creates an unlikely hybrid of surf and hip-hop (surf-hop?) from which kids will certainly learn as much groove! Offering further musical diversity, Jeanie B! collaborates with Chicago blues legend Chainsaw Dupont on "The Red Pants People" and brings home a James Brown funk rhythm on "Clap The Beats".

THE BAND:

JeanieB! and The Jelly Beans

Formed in 2003 in Chicago, and made up of former Americana, rockabilly and folk music veterans (most of them parents themselves), Jeanie B! and The Jelly Beans have been raising the roofs off schools, children's museums, festivals, concert halls and any other venue where kids are found. The secret is the sound.

Combining irresistible rootsy rhythms with sometimes hilarious, sometimes poignant, sometimes educational lyrics, The Jelly Beans rock the ages '" all ages, in fact '" with the most finger-snappin', hand-clappin', toe-tappin' tunes this side of Sun Records.

THE SHOW:

Live shows of Jeanie B! and The Jelly Beans are something to behold: Jeanie B! jams, jokes and cajoles kids on stage to strut their stuff with the band, and even the shyest audience member loses all inhibitions when the bubble machine kicks on! Parents (unknowingly anticipating traditional children’s music), are blown away by the tight-as-a-drum rhythm section of percussionist Teresa Drda and bassist Lisa Crowe, or the soaring pedal steel and guitar solos of axe-man Mark Braun, not to mention the gut-bucket blues harmonica fills of Jeanie's husband, Jay.

For more information, contact:

JeanieB@JeanieBmusic.com

Average Customer Review: