I was provided with a copy of this album to facilitate my review.  As always, all opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Captivating Music

I typically prefer to play Christian music for my little ones, integrating our faith into every part of especially at bedtime.  That faith is notably absent from most of this album, Watching the Nighttime Come, (especially the opening track), but the songs are undeniably captivating, and I love it anyway.

It’s a little hard to categorize or describe.  It’s artsy-quirky.  But it’s artsy-quirky in a folksy way.  It has the feel of songs sung around a campfire — right down to the mix of silly and serious.

The Tracks

The album opens with Where Did You Come From.  I’m not sure whether the original intent was a sort of universalist, reincarnation-type thing, or merely playful and silly (the lyrics ask if the little one was the waves of the ocean, a seed in the ground, etc.); which one you “hear” it as will likely make the difference as far as whether you’re comfortable with this track.  It has a wonderfully lilting melody.  This one is perfect for singing while rocking a baby.

Track 2, You Got Love, is the other track where faith is most notably absent, as the little one is reminded of all those around her who love her — and God is not included.  That obviously doesn’t negate the message of the love of friends and family, but we might have to write another verse at our house.

The remaining tracks on the album are of subject matter that’s simply different enough that they don’t come across as lacking anything in this sense.

Watching the Nighttime Come is one of my favorites. It describes nightfall out in the yard.  I can almost picture a sticky-warm summer evening, just listening to the lyrics.

This is followed by Leather Winged Bat.  I must confess I was a bit surprised to hear “I once loved a handsome wench” on a kids’ album.  This one is an old folk song, though, and that’s part of the original lyric (also part of the rhyme scheme, so not readily replaced).  If your kids are old enough to ask about this word, it could be a good time to head to the dictionary and talk about the evolution of language, as it technically has a broader application than what we usually hear.

Jessie’s Waltz  is next.  Featuring Suz Slezak’s signature violin, this instrumental is another of my favorites.  Violin.  Waltz.  ’nuff said. 🙂

Tallis Canon is a prayer — and, indeed, the kind you’d sing around the campfire.  It slides into a round partway through.

Caballito Blanco is a Mexican lullaby.  “Caballito blanco” means “white horse,” and I think it’s about a hobbyhorse.  (As I don’t know much Spanish, I’m not 100% sure it doesn’t describe an actual horse.)  This is a fun addition, introducing the sounds of the Spanish language to young ones.

The Quietest Star is another instrumental favorite, this one featuring piano.  It’s very soothing.  (This is the one that would put me to sleep!)

Yodel Lullaby has a twangy “cowboy” feel to the music.  (No unpleasant twang to the vocals, though, just Suz’s pleasant voice.)  It’s not likely you can listen to this one and not sway back and forth.

Finally, the album closes with Leonard Cohen’s, Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye.  Slezak puts it this way: “It’s more of a love song than a lullaby, but it’s last on the album, so maybe it’s for the parents after the kids have fallen asleep.”

My Only Complaint

I would say my only complaint is that the up-tempo songs are mixed in with the slower ones, rather than the track list gradually decreasing — given that this is a lullaby album — but even the up-tempo songs still manage to be soothing.  (Watching the Nighttime Come is probably the “peppiest” song on the album, and I’d have no concern that it would make my children’s eyes pop back open.)

So, really, my only complaint is that the lyrics aren’t included anywhere in the packaging.  That makes it a little harder to learn them — especially for Caballito Blanco, when the Spanish words are unfamiliar already.  With that as my biggest complaint, I’d say this is a home run.

Get It

The album officially releases today, although Amazon for some reason has the physical CD at an oddly high price (and well above the suggested retail of $15).  I’m not sure what’s up with that.  The mp3 version of the album is more typical pricing.  Or you can get it straight from David Wax Museum (David Wax Museum being the duo that is Suz Slezak and her husband, David Wax.)