 | Family Music PartyTrout Fishing in AmericaTRT-13
1998 Trout Records
A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange |
| Family Music PartyTrout Fishing in AmericaTRT-13
1998 Trout Records
A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange |
They're original, they're fun, and they're 6' 9" and 5' 5 1/2." They're Ezra Idlet, electric and acoustic guitars and vocals - the tall one - and Keith Grimwood, electric bass, string bass and vocals. Together they form Trout Fishing in America, and they'll make you laugh, sing, and maybe even cry.
Family Music Party, the recording of Trout's 1997 PBS television concert debut, is the dynamic duo's eighth album. It differs from the seven other albums they've released only in that it's live and they've got a drummer, Wayne Killius, a keyboardist, Fred Bogert - who also was musical director - and Milo Deering on pedal steel guitar, mandolin, fiddle and electric guitar. The sound quality suffers a bit from less-than top-notch production, and there's no new material on this album. But it's still Trout, and if you've ever seen a live show, you'll be able to re-live the fun they bring to the stage. Another plus: The kids won't have a hard time imagining they're right there with the rest of the audience, having a grand old time with these two geniuses of folk-rock-kiddie-music.
Although most of these songs are children's tunes, Trout's always clever enough with their lyrics to keep grownups entertained, too - a definite plus if junior wants to listen to the album ten times a day for the next 10 months.
And, like rare folk acts before them - Peter, Paul & Mary come to mind - Trout's children's music is artful, well-arranged and well-written. What would you rather listen to, the tender Count on Me backed with steel guitar, keyboards, rhythm guitar and drums, or some woman singing Farmer in the Dell a cappella in a nasal falsetto? The clever, tongue-in-cheek humor of Mine backed with tango-style violin, or the theme from Barney?"
Family Music Party is a delightful romp with two overgrown - no offense to Grimwood - but exceptionally talented kids. The music world is that much the richer for the two of them, and children will be that much happier.
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Edited by David N. Pyles
(dnpyles@acousticmusic.com)
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