Review and Giveaway! Go Waggaloo by Sarah Lee Guthrie and Family

So, normally when I write a review of a product, I don't do so until it has been in our lives for at least a few weeks, sometimes a month or even longer. However, with the new CD Go Waggaloo by Sarah Lee Guthrie & Family, my story is a little different because we just got the CD in the mail a couple of days ago, and I didn't even put it into our CD player until yesterday morning! It's only taken three car trips for me to decide that this CD is a must-have for your family. As a folk music fan in general, perhaps I am a little biased, but my experience with Go Waggaloo this morning was so powerful that it has made me decide to make an effort to change how we listen to music in our family. And no, I'm not just being cheesy for the sake of writing a good review.

Today started off on completely the wrong foot. Both children were up WAY too early. Yet still, by 8:30, we were running way behind again, and my patience was shot. I was short with everyone and rushing around and breaking all my newly put in place parenting rules about staying calm. All in all, it was shaping up to be a lousy day. Then, we got in the car. "Take Me to Show-and-Tell "was still playing from yesterday. Both of my kids stopped making any noise. (I'm pretty sure this is when the sun came out, too.) The next thing I know, Nadia and I are singing along as we drive the 4 minutes to her school. By the time we get there, all three of us are smiling, and the rest of our morning and early afternoon together was awesome! Now, I'm not saying that 3 or 4 minutes in the car with a CD were life-changing, but I certainly believe they turned our day around today. I honestly can't think of another CD that we own that would have had the same impact. There's just something magical about the songs on Go Waggaloo. Click on Read more below for the rest of my review.

Musical Genre - Go Waggaloo is folk music in a sense, but it definitely has an updated sound. Somewhere in my research for this review, I read that there was a time when kids listened to the same music as their parents and that they listened to folk music. It's one of the few genres that has almost universal appeal to both adults and children alike. The thing I've noticed about folk music specifically written for kids is that it seems to be of a more timeless nature than other albums that we have, if that makes sense. Sort of like how reading Ramona the Pest to Nadia in the year 2009 felt relevant even though it was written in the '60s. I can imagine Nadia listening to these same songs with her children someday. What's particularly fun about Go Waggaloo, and I'm sure plays a pretty big part in the overall way I feel about this album is that yes, Sarah Lee Guthrie's presence is there, but you can also hear her own daughters and niece singing along in the background. Her husband is there as is her father and a score of other family members. These are people who love music and made an album full of songs that they love and want to share with others. And, I enjoyed reading through the CD jacket as well. The story behind each song is there along with the words. I really, really appreciated that, and it helped me connect with the songs even more. The song "Go Waggaloo" was actually written by Woody Guthrie, Sarah Lee's grandfather, as a brief summary of his life, but had never been recorded. I obviously wouldn't have known this unless the back story was there, and it gives just a little more meaning to the song. And, "Oni's Ponies" became even more interesting when I learned that the chorus was actually recorded on a cell phone on a road trip!

Favorite Song - My favorites are "Don't I Fit in My Daddy's Shoes", "Go Waggaloo", "Take Me to Show-and-Tell", "Bright Clear Day", and "Oni's Ponies". But, in truth, I love this entire album. Nadia loves "Take Me to Show-and-Tell". She ran around the house all afternoon with a pretend spider dangling from a piece of web so that I would say, "Don't bring that spider back to show-and-tell!" And, we were both singing the song together at lunch. Today, Isaac asked me to play"She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain" and "Oh How He Lied" again and again and again. That's a first!

Age - This album is for everyone!

Would I listen to this music without my kids around? - YES! In fact, last night I had the opportunity to go to Target all by myself. Typically when I'm in the car I immediately turn off the music because I just need some quiet time, but last night, I played Go Waggaloo and again, it wasn't just because I knew I was going to be reviewing it. I really do love listening to it. My husband came in last night and said, "What was that album playing in the car. It's pretty cool." I've been running through this review in my mind all day, and don't think I'll ever be able to completely express just how great I think this album is. It's just an album full of fun music that was clearly recored out of love. I feel happy when I listen to it. My kids smile and bounce in their seats, but yet aren't all crazy and wired when we get to our destination. It's just the perfect sing-along family album! I've never before felt so strongly about an album full of music "for my kids." My only complaint? That it's only 13 songs and around 34 short minutes long! Stick one in your kids stocking this year. It will be like a gift for everyone!

Go Waggaloo is available for only $10.99 on Amazon.com with free shipping on orders over $25. Add it to your wishlist now!

Would you like to win a copy of Go Waggaloo by Sarah Lee Guthrie and Family? We have two copies to give away today. To enter, leave us a comment with the album your family is currently really into. I'd love to add some new folk music albums to our collection if you have some suggestions, but anything your family is into right now will work. Your comment will enter you to win one of two copies of Go Waggaloo. All entries must be received by midnight on Monday, November 23rd, 2009. Winners must be 18+ and a resident of the U.S. to win. You can check out the rest of our giveaway rules here.