Reviewed by Paul Austin Kelly

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!