Home by Tim Kubert is a picture perfect (kindie) treat

The brilliance of the Muppets was that despite the fact that it was packaged and written for children it entertained adults as much, if not more. That is what really great children’s entertainment does.  Phineas & Ferb does it that way too. Home by Tim Kubert is the kindie equivalent to them.  It’s packed with great (kindie) music that can legitimately entertain kids and adults without dumbing down the content or demoing it up unnecessarily.

Tim Kubert hosts The Sunny Side Up Show on Sprout Channel. It’s designed for preschoolers, has live music, sketches and shows with Chicka the Chicken. He was also the house bass player for seasons 7-9 of America’s Got Talent. From the first songs into Home it’s obvious that he’s got talent too and the songs keep up their quality throughout the release.

The content in the songs are all things that anyone over 3 will experience. Backyard Swinging manages to take the simple act of swinging in the back yard and channel daydreams about being in a spaceship, plane or being a superhero. It does that with the lyrics and the music is toe-tapping jangle pop that makes for great music, regardless of how it’s classified.

Rooms tells about what a child’s favorite room in the house is. They tell you about why the rest of the rooms are cool, but then explain the act of the child showing their room to the babysitter. It’s a lyrically funny song that brings adults back to the time when their room was magical instead of functional and it does so with horns, guitars, a little funk, harmonies and happiness.

OK, you don’t really have an instrument that is ‘happy’, but that’s what Home manages to do on most every track. It’s happy and it makes you smile. Even the melancholy songs like Halfway Down are downer songs; they’re just reflective and allow the kids a chance to sit down.

Our favorite song is Breakfast Club. If you’re looking for a sonic bit as to why Home is a great release of songs for any age this is it. The lyrics are those that anyone can relate to. The music, especially the horns are somewhat reminiscent of Phil Collins, but then it segues into an all ages rap about breakfast.  It then reminds us that the dog hasn’t eaten with sharp musicianship, the classic dual clap and a slightly old school nod to the John Hughes classic film.

For us, Home is the best kindie release this year, narrowly beating out Recess Monkey.   The songs are the regular length for the normal music that you hear on the radio, about 3:25. It does that with content that is all age kindie friendly, while excelling at the songwriting and musicianship that you expect from CHR or top 40. That is a balancing act is worthy of Philippe Petit.