Renee & Friends’ Simpatico is a compilation between singer Renee Stahl and lots of other folks. They include Colin Hay, Glen Phillips from Toad the Wet Sprocket, Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon and many others. This release is intended to be a bridge between the time when kids are exclusively listening to lullabies and then start listening to songs with more structure. It does have a lush, relaxed sound throughout the release. However, it’s too relaxed and is more at home in a coffee house where naps are encouraged than as a kindie release.
As I type this I’m listening to You Were Meant to Be , one of the songs on the disc. It’s hard to stay awake. I’m not overly tired or anything, it’s a normal day, didn’t stay up too late, ate a great breakfast and the kids are at school. But I can’t stay awake while listening to this.
The next song wakes me up only because of its annoyance. Are We There Yet? is spoken word poetry by Colin Hay from Men at Work. The disc has gone from a sleepy coffee house feel to annoying beatnik poetry in the span of two songs.
The brightest spot on the disc is Starfish and Coffee. It’s a Prince cover and displays the strange lyrical imagery that his songs have, but sometimes get glossed over due to the music. If anything someone should do a children’s version of Prince’s songs-that would be something fun for parents and kids to listen to.
Even listening to the songs with a full cup of tea (caffeinated!) the problem with the songs is that most of them sound the same. Granted that is part of the folk appeal, but every song, except for two of them, start with acoustic guitar and then proceeds to connect the folk dots.
Simpatico is good for folk fans that are looking for something just slightly different. However, bear in mind that the music isn’t different, it’s the performers and the fact that it has a children’s element to it. The music is also good for children who need to listen to something to calm them down or possibly to nap to.
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