Grinning Streak

"Grinning Streak" a WINNER!

     

Linda Severt's "Grinning Streak" is a wonderful record! In most children's albums, even some of the good ones, there's not enough musical variety; here, we get swing, folk, rock, neo-polynesian, pop, yodeling, funk-rap, circus music, lullabye, and several more that defy categorization. What holds it all together is a signature sound that is at once playful, virtuosic, witty, down-to-earth, and ethereal, which reads like an impossible blend--and would be, for a lesser artist. Elements of this signature sound include unexpected instruments, such as tuba, melodica, and toy piano; gorgeous, layered vocal arrangements; and a rhythm section that wouldn't embarrass Muscle Shoals chugging away underneath it all. "Tag, You're It" features a blistering rock riff that will have even the grownups' hips shaking! Severt is a phenomenal musician who plays several instruments on each track and could play them all, were she not also an excellent producer, aware of the unexpected grace notes that guests bring. Listen to the crazy improvisation "Chopsticks for a Rainy Day" for a perfect example of such synergy. And the songs are just as strong lyrically as they are musically. Severt has a true comic gift, perhaps most impressive in the way it captures a child's sensibility without rendering it absurd. "I Like Spaghetti" is a wonderful example of this gift for laughing with children, rather than at them. Didactic moments are never stilted or preachy; either they're funny too, or somehow personal, like a secret passed along by an older friend. "Teeth, Teeth" might actually persuade your child to brush! But it's not fair to single out any one song; they're all strong, and they all contribute to the dazzling tapestry that is "Grinning Streak."