Little Songs, by Brian Vogan

A recent email from Red Tricycle brought my attention to “Little Songs,” the first CD released by Seattle early childhood-music educator Brian Vogan. We just received our copy from CD Baby, and have listened to the album a number of times already. Favorite songs include the elegant and poetic “That’s How a Pumpkin Grows,” “Animal ABCs” and “Racecar.” Most of the songs have a quiet, vibrant energy that invite the listener both to reflect thoughtfully and dance around the room. When listening to “Little Songs,” I was reminded of Woody Guthrie, not in terms of genre or voice, but in the delivery of deceptively simple, memorable melodies that sound new and familiar at the same time. I appreciated the lyrics to “Animal ABCs”, too: there are a number of standard and unusual animals in the lineup, but when he gets to X, Vogan sings, “X doesn’t have one” rather than being arch and trying to fit the x-ray fish or xiaosaurus (a teeny-tiny dinosaur) into the list.

Here are other reviews:
Kids' Music That Rocks
Out With the Kids