Making Silly Faces - CD music review and giveaway

Making Silly Faces

by: In The Nick of Time

2010 PARENTS’ CHOICE® GOLD AWARD WINNER

IN THE NICK OF TIME

CELEBRATES POP MUSIC FROM THE ‘70s TO NOW

ON HIS NEW KIDS’ CD

From the PR Firm – With a 2010 Parents’ Choice® Gold Award for his album, People, Places & Things, proudly in hand, independent children’s musician and preschool teacher Nick Deysher – who records and performs as In The Nick of Time – eagerly anticipates the September 6 release of his fifth studio CD, Making Silly Faces.


Noted for eclectic recordings that feature a smooth blend of rock, pop, disco, reggae, rap, jazz and funk, Nick Deysher and In The Nick of Time draw on a lush expanse of musical influences from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, and beyond. Explains Nick, “I grew up listening to kids’ music by Bill Harley, Barry Louis Polisar and, of course, the Sesame Street records. I’m always amazed by how many of those songs I remember! My mom had all the Beatles albums on vinyl, and I sort of felt like they were uncles I never met. I try to pay homage to my influences on each of my CDs. Careful listeners will hear hints of Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, The Ramones and many others (even Snoop Dogg).”


Celebrating the sounds of popular music from the ‘70s to the present day, Making Silly Faces opens with “The Sun Is Up (And So Am I),” a classic rock tune in the style of bands like The Rolling Stones, and then shifts easily to the funky hip-hop sounds of the album’s title track. From there, the music keeps on coming in a deluge of creativity, ranging from Latin mambo rhythms on “I Tried It ... I Liked It” to the Stevie Wonder-inspired “High Five Hive” to a ‘70s disco tune (“Dancing Pants”) that’s sure to get parents and kids on the floor doing their best John Travolta moves. “In The Nick of Time” picks up the sound of melodic rock groups like U2 and Coldplay, while the pop/dance “Slumber Party” is reminiscent of Pink, Lady Gaga and Rhianna. “Punk Rocks” is a driving, punk rock song about – well -- rocks! There’s even a salute to Led Zeppelin.


Says Nick Deysher, “When I started recording Making Silly Faces I wanted to create an album that spoke to the kid in me who remembers hearing this kind of music growing up. The themes relate directly to my childhood (making silly faces, picky eating, patience). Lyrically, I was writing to the little kid who loved to joke around but hated to try new things. Musically, I was borrowing bits and pieces of my favorite songs and groups.”

My Take:  Nick Deysher has created an album that, in 13 songs, is a mix of more music genre's than I have ever heard on one CD.  I listened to the CD several times before I even read the press release (I typically don't read the release until I write the review, so as not to influence my opinion).  And as I was listening to "Slumber Party," I said to myself, "Wow, that sounds just like Lady Gaga (techno-pop style)."  Which was nothing like the rest of the CD - read the press release above - I agree 100% that each song celebrates a different style and genre. I swear to you one song ("In the Nick of Time") even sounded like "The Monkees!" There's even a classic pirate shanty style song with "Pirates Never Say Please." "The Sun is Up" is a fun rock song I like to turn on at least once a week to get my 7 year old up and moving.  "I tried it, I liked it" is a great reinforcement for our house "rule" of trying something before you say "yuck!"  "You've Got to Have Patience" is a song I think my 8 year old needs to memorize :-)  All and all, "Making Silly Faces" is a fun CD for child and parent alike.  I look forward to hearing more from Mr. Deysher.

Track Listing

1. The Sun is Up
2. Making Silly Faces
3. Dancing Pants
4. Pirates Never Say Please
5. High Five Hive
6. Abajo/Arriba
7. In the Nick of Time
8. I Tried It, I Liked It!
9. Punk Rocks
10. Slumber Party
11. It's Easy Being Green
12. You've Got to Have Patience
13. Let's Hear it for the Band

About the Artist: Nick Deysher is inspired not only by the music he’s heard and loved through the years, but also by day-to-day interactions with the kids he’s taught. He explains, “Making children’s music has been a natural thing for me because it’s a lot like teaching, and I’ve been teaching -- as a camp counselor, babysitter, music instructor, preschool teacher -- since I was a kid myself. Also, I’ve never really reached a point where I forgot what it was like to be 3 or 8 or 15.” In fact, Nick’s remarkable ability to connect with young children has earned him the affectionate nickname “The Toddler Whisperer.” After completing his undergraduate education as a jazz composition major at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, Nick took a break to teach preschool, where his popularity soared because he made learning fun by incorporating his musical abilities into every lesson and activity. Nick went on to earn a master’s degree in Media Writing and Studio Music Production from the University of Florida’s prestigious Frost School of Music. The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences honored Nick in 2006 for his contribution to children’s music by presenting him with the prestigious Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarship.



Nick Deysher has released four previous In The Nick of Time albums, One Man Band (2001), In The Nick of Time (2003), Coconut Groove (2007), and the Parents’ Choice® Gold Award winning People, Places & Things (2009). Nick lives in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood with his wife, Tracey (who sings on his albums), and dog, Lucy (who barks on his albums). http://inthenickoftimemusic.com

The giveaway:  WIN IT!  One lucky winner will win his/her very own copy of Making Silly Faces! {US and Canadian addresses only please}

To win: Leave me a comment telling me  Be sure to leave your email address with your comment if you are not a blogger or your email is not easily found on your blog. This giveaway is open until 11:59 p.m., EST, Friday, September 23, 2011. Good Luck!

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This review was sponsored by Waldmania! PR who provided the CD for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary CD.