Various Artists

For the Kids Too! (Nettwerk)

By Noreen Sobczyk
Published: January 6th, 2005 | 11:40am

How many times have you been in the car with your friend and their child and been forced to listen to the utter tripe of some purple dinosaur? Don’t worry, you needn't do it anymore.

This second release in the For the Kids series, benefiting the Lili Claire Foundation, features both originals and covers, most of which are exclusive to this recording. The aptly titled For the Kids Too! is aimed at providing entertainment not only to the young, but the young at heart.

Jason Mraz does justice to "Rainbow Connection," pop veteran Matthew Sweet's cover of the Beatles' "Good Night" is perfect, and Matt Nathanson covers Prince's whimsy "Starfish and Coffee."

The album's originals are equally as engaging: They Might Be Giants add an expectedly quirky tale about a supertaster with supertasting superpowers in "John Lee Supertaster"; Butterfly Boucher adds a bouncy ode to being different; Nada Surf's "Meow Meow Lullaby" is wonderfully weird with purring kittens and is sure to please cat lovers of any age; and Robyn Hitchcock's wonderfully creative track "I Often Dream of Trains" showcases the quality of musicianship that we should always demand from children's recordings.

Childhood is the time to prime young minds to expect and appreciate diversity in their music. For the Kids Too! is an appropriate entry into the alternative world for kids of all ages.