I'll admit, when I first read the title "Here Comes Science" in the press release for the new They Might Be Giants CD/DVD set, I was skeptical of its value.
Too often science related kids albums and "making science fun" toys I've come into contact with while raising my two children have been a little disappointing.
Some are too simplistic, don't inspire kids to use their own powers of discovery or are made from inferior materials that deteriorate long before a child's interest does.
"Here Comes Science" (September 2009) is available now on iTunes and as a full scale release on September 22. Both include the accompanying DVD of music videos for each song on the album. The album, with songs like Photosynthesis, Electric Car, The Elements, Computer Assisted Design and Velocity covers biology, physics, astronomy, botany, and several other science and technology ideas and facts.
With the help of a talented team of digital artists, the accompanying music videos are creative, cute and offer a more concrete view of the topics being sung about.
Though targeted toward older kids, younger siblings will definitely enjoy the album, too. It may even inspire younger kids, themselves naturally curious about how the world works, to become more interested in making discoveries.
The music is diverse, inventive and fun. John Flansburgh's and John Linnell's (along with guest artists) melodies and harmonies are truly pleasant to listen to. The lyrics present a comprehensive amount of information enjoyably and most importantly for a kids album: without the usual cheesiness.
Especially appreciated is the underlying support for science as credible information, something too often missing in today's atmosphere of climate change denial and similar movements against environmentalism.
Songs like "My Brother The Ape" present the theory of evolution to kids in a way that's matter of fact and lyrics such as "Science is Real...the facts are with science" lend support to logical methods of worldly discovery.
In short, "Here Comes Science" is a great addition to your family music collection for both younger and older kids.
-Christine
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