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With an CD cover like this, you might expect a Beatles-inspired concept album of sorts. Well, you'd be kinda right: the album begins on a "Sgt. Pepper" / "I Am the Walrus" vibe, and includes a "Taxman" clone, with a thread of animal songs (both wild and domestic) running throughout. Sound interesting? It gets better: the tunes on Aminal House are incredibly poptastic, on par with Chris von Sneidern at his best and Jellyfish on a very silly day.

The Band

The three Seattle elementary school teachers known as Recess Monkey - Drew Holloway on guitar, Jack Forman on bass and keyboards, Daron Henry on drums - have been making kids' music together as Recess Monkey since 2004. They released their first children's CD in 2005, Welcome to Recess Monkey Town, followed by Aminal House in 2006, Wonderstuff in 2007, Tabby Road in 2008, Field Trip in 2009, The Final Funktier in 2010, Flying! in 2011, In Tents in 2012, and Deep Sea Diver in 2013.

The majority of Recess Monkey’s albums have been presented as concept albums, including the double album Wondertuff, a rock opera about Everett the Wonderbee vs. The Gray in a struggle over the Magical Meadows; Aminal House’s almost two dozen songs about all sorts of creatures, big and small; the school-related Field Trips; the superhero-themed Flying!; the circus-related In Tents; and the band's most recent release Deep Sea Diver, a musical compendium of all things aquatic.

The Music of 'Aminal House'

Aminal House kicks off with a massive string of great tunes, each one better than the last.

The title tune channels "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "I am the Walrus," followed by the pure pop of "Aquarium" (Matthew Sweet would be proud!). Check out the choruses of "Aquarium" and the following song "Zoo Zoo Zoo:" you would be hard-pressed to find any finer in kindierock land. The "Taxman" verse of "KC (He's a Fine Dog)" channels the Fab Four yet again, while the swaying "When We Play Lion" glides along on seventh chords. The soft shoe cabaret of "Fred (The Tabby Cat)" utilizes the voices of 100 kids at a Seattle summer camp: wait until the chorus hits and you can totally picture a thousand kids on a hilltop singing, "Meow, Meow!" The band get a little funky with the silly song skit "Trading Squirrels," then bring the mellow with the McCartney-ish "Unlikely Likeables," a tune about animal friends one would not usually see hanging out together. The beautiful "Butterfly" is the best song Elliot Smith never got to write, followed by a silly skit with Mayor Monkey, Mischievous Monkey, and Jack the producer.

More Music from 'Aminal House'

The power pop of "Littlest Monkey" tells the tale of a little primate who aspires to be an astronaut, while the quiet/loud pastoral tune "The Rabbits" wonders what a group of pet bunnies does while the humans are away from home. The magnificent piano anthem "Grey Zebra" details the sorrow of a stripeless zebra, and a kid tries to convince everyone that his "Pet Shark" is a harmless chap, via some twangy surf rock. The next tune lopes along as another kid lets everyone know, "I Wanna Iguana," followed by the rockabilly rave up "Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?" in an exploration of the answer to that age-old question. The chugging "Bats!" promotes the more helpful aspects of those flying mammals, and the Todd Rundgren-y "Cookie" describes a pet who has a little trouble navigating the yard. The goofy proto country "Not Fast Cheetah" hears a large feline describing himself in pretty slow terms, while Aminal House comes to an end with the tuneful piano lounge shtick "Goodnight (From the Sandman Lounge)."

The Verdict

Recess Monkey's second album Aminal House is a brilliant mix of melodicism, akin to The Quiet Two (formerly The Quiet Ones); science facts, much like Teacher and the Rockbots; and all-around jollity, a la Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. Incredibly hooky chord changes and sophisticated arrangements elevate this CD far above your average kids' album; and the spacious, in-the-same-room production is extremely well done. Throw in a few short, silly skits and some general rowdiness with the Monkey Town characters, and you've got yourself a great presentation that the whloe family will dig!

Released November 21, 2006; Monkey Mama Music

Track Listing

1. "Aminal House"
2. "Aquarium"
3. "Zoo Zoo Zoo"
4. "KC (He's a Fine Dog)"
5. "When We Play Lion"
6. "Fred (the Tabby Cat)"
7. "Trading Squirrels"
8. "Unlikely Likeables"
9. "Butterfly"
10. "Intermission"
11. "Littlest Monkey"
12. "The Rabbits"
13. "Grey Zebra"
14. "Pet Shark"
15. "I Wanna Iguana"
16. "Why Did the Chicken?"
17. "Bats!"
18. "Cookie (Don't Crumble)"
19. "Not Fast Cheetah"
20. "Goodnight (From the Sandman Lounge)"

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