Family music entertainment act Koo Koo Kangaroo’s forthcoming album Slow Clap is an oddly titled album. That is because the 11-song record, titled Slow Clap, is deserving of anything but a slow clap. For those who might not know, a slow clap is a gesture that is meant to insult a performer or speaker. Keeping that in mind, this 33-minute record deserves the most sincere kind of clapping because it is that enjoyable. The record’s appeal comes in part through its overall musical presentation, which will be discussed shortly. The album’s lyrical content also plays into its appeal. It will be discussed a little later. The record’s sequencing rounds out its most important elements and will also be discussed later. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of the album. All things considered, they make this record one more of the best of this year’s new family music albums.
Koo Koo Kangaroo’s fifth album (and 15th – yes, 15th — overall studio recording counting all of its EPs and albums) is a presentation that the band’s established audience base will find enjoyable just as much as those who might be less familiar with the duo’s catalog. That is due in part to the album’s overall musical presentation. The album’s musical arrangements are everything that audiences have come to expect from the duo – Bryan Atchison and Neil Olstad. As pointed out on the band’s Wikipedia page, the danceable arrangements with all of their keyboards amd steady beats, pair with the duo’s vocal delivery style to really maintain that familiar Beastie Boys meets Sesame Street approach. Every work is infectious in its own right and is so subtly different from its counterparts. From the 80s hip-hop/Run DMC style approach of ‘Sticky Icky’ to the more club style sound and approach of ‘Sneaking Downstairs’ to the 90s pop/hip-hop hybrid sound of ‘200 Worms’ and more, the arrangements presented throughout this record offer audiences of all ages so much to appreciate. They are just a portion of what makes this record so appealing. The lyrical content that accompanies the album’s musical content builds even more on that appeal.
The lyrical themes featured throughout Slow Clap are silly from beginning to end. While some audiences’ minds might immediately turn to something bad when they think of ‘Sticky Icky,’ the reality is far more tame. The song is in fact about honey, and how sweet it is even as it gets on everything. The fact that Atchison and Oldstad could use the song’s title as a double entendre of sorts and get away with it is impressive in itself. That the song is in reality just about honey makes for even more entertainment.
‘Pranks A Lot’ is another example of the importance of the record’s lyrical content. This song focuses on the time honored prank of the ding dong ditch. That is simply ringing someone’s doorbell and running. Sure, it’s immature, but that’s something that kids do. What’s interesting here is that the one pulling the prank gets his in the end. How that happens will not be revealed here. That will be left for audiences to discover for themselves. On a side note, audiences familiar with KC and the Sunshine Band will catch the subtle tribute to the band’s hit song ‘Boogie Man’ in relation to how the prankster gets “punished” in the end. Getting back on topic, what grown up has not done the old ding dong ditch? Keeping that in mind, this song is that much more certain to engage and entertain audiences.
‘Password,’ which closes out Slow Clap, is yet another example of the role of the album’s lyrical content. As the title infers, this song’s lyrical content celebrates that simple joy that every child has gotten from the game of password; standing outside a clubhouse or some such, making sure only certain people know how to get in, or maybe making sure only certain people know certain facts through the use of the password. This is all one of those rites of passage for every child. The duo’s celebration of that rite here is so entertaining. It is just one more example of the entertainment value presented by the album’s lyrical content. When it, the content in the other songs noted here and in the rest of the album’s songs are considered together, the album’s overall lyrical content strengthens the album’s presentation that much more. It still is just one more part of what makes the album successful. The songs’ sequencing rounds out the most important of the album’s most important elements.
Slow Clap’s sequencing is important because it ensures the songs’ lyrical and musical content keep listeners fully engaged and entertained. As noted, the lyrical themes featured throughout this record are all fun, random topics to which adults and children alike will find fun and funny. From the fun of playing on a slip and slide on a hot summer day in ‘Backyard Swimsuit (ft. Sims), to the joy of downing an ice cold glass of lemonade (also on a summer day), to everything else noted, the lyrical themes featured here are accessible to listeners of all ages. The record changes the topics up from one to next, making sure things don’t get redundant at any point in that aspect. What’s more, the sequencing makes sure that the subtle changes in the danceable musical are just enough that they keep the album’s musical content fresh throughout, too. The changes are just enough that they keep the album moving and changing throughout. The impact of the attention to the sequencing in both aspects shows clearly why it is important to the album, too. When the overall impact of the album’s sequencing is considered along with that of the album’s overall content, the whole makes Slow Clap a record for which listeners will clap quite a bit.
Koo Koo Kangaroo’s forthcoming album Slow Clap is a presentation that deserves lots more than a slow clap. Rather, it deserves a full round of applause. That is proven in part through its musical arrangements. The record’s musical arrangements are danceable compositions that touch on old school hip-hop, EDM, and even general club sounds. This variety gives audiences plenty to appreciate and proves to be everything that audiences have come to expect from the duo throughout its life. The lyrical themes that accompany the album’s musical content make for their own appeal. That is because they present topics that are accessible to listeners of all ages. They will bring out the kid in every grown-up listener while putting a smile on any young person’s face at the same time. The sequencing of all of the noted content brings everything together, putting the finishing touch to the album. It ensures that the album’s musical and lyrical content changes just enough from one song to the next to the result that it collectively keeps listeners fully engaged and entertained. Each item examined is important in its own way to the whole of the album’s presentation. All things considered, the album proves to be one more of this year’s top new family music albums. Slow Clap is scheduled for release Friday through Uniroo Records.
More information on Koo Koo Kangaroo’s new album is available along with all of the duo’s latest news at:
Website: https://kookookangaroo.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KooKooKangaRoo
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KooKooKangaroo
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