A “greatest hits” album comprised of 16 remixed tunes that John Boydston considers his “rockingest rockers” from six previous Daddy A Go Go CDs, Grandkid Rock cheerfully continues the Daddy A Go Go alterna-rock tradition of what Stomp & Stammer described as “upbeat, wildly entertaining rave-ups, sing-alongs and silly puns that have endeared the group to kids (and their parents) nationwide.” While Boydston’s most recent release, Come On, Get Happy, focused on softer songs for younger children, Grandkid Rock goes the other direction, rocking out for the bigger kids with lots of electric guitars, drums, driving rhythms and power chords.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval

Featured in:

TDmonthly Seal of Approval - Books & Music (1/1/2013) July Staff Picks (7/1/2012)

TDmonthly Review:

WHAT IT IS
This 16 track kids’ rock album features songs by veteran children´s musician John Boydston. All of the tracks have been released on previous Daddy A Go Go albums, but have been re-mastered on this release and specifically selected for their rock’n’roll vibe.

WHAT WE THOUGHT
The music has a blues-laced alt-rock vibe, and the vocal and instrumental performances are very tight. If you didn’t listen closely to the lyrics, you might not even know that this is a CD for kids.

Lead singer/songwriter John Boydston´s lyrics are relevant to children, but aren´t as hokey and repetitive as many in the genre. The album might be too sophisticated for the preschool set, but would be a good fit for early elementary students, or kids who prefer rocking guitars to the tinkle of toy pianos.

Lyrics like "It´s fun to be a kid/ But it´s hard to be a kid/ I try to behave/ But I forget/ Like the time I got my Grandma soaking wet” are humorous, and really capture the feeling of being young. Many of the songs are sung from a kid´s perspective, and even those with a message, like "Eat Every Bean and Pea on Your Plate," manage to sound conspiratorial rather than preachy.

WHY THEY´LL WANT IT
I would listen to this CD on it’s own, even without kids around. The level of musicianship on the album really places this CD above most of its peers. Parents who are music lovers, but want their kids to listen to thematically appropriate songs, will love this CD. Meanwhile, children will appreciate the rocking, high-energy vibe of the music and the comedic, honest tone of the lyrics. This is a CD that takes kids’ music seriously, while having tons of fun in the process.

— Justina Huddleston