Family Time

This is a great album for the whole family, and is especially recommended for those parents who want their little kids to listen to music that they can love but doesn't drive the parents nuts. I have little patience for insipid kids' music that grates on adult nerves and features little in the way of creativity or genuine fun, and this album is just the opposite. The melodies, lyrics and rhythms are accessible, but remain engaging throughout.Our whole family loves it, and even after our two year old hadn't heard it for a month, he was still singing along accurately with the lyrics -- not the whole text, mind you, but inserting the more memorable words in the right place at the right time -- so apparently it made a pretty big impression on him too.For us the most memorable songs are:- "Take Me to Jamaica", a duet with the great Toots Hibbert of Toots and the Maytals that sounds like it should be a commercial for the Jamaican Tourist Board- "This Train", featuring guest vocalist Willie Nelson -- it never fails to get our son singing "Choo Choo Choo!"- "Hold Em Joe" about a donkey -- gave me my first inkling that there may be bad feelings between Jamaica and Trinidad. Who knew?Unfortunately, although I'm a big Paul Simon fan, I felt the duet with him, "Walk Tall", was not quite as strong as a lot of the album. And the final tracks, spoken word readings by Jamie Lee Curtis, are nice but don't exactly fit. Although it's not quite perfect, this is still one of the best we have found for our rotation of family-friendly music for our son. Warmly recommended!

"Family Time" by Ziggy Marley is being promoted as an album primarily for children, but let me tell you, this is terrific music for adults as well. First off, the CD packaging is really cool. There is a folded page to color, fun artwork on the cardboard casing, and a booklet with lyrics and more artwork. It is overall a fun package. There is also an online bonus area when placing the CD into a PC. The bonus area has a coloring page, video downloads, among other things.The music itself is awesome. The album is incredibly upbeat and happy. Ziggy's solo material has explored genres other than his trademark reggae, but "Family Time" sees Ziggy putting out mainly playful reggae tracks. The final two tracks are not songs, but narrations by Jamie Lee Curtis. They both have a very nice message.There is some definite star power on the album. Toots Hibbert, Paul Simon, Rita Marley (Ziggy's mom), Cedella Marley, Jack Johnson, Paula Fuga, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Laura Berkner all make appearances. The guest appearances are cool, but they are generally brief, as Ziggy is the main voice in the songs.As mentioned previously, the songs are upbeat and happy. They all have an uplifting and positive message, perfect for kids in a world of so much uncertainty and turmoil. The overall theme is about love, family, and unity. What else would you expect from Ziggy? I think "Family Time" is best summed up in some of the lyrics from the song "Ziggy Says":Ziggy says lift up your handsZiggy says lift up your feetZiggy says smileZiggy says make the sign of peaceZiggy says wiggle your waistZiggy says wiggle your noseZiggy says wiggle your toesZiggy says hug who you knowI doubt if anyone can listen to this album and not smile and feel good about the positive side of humanity. As the name of the album suggests, "Family Time" can truly be enjoyed by the whole family.

...this album is very nice, family friendly themes with great reggae music. However, the album is very short, and the last two tracks are POEMS, read (and one written by) by Jamie Lee Curtis. Nothing against poetry or JLC, but why not play I some reggae music behind those poems, mon? Would it have been so hard to add a little background music? Not for Ziggy! The poems are nice, but kind of a letdown having them just read alone with no music. And personally, I would have loved it if ZIGGY had read either one or both of them. I love hearing him speak. So I feel compelled to deduct one star. Still a nice album, though. Great for kids.

Hopefully my husband won't see this review because he thinks I buy all my music for the kids...well this CD is just as much for me as my kids. The lyrics are positive, upbeat, not to kidish or adultish. The music is upbeat and easy to listen to. Your kids/or you can listen to this as background music or better yet in the car. Ziggy collaborates with Judah, Rita, and Cedella marley. Jack Johnson, Willie Nelson (is he still alive), Paul Simon, LAURIE BERKNER, and Jamie Lee Curtis are guests on this delightful album.It will remind you to appreciate your childern...or allow you to transport yourself to a different place if your kids are yelling in the backseat and all you can do is turn up the volume alittle more. It is very enjoyable!! A easy five stars. The album is upbeat with little downtime.

I love the whole Marley family! I am a day care teacher and my kids love these songs! The music touches the heart and soul of anyone who listens to this wonderful cd. Thank you for sharing your gift!

This is great family music than can be listened to over and over. The songs are perfect, bringing fun and "positivity" (to use a Ziggy word from another album) in the form of music to the house. The kids enjoy the whole CD (except sometimes my 5 year doesn't want to listen to Wings of an Eagle). The adults like how it gets the kids dancing, clapping, and singing - plus the bonus of getting the whole family doing this together since the music is equally enjoyable for adults too. While at first the last two audio book tracks from Jamie Lee Curtis seem a little out of place, my daughter showed me how they fit right in - another way to learn words (with rhyming words and repeating them out load, like singing along to songs).