Frances England's Fascinating Creatures

I haven't usually posted reviews on the site, mostly because I feel like I'm learning about cool bands and singers about nine months after everyone else has. But this time, I feel like I'm on the front end of recognizing a great new album by Frances England out of San Francisco.

Her CD, Fascinating Creatures (samples available at CD Baby - follow that link), strikes exactly the right balance between having buckets of appeal for kids and being a delight for grownups. The songs don't sound complicated or overwritten, but the more I listen to them, the more I appreciate how they're put together.

The lyrics make me think of Lunch Money, my favorite band of 2005. They're accessible to kids without being childish. Consider the final verse of "Paint a Picture":

And I’m gonna paint my Grandmommy a picture
The most beautiful one she’s ever seen
The brightest blues and the deepest reds, golden yellow of a tulip bed
Oh, she’ll be so proud of me

Or "Busy as a Bee":

Last night about a quarter to eight, you came into my room
You said, “Honey, it’s getting late, it’s getting late.”
I said, oh no Momma this cannot be,
I got too many things to do before I sleep, before I sleep
I got songs to sing and stories to tell,
I got animals to talk to, make sure they’re doing well, before I sleep

Don’t you know I’m busy, busy, busy as a bee
Don’t you know I’m busy, busy, busy as a bee
No sleep for me

The music has some similarities to Lunch Money as well, but throw in the mix Elizabeth Mitchell and (especially on "The Books I Like to Read") Mary Lou Lord. Frances mentions (among others) Yo La Tengo and Cat Power as grown-up artists she likes, and I can see that too.

My favorite song, I think, is "Charlie Parker," but there's not a dud on the album. Ella can't pick a favorite song, but sure does want it on all the time.

We'll be playing several songs from the CD this week on the show. Enjoy and go buy it.