Polly Hall

As I’ve previously stated, it’s hard to find children’s music that doesn’t make you want to lock yourself in a closet and cry. I’m a huge music fan, so it’s usually really hard to find something that I can stand, let alone enjoy.

When I posted about Do Fun Stuff a few weeks back, that was pretty much the first kid’s album that I had ever even mildly enjoyed. Polly, of Andrew & Polly, saw how much I liked that album, and offered to share with me free samples of their two albums as well. Honestly, I didn’t know what I would think, my expectations of kid’s music being so low. But Andrew & Polly were pleasantly surprising.

First of all, they are unabashedly whimsical. So if you’re not into that, then this won’t be for you. But let’s remember: this music isn’t really for you anyway. It’s for your kids. And I could enjoy the whimsy of Andrew & Polly because they handle it really well. If there was a such a thing as professional whimsy, they would have it. They apply serious musicianship to the art of having fun with kids (probably has something to do with their day jobs).

But they also like to throw curve balls to keep you on your toes – like including a great version of “Didn’t Leave Nobody But the Baby” on their first album, Short & Sweet (a song you might remember from the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack). There are also some genuinely catchy songs (but not in the annoying way that kid’s music can get in your head and not want to go away), like “Friend Like You” off of their second album, Up & At ‘Em!

There are definitely things I don’t like. On some songs, their over-reliance on sound effects makes me skip the track half way through. But once again, the music isn’t really about me in the end. The sound effects may be Miles’ favorite part when he’s older. Who knows. Overall, I say Andrew & Polly deserve a listen.

Both of their albums are available on iTunes or CD Baby. - Caleb Gardner, The Exceptional Man