Search - Ralph's World :: Ralph's World

No matter where you enter Ralph's World, you can't help but want to fling the doors wide open: here, finally, is an artist who's made good on his promise to deliver kiddie songs that don't drive the big folks batty. The titular Ralph is Ralph Covert, a Chicago-based singer-songwriter with an animated, slightly Arlo Guthrie-ish voice and a knack for complete naturalness--not such a breeze when belting out songs whose lyrics call for ecstatic beep-beeping ("Drivin' in My Car") and choo-chooing ("Choo Choo Train"). That Covert is the debut artist on the just-launched Mini Fresh label, also based in Chicago, speaks volumes: the company is the kid's offshoot of Minty Fresh, the independent label responsible for bringing hip groups such as the Cardigans, Veruca Salt, Komeda, and Tahiti 80 to the grown-up masses. Ralph's World follows a similarly hip, "wow 'em with something different" formula. The pure pop of "All My Colors," made meaty by the inclusion of the mandolin, will find parents pumping the gas pedal on cross-town car trips; the hand jive of "Four Little Duckies" (featuring Dobro, banjo, and duck calls) defies anybody beyond drooling age to sit still. The folk-infused "Name Song," with its mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and an off-the-charts tempo, will leave you laughing, if your lips don't fall off first. For background vocals, "Ralph's World" relies on a rhythm-rich quartet known as the Kids, who supply the record its party-on vibe. This is a CD that leaves no listener behind, lacks pretension, and, most important, will lead jaded parents to believe that sharing quality music with their kids isn't a lost cause. --Tammy La Gorce