Rockin' in the Forest with Farmer Jason

1	The Forest Oh! 3:20
2	Punk Rock Skunk 3:05
3	Ode to a Toad 4:47
4	Mrs. Mouse 0:38
5	Forest Rhymes 3:15
6	He's a Moose on the Loose 3:30
7	Arrowhead 4:03
8	Catfish Song 3:07
9	Opossum in a Pocket 3:44
10	A Butterfly Speaks 2:48
11	The Old Oak Tree 4:00

Barnes & Noble

Farmer Jason is back, but this time out he's migrated from the farm to the forest, uncovering a tasty selection of musical fruits that'll appeal to kids of all ages. The erstwhile Jason & the Scorchers frontman pays exhilarating homage to the Ramones on "Punk Rock Skunk," with its "Hey ho! Let's go!" children's chorus, buzz-saw guitars, and goofy lyrics sung from the point of view of, yes, a skunk that's leaving the straight life behind. The fanciful "Ode to a Toad" starts south of the border and winds up even farther south, in a Jamaican dance hall. A rhyming game that identifies forest creatures, "Forest Rhymes" cops its rhythmic thrust from both "Bo Diddley" and "Mystery Train," and has a wonderful message: "Rhymin' is so fun to do / go ahead and try / play a game with words and you / let your spirits fly!" By encouraging his young listeners to luxuriate in the wonders of language, Farmer Jason (né Jason Ringenberg) presents an album that plays like a rock 'n' roll Sesame Street segment. Welcomed by Farmer Jason as a "famous folk singer," Todd Snider shows up for a smoky guest vocal on the lean, stinging country blues "He's a Moose on the Loose." Alert older listeners will identify the multitude of musical sources Farmer Jason references in his polyglot arrangements, and will likely have as much fun with the lyrics as will the kids. Children's music for all ages -- that's what this Farmer's cultivating. David McGee

All Music Guide

Country-punk trailblazer Jason Ringenberg returns to his family-friendly alter ego of Farmer Jason for his second album of music for kids (and their parents, of course). While the first Farmer Jason disc was built around the theme of a day on the farm, Rockin' in the Forest with Farmer Jason features 11 songs about the things you might find on a hike in the woods, mostly critters such as toads, butterflies and opossums, though Jason also celebrates Native-American culture on "Arrowhead," and the rich history of the wilderness with "The Old Oak Tree." While Rockin' in the Forest features a bit more educational and/or philosophical content than the first album, Jason is smart enough to know it's best to keep things light and fun, and most of the songs are playful tunes with singalong choruses and an engaging air of silliness, especially "Punk Rock Skunk," "The Catfish Song," and "He's a Moose on the Loose" (the latter featuring guest vocals from Todd Snider). Parents with a taste for alt-country will dig the revved-up "Possum in a Pocket" (especially the "mistake" on the harmonica solo) and kids who enjoy actually going out into the great outdoors will enjoy all of it; this is children's music that doesn't talk down to its audience and offers smart and engaging entertainment for all its listeners without trying to sell anything (a pleasant surprise in "family" entertainment these days). Mark Deming