Cool Mom Picks: Princess Katie & Racer Steve could've named their new CD, Super-Gigantic-Amazingly Cool

Here's what Cool Mom Picks has to say about Tiny Cool:

There are days when I feel like a constant killjoy to my kids, but just as our day is flushing down the proverbial toilet, I try to remember one thing that can usually turn things around: Fun music that knocks our socks off. Our latest mood-changer is the ever-peppy, totally entertaining offering from Princess Katie & Racer Steve, Tiny Cool.

We at CMP have been fans of Princess Katie & Racer Steve's first CD and then the second CD, and Tiny Cool gives us more to love from this ready-for-their-own-cartoon, husband-and-wife pair Steve Borne and Katie O'Sullivan. Part dance party, part radio show, Tiny Cool moves seamlessly from skit to song with a self-depreciating sense of humor that even holds my so-mature nine year-old's interest.

Channeling her inner Gloria Estefan in Clelia's Party, Princess Katie sings an unexpectedly humorous Latin-flavored number. Kids Rock! has a rich, stadium-ready sound that I imagine sends kids into a tizzy live. The super-funky title track Tiny Cool gets its shoulder-shaking horns from members of the swinging Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. There are also more subdued songs like Shy and Honest Kid, and yet it all feels like one cohesive album.

And take it from this over-princessed mother of two girls, this isn't your typical "princess" CD, a point that is driven home in the very funny final skit between Princess Katie and the woodland animals. How does it end? With three voices from the backseat of my minivan shouting, Play it again! -Christina

Tiny Cool is now on sale on the Princess Katie Racer Steve website as well as CD Baby.

PRINCESS KATIE & RACER STEVE TINY COOL REVIEW

Tiny Cool

"I admit to having briefly misjudged Princess Katie & Racer Steve at first glimpse, worrying that their stage personas could become quickly cloying. But it took just one listen to their second CD, 2008’s Fast & Feisty, to put them on my radar as a kids’ band to be reckoned with, proving that the roles of princess and race-car driver—which can be traced back to the band’s origins in hospital charity work—in no way limit their sound. The musicianship of Katie O’Sullivan’s smooth vocals and Steve Borne’s shredding guitar solos stand out even in the much improved world of today’s kid music.

In their third studio release, Tiny Cool, the husband-and-wife duo further expand their musical horizons without diluting those chops one bit: With their tight backing band, they rock their way through various genres, from salsa (“Clelia’s Party”) to James Brown funk (the title track) to ’80s Go-Gos-esque pop (“Kids Rock!”), always in crisp, snappy arrangements. O’Sullivan’s lyrics keep things simple but upbeat, addressing in positive fashion such diverse issues as timidity (the lilting “Shy”), telling the truth (the ska-tinged “Honest Kid”), and the perils of eating lunch at the beach (surf rocker “Sand in My Sandwich”)."

You never forget these are serious musicians, while your kids never fail to be seriously entertained. And you may even find yourself smiling as you hum the catchy “Japanese Robot” to yourself at the dry cleaner. MYLES MCDONNELL - Youknowforkids blog -NYC magazine editor, and former children's-entertainment editor at Cookie magazine.

Revved Up & Ready To Rock! Review in LA Parent

"The NYC-based duo follows up last year's fine CD, Fast & Feisty with this DVD.  The lively concert footage nicely showcases Katie's Natalie Merchant-like vocals and Steve's surprisingly rocking guitar work.  Their use of full band complete with horns, gives their songs a powerful sound.  Their show also includes puppets and a dinosaur (dragon), which provide some cute humor, as do the cartoon versions of Katie and Steve."

Thanks, LA Parent!   

Click the title above for tickets to our DVD Release Concert tomorrow & see it all LIVE!

DAD TALK'S REVIEW OF "REVVED UP & READY TO ROCK!"

"The concert includes puppets, silly outfits, happy horn players and a lot of energy.  While watching, we had both kids dancing on the floor of our playroom.   

Seriously, the music is a lot of fun.  So, if you're still trying to figure out what to get your kids for the holidays.."

We're thrilled to hear kids are rocking out!

To read the whole review, click the title of this post!

Princess Katie & Racer Steve Revved Up & Ready To Rock! Review

We got a fabulous review of our new DVD, Revved Up & Ready To Rock!

Read it by clicking the title of this post!

Princess Katie

School Library Journal Review of Fast & Feisty!

Singer/Songwriter Katie O'Sullivan and her partner, Steve Borne, once again don their alternate personalities - Princess Katie & Racer Steve --- to entertain with ten original songs that cover topics from the holidays to hide and seek to sharing.  

Each fun, upbeat song features lyrics that are spot on and teaches an important lesson.  For example, "Looking for Trouble" is about the importance of being kind to your siblings, and "We Dress Ourselves" celebrates the joy children experience when picking out their own clothing. 

This excellent album spotlights a wonderful variety of musical styles including reggae, big band, and rock n' roll.  Katie's voice is rich and cabaret ready with comparisons to Natalie Merchant being inevitable.  Four skits interspersed among the songs are cute and stand alone nicely, but they would have worked even better if they were used as segues into the songs.    Princess Katie and Racer Steve are performers that every child and parent should get to know.  This fantastic album is a must-have for every children's collection.   

10/10/08