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

Princess Katie & Racer Steve Berrie Pick Review of Fast & Feisty

If there's one thing I'm learning since starting this blog it's that kid music totally rocks these days.  No more Barney (ughh....) cuz now it's time for Princess Katie & Racer Steve!

The husband and wife team's CD, "Fast and Feisty," was released in April, and has been playing in a regular rotation in my home since I discovered it still in the package it was mailed in just a few weeks ago. (Bad blogger, Bad!)  But back to "Fast and Feisty" and the Princess and the Racer.

First off, the CD could suck and the lyrics could drive parents to the brink of insanity, and we'd probably still allow our kids to bop incessantly to the music of their biggest play-date fantasies. I mean, come on!  What little girl hasn't wanted to be a princess at least once in her life?  And what little boy (or girl) hasn't gotten a thrill pretending to GO FAST like the cool race car drivers?

The added bonus, of course, is that Princess Katie & Racer Steve are a serious rock-n-roll band with the musical talent to match.  Katie's got a decidedly adult-sounding singing voice that adds a classy touch to the kiddie lyrics, and even if Buttercup is too young to appreciate the fact that Racer Steve is a master on that guitar of his, I'm not.

My faves on the track include "Holidays," "Sneakers," and "We Dress Ourselves," the last of which will have you singing along at the top of your lungs before you realize that the driver in the car next to you at that red light thinks you have officially lost your mind.

FAST & FEISTY PARENTING MAGAZINE'S FAVORITE MUSIC FOR APRIL 2008!

Dear Diary:

We're really excited to announce that our new CD, Fast & Feisty has been chosen as Parenting Magazine's Pick for their Favorite Music in their April 2008 issue. Thus,

"Katie and her talented band will win your kids over, even if they usually resist anything princessy. The danceable music ranges from alt-rock to bossa nova, and Katie's earthy voice is a dead ringer for Natalie Merchant's."

Thank you Parenting! We feel very honored to be a favorite of such a cool magazine!

Feisty, I remain,

Princess Katie