It’s hard to find music for those kiddies that aren’t quite ready for  Hannah Montana and The Jonas Brothers but have outgrown the more childlike melodies. Well, that’s where Leeny and Tamara and Sharing The Same Stars come in. These ladies are bringing this fun rock and pop  album to the little ones and they are bringing along a good message or learning experience for the ride, and the best part is that the kids won’t even notice the educational bits as they listen to the catchy tunes.

Take the song Your Epidermis Is Showing, for instance. Not only are your kids going to be able to sing out E-P-I-D-E-R-M-I-S, they are even going to know what it is before they get to health class! It’s Cool To Be You reminds us all that it’s good and cool to be unique.  Ladybug, Ladybug Ladybu-u-ug has a fun 60s pop feel to it that will have everyone singing and clapping along and don’t think you won’t come away from that song not knowing a little big more about those cute little insects, because you will! Were there any sore losers in your play group? Dinah Sore Loser will make you giggle, and not just at the clever pun.

Sharing The Same Stars is an album of 14 songs and every one of them will bring a smile to little faces. What makes the album so good? It’s really a combination of things. At the top of the list is the fact that all the songs have a sound that isn’t like  your run of the mill children’s record. The songs are truly pop songs for kids and kids’ issues. Little Sister is one that any big sister can relate to, and with the 50’s girl group vibe it will have mom’s and grandmom’s singing along to. But the best track is for the “potty training”  crew. You can’t listen to Hold It without cracking a smile, especially as you envision a child wishing they were a bird just so they could…well, go. Another thing that sets Leeny and Tamara apart from so many other children’s artists is that they don’t sing in that happy-go-lucky sing-song style that makes moms and dads run from the music. These two ladies have killer voices that are truly a pleasure to listen to no matter what your age. They sing in every style imaginable on this album so you’re bound to find at least one song to suit you fancy on Sharing The Same Stars.

So if you have some little ones that are longing for some new music, look to Leeny and Tamara and start Sharing The Same Stars with them. The music will brighten your day and help the little ones learn a few things while they sing and dance to the music and have a rocking good time. We even promise not to tell the adults that they will be having the same rocking good time as the kids. This CD should be in the collections of any parent with young kids.

Reviewed By Andrea Guy

Andrea Guy, Reviews Leeny and Tamara, Sharing The Same Stars, Tamara Hey

Tamara Hey, a New York City-based singer/songwriter, follows her 2005 debut Right This Minute with an expertly crafted sophomore release, Miserably Happy.  Refreshingly, Hey – all smiles in the two photos on the cover of the CD jacket – brings lighthearted optimism to a singer/songwriter genre often skewed toward the brooding and depressive.  In the latest record, Hey has surrounded herself with an individually noteworthy cast of accompanying musicians: producer and guitarist Art Heys linked with Matchbox Twenty and Carbondale, Keyboardist (and husband) Henry Hey known from his work with Rod Stewart and Jeff Watts, drummer Brian Delaney of NY Dolls, and bassist Tim Lefebvre whose played alongside the likes of James Taylor and Patty Austin.  Amid such a talented backdrop, Tamara Hey’s joyously soulful voice and deeply contemplative lyrics stand out, allowing her emotive ability to forge a personal connection between listener and song.  While there is obviously an immense level of talent, Hey has also been formerly educated in the elite settings of both the Performing Arts School and the renowned Berkeley College of Music.

Miserably Happy blends humor, sarcasm, wit, and introspection to create a feel good album with tons of pop vibes.  There’s too too much of a full band sound to be truly classify it as a singer/songwriter record, rather the album falls somewhere in the realm of folk rock, AAA, with subtle hints of country sensibilities.  Her diverse sound comes from a wide range of influences, but her interests seem primarily rooted in the realm of classic rock and its extensions, proclaiming herself as a Beatles-fanatic with a deep appreciation for the likes of Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, ELO, and Suzanne Vega.  Her voice echoes the same spinnability and freedom that characterizes the era of the flower children.  “Miserably Happy” the album’s titled track, rides a pleasant but bare melody, yet Hey’s ability to elevates a simple phrase “I’m so miserably happy” into a catchy hook transforms it into one of those songs that seems to linger in your mind long after the track is done.  Hey can best be described as a blending of Aimee Mann’s story telling prowess, Dido’s sincerity, and KT Tunstall’s poppy angst.  While the CD will certainly have you bobbing your head with a smile, I imagine the real pleasure to come with seeing Hey and her extremely talented band play a live set.  She currently plays a majority of shows throughout the New York City region, but as momentum gains behind this talented songstress, keep an eye for shows popping up throughout the Northeast region. 

Reviewed By Trevor Dye

Reviews, Trevor Dye Miserably Happy, Tamara Hey