Family Time

"Family Time" by Ziggy Marley is being promoted as an album primarily for children, but let me tell you, this is terrific music for adults as well. First off, the CD packaging is really cool. There is a folded page to color, fun artwork on the cardboard casing, and a booklet with lyrics and more artwork. It is overall a fun package. There is also an online bonus area when placing the CD into a PC. The bonus area has a coloring page, video downloads, among other things. The music itself is awesome. The album is incredibly upbeat and happy. Ziggy's solo material has explored genres other than his trademark reggae, but "Family Time" sees Ziggy putting out mainly playful reggae tracks. The final two tracks are not songs, but narrations by Jamie Lee Curtis. They both have a very nice message. There is some definite star power on the album. Toots Hibbert, Paul Simon, Rita Marley (Ziggy's mom), Cedella Marley, Jack Johnson, Paula Fuga, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Laura Berkner all make appearances. The guest appearances are cool, but they are generally brief, as Ziggy is the main voice in the songs. As mentioned previously, the songs are upbeat and happy. They all have an uplifting and positive message, perfect for kids in a world of so much uncertainty and turmoil. The overall theme is about love, family, and unity. What else would you expect from Ziggy? I think "Family Time" is best summed up in some of the lyrics from the song "Ziggy Says": Ziggy says lift up your hands Ziggy says lift up your feet Ziggy says smile Ziggy says make the sign of peace Ziggy says wiggle your waist Ziggy says wiggle your nose Ziggy says wiggle your toes Ziggy says hug who you know I doubt if anyone can listen to this album and not smile and feel good about the positive side of humanity. As the name of the album suggests, "Family Time" can truly be enjoyed by the whole family.

Hopefully my husband won't see this review because he thinks I buy all my music for the kids...well this CD is just as much for me as my kids. The lyrics are positive, upbeat, not to kidish or adultish. The music is upbeat and easy to listen to. Your kids/or you can listen to this as background music or better yet in the car. Ziggy collaborates with Judah, Rita, and Cedella marley. Jack Johnson, Willie Nelson (is he still alive), Paul Simon, LAURIE BERKNER, and Jamie Lee Curtis are guests on this delightful album. It will remind you to appreciate your childern...or allow you to transport yourself to a different place if your kids are yelling in the backseat and all you can do is turn up the volume alittle more. It is very enjoyable!! A easy five stars. The album is upbeat with little downtime.

This is great family music than can be listened to over and over. The songs are perfect, bringing fun and "positivity" (to use a Ziggy word from another album) in the form of music to the house. The kids enjoy the whole CD (except sometimes my 5 year doesn't want to listen to Wings of an Eagle). The adults like how it gets the kids dancing, clapping, and singing - plus the bonus of getting the whole family doing this together since the music is equally enjoyable for adults too. While at first the last two audio book tracks from Jamie Lee Curtis seem a little out of place, my daughter showed me how they fit right in - another way to learn words (with rhyming words and repeating them out load, like singing along to songs).

My son got this for Christmas and is already asking for it by name to be played. It's upbeat, fun and great to hear when you're snowed in here in New England! My son is 3.5 yrs old and loves Dan Zanes, Laurie Berkner and Jack's Big Music Show not only for the music but because he can watch their DVD's and play along with his instruments. He doesn't seem to mind that this is a CD only, dancing away through the whole thing. My daughter has already learned the words to her favorite songs too. I really enjoy the music and won't mind that this new favorite will be played over and over! I also recommend this cd for kids with sensory needs who benefit from listening to music with a strong beat and kid friendly sound.

I love the music on this album.

I wanted so much to love this CD, as I have been a fan of the various Marleys for many, many years. But really, it's just alright.

This is a great album for the whole family, and is especially recommended for those parents who want their little kids to listen to music that they can love but doesn't drive the parents nuts. I have little patience for insipid kids' music that grates on adult nerves and features little in the way of creativity or genuine fun, and this album is just the opposite. The melodies, lyrics and rhythms are accessible, but remain engaging throughout. Our whole family loves it, and even after our two year old hadn't heard it for a month, he was still singing along accurately with the lyrics -- not the whole text, mind you, but inserting the more memorable words in the right place at the right time -- so apparently it made a pretty big impression on him too. For us the most memorable songs are: - "Take Me to Jamaica", a duet with the great Toots Hibbert of Toots and the Maytals that sounds like it should be a commercial for the Jamaican Tourist Board - "This Train", featuring guest vocalist Willie Nelson -- it never fails to get our son singing "Choo Choo Choo!" - "Hold Em Joe" about a donkey -- gave me my first inkling that there may be bad feelings between Jamaica and Trinidad. Who knew? Unfortunately, although I'm a big Paul Simon fan, I felt the duet with him, "Walk Tall", was not quite as strong as a lot of the album. And the final tracks, spoken word readings by Jamie Lee Curtis, are nice but don't exactly fit. Although it's not quite perfect, this is still one of the best we have found for our rotation of family-friendly music for our son. Warmly recommended!

MI è sempre piaciuta la musica reggae, e questo disco contiene melodie molto apprezzabili, sia nuove sia storiche (Bob Marley) in una nuova versione. Raccomandato.

Très sympa, album bien rythmé et plein de peps! A ce prix là, on aurait tord de s'en priver ! On ne s'en lasse pas !

Je l'ai achété pour faire un cadeaux. La personne à été enchanté! Ziggy Marley dans toute sa splendeur super album!!!

If you have young children who like music this is a must...Ziggy Marley (son of Bob Marley) has done a whole album for children. With songs like Ziggy say`s and i love you too it really installs some simple life values/lessons that most adults may have forgotten about! But that`s the true power of the Marley family`s music.My daughter has loved this album from around 11 month old. Now she just say`s "zig" and we have to put it on and have a dance!!!

Great