Review: Shovels & Rope Throw a Lifeline to Parents Everywhere on 'Broken Jukebox Vol. 3'
I don't have any children myself, but I've spent enough time in cars with various nieces, nephews, cousins, etc to know that the bane of any parent's existence is children's music. There are only so many times you can hear that the wheels on the bus go round and round before hoping the bus will run over you and end your misery, and that you rapidly figure out that Little Bunny Foo Foo is a right bastard if you happen to be a field mouse (I mean, seriously, rabbit? Why you got to bop them on the head? You have anger management issues). So when a great band releases an album of music for children, it's like a lovely oasis of calm for parents who have had all they can stand of John Jacob Jinglehammer Schmidt. On the third iteration of Shovels & Rope's covers album series, Busted Jukebox Vol. 3, the band and their friends combine traditional children's songs as well as songs meant for adults but family friendly enough to sing for children.
With their trademark sense of humor, Shovels & Rope has identified the younger demographic by renaming their series Busted Juicebox Vol. 3 on the album's cover. The sense of humor is present throughout the album, but also the band (and a roster of collaborators who also happen to be parents) retains their stripped down instrumentation and harmonies.
Unsurprisingly, the songs that work best on Busted Jukebox Vol. 3 are the adult songs retooled for children. The band, with some help from Sharon Van Etten, takes on The Beach Boys' classic “In My Room.” Not released as a song for children (and an example of Brian Wilson's pivot from surfer ditties to more intricately produced fare), many children will likely share Wilson's philosophy that “my room is my whole world.”
John Paul White (formerly of The Civil Wars) joins the duo on “What a Wonderful World.” It's a song that's always been a hard cover. It's arguably one of the two or three most recognizable songs in history and it's universally recognizable in Louis Armstrong's gravel voice. But White's more serene lead vocals and Shovels & Rope's gentle harmonies perfectly transition it into a song that is perfect for children.
The undoubted highlight of the album, though is “Tomorrow” from the musical Annie. Aside from a pretty strong intensification of the inherent sadness in the song, the reason this song stands out from the others is, simply, the presence of The War & Treaty. Taking lead vocals on the song is Tanya Trotter, with husband Michael providing a melancholy piano background. The War & Treaty are at the point in their careers where they can't really do any wrong and that holds true here.
The oddest choice is R.E.M.'s “Everybody Hurts.” The antisuicide song seems intense for a kid, but not when you realize Shovels & Rope included it as a song for teenagers. From that perspective, it's a song that any teen should hear. T. Hardy Morris provides the assist.
Overall, even if you don't have kids, Busted Jukebox Vol. 3 is worth picking up. The production is solid across the board and the arrangements are spot on. If you are a parent, do you really want to hear yet another round of the Barney Song? Didn't think so. And this is the album to save you.