A Little Heart Like You

As I read through the press release for Martha’s Trouble’s latest release, an album full of lullabies for your wee ones, I couldn’t help but feel a little unnderwhelmed by their idea that lullabies are somewhat of a lost art. Being a music critic and having covered several releases from artists who have performed a set of lullaby tunes in their own flavor or in a very contemporary way it was really nothing new to me. That being said I had to kind of distance myself from the whole “this is a resurfaced concept album” and stick to the performances of the musicians and the strength of the duo’s singing.

First off the album contains four original songs, four traditional songs, a mash up of two lullabies set to music, and some bedtime prayers backed with music. I’ll be completely honest, I was left unimpressed. Instrument wise the album is, well, lazy. I understand that the concept of the album is that the music needs to be a bit lax because it’s supposed to lull your children to sleep, but overall I wasn’t very impressed with the instrumentation on the album. It’s quite possibly too lax. Vocalist Jen Slocumb didn’t impress too much either. Her vocal delivery sounded a bit wobbly at times and at it’s core it was 100% safe. I know, it’s a kids album full of lullabies. I’m talking safe as in Shirley Temple safe. It was delivered just fine but without much panache. It was very basic.

In the long run you, the parent, will have to decide weather or not this album is for you and yours. Some people may find the simplicity of the album refreshing enough but others (like myself) might want a bit more then a cookie cutter production with a few sparks here and there, Precious love and Special To Me are pretty fantastic, but the majority of the album is hardly memorable. I’m simply of the school that whatever your kids hear, you better come to the realization that this will be your music as well. A Little Heart Like You is absolutely for the kids. As always final judgment is yours.