Music review: Sara Lee Guthrie's Go Waggaloo

It had been a busy weekend ... birthday parties, play dates, lots of cake and ice cream and various treats. My five-year-old was ramped up. The baby was too. We all needed a break.

I'd been sent some CDs for possible review and decided maybe we all needed a diversion. So I plugged in Sara Lee Guthrie & Family's CD "Go Waggaloo" not sure what to expect. We all got exactly what we needed.

The album isn't the frenetic, bouncy music I often find in children's music. Instead, it's a leisurely, mellow tome to some of those typical childhood experiences from show and tell to sharing with your cousins. It's memorable music with some beautiful melodies that leaves you singing about a "Bright Clear Day" long after the CD is turned off.

Guthrie, a singer-songwriter, is the youngest daughter of Arlo and granddaughter of Woody. The album is a family affair with husband Johnny Irion, their two daughters and dad Arlo all contributing, along with some artwork and lyrics by Woody. Folk icon Pete Seeger even lends a hand. And you'll find some classics, including "She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain."

There are a few up-tempo songs as well ("If Mama Had Four Hands" is a favorite of mine) that might encourage some dancing by the little ones. But even those just make me want to sit back and enjoy.