Farmer Jason and Buddies - Nature Jams

by Malcolm Carter

published: 2 / 7 / 2012

Label: MIPO Records
Format: CD

Excellent third album for children from Scorchers' front man Jason Ringenberg's alter ego Farmer Jason, which will be enjoyed as much by adults and includes guest appearances from R.E.M's Mike Mills and the Saw Doctors

Review

Back in 2002 Jason Ringenberg, leader of Jason and the Scorchers, the band that virtually invented the punk rock/country fusion that proved highly successful, developed an alter-ego, Farmer Jason, so he could record songs aimed at educating and appealing to young children. 2003 found Ringenberg releasing the first fruits of this new project under the title ‘A Day at the Farm with Farmer Jason’. The album was unusual in that not only did it appeal to its target audience but it also captured the hearts of many parents too. Ringenberg had achieved the impossible, creating a children’s character whose songs could also be enjoyed by an older generation. Mixing folk and country the songs were, without a doubt, aimed directly at pre-school children but they were far removed from the banal, repetitive and annoying novelty songs that are usually produced for children. Adults would struggle not to sing along and it was impossible not to be carried away by the sheer joy and enthusiasm Ringenberg brought to the songs. In many ways it was the first album made for children that parents could (and did) also play in the car when driving alone. Ringenberg followed up the Farmer Jason debut with ‘Rockin’ In The Forest’ in 2006 which followed the same path. Songs that again had their roots in the country/folk idiom were injected with so much fun and tunes so catchy you just couldn’t help but join in made this second Farmer Jason album another success. While there’s little doubt that Farmer Jason could release another half dozen albums covering this same ground without losing any of his younger audience some parents were no doubt wondering just how far Ringenberg could take this project and if it would continue to appeal to his older fans. For his third album under the Farmer Jason moniker, ‘Nature Jams’, Ringenberg has roped in a number of well-known musicians to help out and keep things fresh and even more appealing for the parents. It’s a smart move, looking down the list of guests will have most music fans wanting to buy a copy for their own use, never mind one for the kids. Mike Mills from R.E.M., the Saw Doctors, Suzy Bogguss, members of The Black Crowes and Cheap Trick and Brandi Carlile are just some of the artists helping out, Ringenberg has even got Iris DeMent singing on one track which has got to be worth the price of the album alone. Listening to music, whether we realize it at the time or not, educates us, I’d be the first to say that I’ve learnt just as much from music as I did from my years at school, and with each guest artist introducing their song with a short dialogue explaining the subject of the following song I’m sure very young children will benefit greatly from these introductions. While these short pieces will either raise a smile with adults or make them cringe (Mike Mills explaining that he keeps in shape by hiking still raises a smile after a dozen or so plays) it’s the actual songs that will make this album essential for both children and adults. The Mills song, ‘Take A Hike’ is a typical jolly Farmer Jason song, another sing-along country infused pop confection which obvious shades of R.E.M. mixed in, and, if the lyrics weren’t so obviously aimed at children, it wouldn’t have sounded totally out of place on a mid-period R.E.M. album. Mills turns in a brilliant vocal performance and his voice gels brilliantly with Ringenberg's making you long for more of the same. The walls of guitars from both Joe Blanton and Warner E. Hodges simply have to be heard. All this on a kids song… ‘Well Oh Whale’ is the Saw Doctors doing what they do best. No other band around today can capture a party atmosphere on tape as well as these guys. Davy Carton’s unmistakable vocals are all over the chorus, which again will have you singing along by the second verse. Another track that wouldn’t sound out of place on one of the guest artists' own albums. It’s not all jaunty sing-along songs on ‘Nature Jams’ though. They are more delicate, thoughtful tracks, ‘Meadowlark In Central Park’, the Suzy Bogguss contribution, boasts one of Ringenberg’s prettiest melodies while highlighting the fact that even in large cities there can still be wildlife around to be appreciated. With possibly the most affecting use of a recorder ever in a rock song, this particular song will definitely appeal to listeners of all ages. While it’s the actual songs that appeal to Ringenberg’s fans, it must be said that many of the spoken introductions to each song, while aimed squarely at the kids, do stand up to repeated listening. It’s obvious that some thought has gone into each introduction; The Jason and the Scorchers track, ‘The Glacier’ is a good example with Scorcher’s drummer Pontus Snibb explaining to the young audience just what these massive lumps of ice actually are, before launching into a fine slab of the Scorchers' unique take of rock and roll. With a total of sixteen tracks, every one should be singled out for some reason, ‘Manatee’ features Hank Williams III on vocals and Tommy Ramone on mandolin. ‘No Place Like The Woods’ was written and produced by Grammy award winning bass player Victor Wooten and will be many youngsters' introduction to the jazz/funk that has made Wooten such a highly respected musician. It’s not the type of song that you would expect to find on an album of children’s songs or on a Ringenberg album, but it works so well here and goes some way to show how Ringenberg has developed his Farmer Jason character since 2002. It’s not all country and folk now and ‘Nature Jams’ diversity will educate children even more. With all the artists donating their royalty shares to conservation causes this really is an excellent project. As usual the whole package on this Farmer Jason CD is brilliant. It’s bright, interesting, fun and informative and this time there’s even a DVD included featuring fun-filled videos of four of the songs on ‘Nature Jams’. That will not only keep the kids glued to the TV screen but will break out the smiles on the faces of any adults in the room. ‘Nature Jams’ is without a doubt the best collection yet from Farmer Jason and it’s not just for the kids. Ringenberg is currently touring the UK and Ireland. and at some venues is performing as Farmer Jason in the afternoon before taking the stage as Jason Ringenberg later in the evening. I’ve a feeling that those afternoon shows, despite Ringenberg always performing brilliantly under his own name, will be enjoyed just as much by the adults accompanying their children, or even more so than the evening shows!

Track Listing:-

1 Nature Jams
2 Can You Canoe
3 Take A Hike
4 Well Oh Whale
5 Meadowlark In Central Park
6 Bayou Boogie
7 Prairie Riddles
8 Buffalo Or Bison
9 Dison The Bison
10 Spelunker
11 The Glacier
12 Manatee
13 No Place Like The Woods
14 The Moose Lives Where?
15 Have You Ever
16 Skating Along