The Backyardigans Groove to the Music

Groove to the Music follows The Backyardigans almost an exact year to the date with 18 additional songs pulled directly from episodes of The Backyardigans. Smart, fun, and (perhaps just as important) not nearly as potentially annoying as the average disc of children's music, the songs consistently switch styles through several eras and are engaging (whether you're a child or a parent) without fault. They're all 90 seconds to two minutes in length and never sound formulaic, despite a steady amount of boisterous — but sugar-powered — energy. Highlights include "Ski Patrol to the Rescue," "Rad Moves," "Hold on Tight," "Shake Your Body," "The Ballad of the Brave Pink Knight," and "Super Heroes vs. Super Villains," all of which place the listener in a different scene of adventure. Evan Lurie, the show's musical director, is probably the best thing that ever happened to children's music; Oswald: Pop Goes the Octopus also involves his work and is a soothing alternate that involves the use of more woodwinds and light piano play.