The album opens with its title track, "Microparty (Theme)," a song that invites everyone to a party, invites everyone to dance with that good beat. There are disco elements, as well as a bit of an ELO vibe at moments. I'm digging that work on violin by Kimi Samson. "Come along/You belong/We can be/Anything that we want to be/If we try." At one point, they say that this music, this party, is not just for the young, but also "the young at heart." It makes perfect sense to follow a song titled "Microparty" with a song titled "World Of The Small." This one begins with some soft work on acoustic guitar by Beth Hataway, and then becomes a delightfully strange and strangely delightful song. "In the world (in the world)/Of the small (of the small)/Where nothing is big or tall (not at all)/Invisible to the naked eye." It's a song about bacteria, cells and other things that we can't see. So, yeah, it's an educational number. "Atoms, you can't look at 'em." Part of this song's singular sound is due to Johnny Veres' work on organ. This track also features some wonderful stuff on strings. Kimi Samson is on violin, and Caleb Elliott is on cello.
"Raindrop" is a song delivered from the perspective of a raindrop, with a cool bass line by Russell Thomas Bush. "When it gets cold, I become snow and ice/When you cry, I am your tears of joy/Some days I'm a puddle/And others I'm a bubble." Yup, another educational number, and it's so adorable, particularly the vocal line. It's also a good deal of fun. Johnny Veres plays glockenspiel on this one. That's followed by "Rainbow," a song about the colors of the rainbow, about the order in which the colors are arranged. It's a cheerful number, and features some good work by Sam Williams on flute. "When you see a storm cloud blocking out the sun/Know that there's a rainbow when the storm is done." Children recite the colors and then exclaim "Rainbow!" at the end.
Three songs were released as a singles in advance of the album, and while I really like all of them, it was the second one that completely won my heart and got me excited about this release. Titled "Roly Poly," it is one of the most wonderful and delightful songs I've heard in years. Everything about this song makes me smile, from its rhythm to its lyrics to the way the backing vocals support the lead vocals. At the beginning Beth sings, "I'm a roly poly trying to get across town," and the backing vocals add, "She's a roly poly trying to get around." This is a roly poly who has a fairly strict schedule; she has to be somewhere by 3 o'clock. This song would fit in well with the absolute best songs from the Muppets. It has that kind of vibe, in part because of Johnny Veres' work on banjo. We need songs like this, adults and children alike. Maybe adults even more than children. By the way, a video was released for this song, and I ended up watching it many times, laughing for the joy of it each time. That's followed by the first song that was released as a single, "Sun & Shower," another absolutely adorable number. "It's so nice for you to drop on by/It's a beautiful day outside." I love the rhythm of the vocal line. And the chorus is kind of beautiful: "It takes a sun and a shower/To grow a beautiful flower/And a little bit of love, love, love." Toward the end, they sing, "Think about what you can do/To spread a little love if you/Think you've got some love to share." That's a good message for everyone, particularly these days when many people have grown cold.
"Lil' C" is another totally delightful song, this one sung from the perspective of a caterpillar. "I'm a little caterpillar inching along/To my own song." I can't help but wonder if this caterpillar knows the roly poly, if they've encountered each other along their individual routes, their individual dances. But seriously, I love this, and it just gets better and better as it goes. "I'm just a little caterpillar in a big, big world." I think we can relate to that feeling. This track features Daniel Ritch on tuba. Then in "Counting With Katherine," they sing, "Back in 1962/A woman proved what she could do/She used her math to take us far/Set her sights upon the stars." It's a song about Katherine Johnson, and about counting, and about doing our best at whatever we try. That's followed by "Bath Time," which was the third single released in advance of the album. It is a ridiculously fun rock song about getting clean. "Swimming around in my imagination/Just me and my toys in my aquarium/We can go for a ride out to the sea/Where the waves are high and we are free." If you dig The B-52's (and who doesn't?), you'll enjoy this song. It builds wonderfully, and might make you want to throw a party in your bathtub (but please be careful dancing in the tub).
"Bebop Bo Bobot The Robot" is another of the disc's highlights, with a great bass line. It begins by describing someone's search in a junkyard, a search which yields a robot head. And then suddenly, the band takes on the electronic voice of the robot, which comes as a delightful surprise. I love the way they change their voices to take on that character. The track becomes a conversation between a person named Michael and a robot named Bebop Bo Bobot. In the second half, the robot announces it wants to dance, and the music cooperates, aiding him in that endeavor. That's followed by "Pick Up Your Toys," a song that has a classic vibe, taking us back to the early days of rock and roll. This is a song you'll want to play while cleaning your home. The album concludes with "Little Jack," a song that looks back at the day. It's a winding down, the sound and pace making us think of getting ready for bed. And indeed, near the end they sing, "Let's count our sheep/Then fall fast asleep." "Sweet dreams," they tell us. And if our dreams are at all like the world created by these songs, they'll not only be sweet but joyous.
CD Track List
- Microparty (Theme)
- World Of The Small
- Raindrop
- Rainbow
- Roly Poly
- Sun & Shower
- Lil' C
- Counting With Katherine
- Bath Time
- Bebop Bo Bobot The Robot
- Pick Up Your Toys
- Little Jack
Microparty was released on April 25, 2025 on Infinite Reality Records.
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