Album Review: Imagination Movers – 10-4
At its worst, kid-oriented music is so sugary that it makes the listener’s teeth hurt. At its best, the genre entertains kids and (admittedly to a lesser extent) adults alike, and bring generations together over shared enjoyment of the musical experience. Imagination Movers lean in the latter direction; their songs are catchy and simple enough to capture the, er, imagination of youngsters, but complex enough both instrumentation-wise and in arrangement to intrigue adult listeners. The subject matter of the 13 songs on 10-4 are age-appropriate, but the music itself hits the sweet spot between simple and sophisticated. Some ace guests make a goo collection even better; Lisa Loeb got her start as a mainstream artist but has developed a parallel career as a kid-focused songwriter and performer; her duet with the group on “Butterfly Wings” is simply charming. A collaboration with hip-hop act The Durbulence (“Two Truck”) is catchy as well; it’s the kid-friendly mirror image of gangsta rap. Throughout 10-4, the group deftly and completely avoids the dreaded twee characteristics that threaten to induce insulin shock in grown-up audiences; there’s nothing here that will annoy adults. In fact, the cheery, uptempo songs are likely to brighten the day of listeners of most any age.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.