Mark
Meisel
Mark
Meisel is a veteran musician and producer. He has toured with numerous national
acts, and was a founding member and front man for Detroit's, Opie's Dream,
throughout the 1990s. These days Mark has turned his attention to creating
music for children that is also suitable for their parents and grand-parents.
His latest CD Pick Up Your Toys - is a collection of songs that will both
entertain and challenge children. Parents will be entertained too, and the
tongue in cheek lyrical style will induce lots of laughs as children and their
parents relate to the stories. Using the nom de plume "Zehti," Mark
and his latest album will be embraced by the entire family.
Pick Up Your Toys - picks up where comedian and spoken word artists of the 70s left off. It should be evaluated with more than a keen ear to appreciate it. When you hear songs sung like this you should listen to the music too. Once you do that with this album you’re good to go. “Clap Clap Clap” starts and you don’t know what to think. But you have-to keep an open ear because the music demands it. This is fantastic in its own way and you can’t turn it off, you’ll want to hear what else is going on. It’s not that it’s even the best track, it’s just good enough to make it impossible not to be on board.
“Chew It Up” isn’t as good but if you like great guitar playing you still get something the young ones at the table might not even pick up on yet. It’s for the babies of the bunch, let’s put it that way. It would be perfect for playing to the toddlers. And since I mentioned that, it’s appropriate to follow with “The Walk Around” and it’s like part two, so it finishes what is really-just an okay experience in the former song. The guitar wins the prize on this for its smooth bluesy mood change that actually-manages to make the whole song. It’s one of the better moments to be assured.
Pick Up Your Toys - picks up where comedian and spoken word artists of the 70s left off. It should be evaluated with more than a keen ear to appreciate it. When you hear songs sung like this you should listen to the music too. Once you do that with this album you’re good to go. “Clap Clap Clap” starts and you don’t know what to think. But you have-to keep an open ear because the music demands it. This is fantastic in its own way and you can’t turn it off, you’ll want to hear what else is going on. It’s not that it’s even the best track, it’s just good enough to make it impossible not to be on board.
“Chew It Up” isn’t as good but if you like great guitar playing you still get something the young ones at the table might not even pick up on yet. It’s for the babies of the bunch, let’s put it that way. It would be perfect for playing to the toddlers. And since I mentioned that, it’s appropriate to follow with “The Walk Around” and it’s like part two, so it finishes what is really-just an okay experience in the former song. The guitar wins the prize on this for its smooth bluesy mood change that actually-manages to make the whole song. It’s one of the better moments to be assured.
“Dreams”
is a little less inspiring, but it’s not the worst effort on the album. It’s a
nice lullaby with some precision acoustic guitar playing but the story is
more-or less forgettable. But it all depends on your cup of tea or coffee,
glass of juice or milk, so to speak. It gets back on track for me with “At The
Zoo” which lifts the spirits back up and makes you want to play it for
everyone. I can also see why anyone would see these last two the other way
around, but I already explained why. I’m with the bright side of things on this
album, so I’ll stick with the latter, instead of the former.
“If You Hurry You Can Make It” is on the energetic side, and more fun for the family, but there’s a cool pop song under there too. Mark Meisel is good enough to balance all this and come out clean. “Pick Up Your Toys” being the title track probably lives up to its name as the best track on the album. But here’s also “Charlie Mae’s First Halloween” which is an indication by now that Charlie must be a family member or something. This is continued on “Charlie’s Driving The Car” before ending on a high note with “Hangin’ Out With Paw.” An overall good and well-produced album for the entire family.
“If You Hurry You Can Make It” is on the energetic side, and more fun for the family, but there’s a cool pop song under there too. Mark Meisel is good enough to balance all this and come out clean. “Pick Up Your Toys” being the title track probably lives up to its name as the best track on the album. But here’s also “Charlie Mae’s First Halloween” which is an indication by now that Charlie must be a family member or something. This is continued on “Charlie’s Driving The Car” before ending on a high note with “Hangin’ Out With Paw.” An overall good and well-produced album for the entire family.
I-TUNES:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mark-meisel/id4106209
Mike Tabor
Mike Tabor
Hey Mike, thanks for the thoughtful and critically honest review!! I really appreciate the obvious depth with which you listened, and I think you gave it all a fair shake. Thanks again!
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