Watch Kids' Reviews of
STAR FOREST

Outstanding! I love it! Definitely will listen to it again and/or share with my friends. I like Star Forest simply because I like the music. It's not a genre of music that anyone would find too loud or too boring. I can imagine listening to this music around a campfire - eating s'mores and singing and dancing to it. This album has a wide range of styles that can really fit any purpose or any person. That's really what I find most appealing about it.

I like that there are backup voices. These voices create a beautiful echo that makes the music sound richer and more beautiful. These sounds can vary between barely noticeable and quite noticeable; both ways are very pretty and add to the music.

Since the band is virtual, I don't really have comments about the musicians. I will say that there are times when the quality of the singing isn't spectacular, but I still really liked it. The songs are very well constructed instrumentally. The backup singers stand out for me. When a voice or an instrument repeats a string of words, it came across quite beautifully. I really liked it. There are no bad words; the vocabulary is certainly kid-friendly. I didn't find myself singing along afterward, however there is one line from the third song of the album, "Wildewood" that stuck in my head, "When the sun goes down and the moon comes up, we're gonna dance the night away." I really loved the instrumental parts - the instruments sound great in all the songs. I can't comment on the recording quality because I don't know much about that. What I do know is that I love this album and that's what counts!

I give Star Forest 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 3 to 12.

By Alma Kliper, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

I really enjoyed Star Forest. The singers have great pitch and rhythm, which pairs very well with the music. The lyrics of each song, as well as the album as a whole, are creative and appealing. Sometimes the lyrics form a story; other times they are more just an addition to the wonderful music.

The variety of the different rhythms, tunes and genres are well chosen so that there is something that will be enjoyed by every listener! The musicians are very engaging. They make understanding the story in the songs easy. The singer that stands out the most has an incredible run in a high register. It is the most impressive embellishment any musician adds to this album. Kids will be awestruck and possibly inspired to mirror it themselves! The music is very easy for kids to understand. The vocabulary is basic and most kids will be able to easily listen and follow along with the story. Even if the lyrics are a bit challenging for some, the music is still worth listening to. After listening to the album, I noticed that the songs are repeating themselves in my head, because of their catchy and creative elements.

I give Star Forest 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 10.

By Kyla C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

The CD Star Forest is a pandemic-produced fairy tale and it shows what amazing things you can do when you have time on your hands. Nicely produced tracks and vocal performances help the process along. However, the story and overall direction is a bit muddy, without a clear understanding of its intended audience and keeping their attention with tried and true tricks of the children's music trade. Hopefully we won't have to wait for another pandemic for another album. It's a reminder to fully commit to your target audience!

The music in Star Forest is well-produced and covers a variety of styles. However, it feels a little too hip for the room for their intended age range. I don't think the lyrics are engaging enough for the youngsters to follow. The structure of the individual songs is good, but the continuity from song to song is not cohesive and the style is overthought; not flowing. Some of the songs, with a little tweaking, could play for adult audiences in an esoteric sort of way, but they are not all encompassing for a children's audience. They are a little all over the map. I got lost as to where the story was going while wearing my child-audience hat. This would not work with a live audience. It is just a bit too unfocused for its intended age group. There are some really good performances throughout the album - the kids, ensemble, backgrounds are all good.

I don't believe kids walk away from listening to Star Forrest looking to change the world.

I give Star Forest 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 8. Reviewed by John Wood, KIDS FIRST!

The band is virtual. The music is real. Created by two parents during a pandemic -an Emmy award winning children's producer and writer and a rock-n-roll composer and engineer, this musical collaboration is a love letter to their children who that couldn't agree on music that was enjoyable for the whole family. Discover Star Forest's first album - enchanting, radical songs that tug on your heart and ignite your imagination. A mix of rich bodied melodies, dreamy ballads, toe tappers, and pirate rappers, Star Forest is something the whole family can vibe with. It's road trip music. It's fanciful. It's inspiring. It's kind. It's cinematic. It's something for everyone.