I'm a Rock Star

I'm a Rock Star

• Photograph: Dirty Sugar Photography54.mu.joanieleeds.03_0.jpg648761
• Photograph: Dirty Sugar Photography54.mu.joanieleeds.01_0.jpg648772
• 54.mu.joanieleeds_2performi_0.jpg648783
• 54.mu.joanieleeds_performin_0.jpg648794
• 54.mu.joanieleedscover_0.jpg648805

PreviousNext

Photograph: Dirty Sugar Photography

Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights
I’m a Rock Star
Limbostar, $15.

The urge to flaunt disparate musical tastes has doomed many a children’s album, but the sophomore effort from local chanteuse Joanie Leeds benefits from such variety. As she dips into Latin grooves (“En Español”), hip-hop (“More Cowbell”) and other styles (“I Like Jazz”), her versatile voice, capable of the sincere, the silly and the sophisticated, holds it all together. The title track—with its hint of midcareer Alanis Morissette—is a terrific jam, while the rocking-chair anthem “Give Me a Hug” is a tender, parent-pleasing tune. Despite my six-year-old daughter Julie’s sour reaction to the sparkly cover (“She looks like Hannah Montana!”), she quickly succumbed to the CD’s charm. After listening to “It Was the Elf,”she said, “I wish I could blame my messes on an elf, but I only have a little sister!” She adores “Popcorn,” a soda-fountain ditty: “I love pretending to be a kernel bouncing around the bag.” And regarding “Joanie Says”: “It’s like Simon says, only dancier and better—and I beat my dad every time!” If she can win over my discerning kid, then Joanie Leeds is indeed a rock star.—Jeff Bogle