Innocence + Despair (a music review)

I've been busy the last few couple weeks and haven't been able to read and post as much as I would like, but hopefully things have slowed down for awhile.

Recently, while I was on a long road trip, I was listening to many old CDs I had stashed away. I can upon one that I thought many of you would enjoy. Many of you may already know about it, but here it is anyway.

The album is called Innocence & Despair by The Langley Schools Music Project.
To say that this album touched me is an understatement. Every time I listen to it, I'm pulled in, deep within my thoughts.

On the surface it's fairly unassuming. Basically its about 20 songs performed in the mid 70's by 60 school kids ages 9-12. But somehow it's more than just some cutesy kids singing silly songs. That is perhaps particularly because of the song selections. The teacher felt that having the kids sing kid type songs was condescending. Instead he picked out pop songs from the era, and the kids took to it enthusiastically.

It was recorded just for the kids, never intended for a big release. But then it was discovered some 2 decades later, found a label, and released.
The kids play the instruments except for an accompany by piano or guitar on some tracks. The recording was in a gym, and has the echo to show it. The notes are off key, or over exuberant at times, and the drummer is well, free spirited. But all these problems lend to the honesty, simplicity, and reality.

There are several solos by young girls, such as on The Long and Winding Road (Beatles), Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Carpenters) and Desperado (The Eagles). Each solo is wonderful, but the way the girl sings Desperado just engulfs me.
A few others that particularly strike me, God Only Knows (Beach Boys), In My Room (Beach Boys), Mandy (Barry Manilow).
Then some songs are just amusing from the intensity the kids give like Space Oddity (Bowie), or Band on the Run (Wings), Saturday Night (Bay City Rollers)

The album has gained a bit of a cult following with outsider art types, and surely for some the boisterous voices will grate the senses. As for me, I don't know if its just being a GL that makes me feel a connection with the young voices, but I find the album refreshing and comforting. It reminds me that as a kid, my thoughts were not silly and "childish". I felt things like the longing and pain of heartache.
Some may find the cuteness in these performances in the kids singing about things they were to young to understand. I think these kids could relate very well to the lyrics they were singing.