Reviewed by James Howard-Smith

Wonder Kids is pretty big and quite successful enterprise that makes music for children. Their catalogue is broad, starting with lullabies drawn from Bible stories and running along to this collection of covers performed by children. Artistically it does nothing: it isn't Johnny Cash's 'American Recordings' at the opposite end of the human lifespan. No one other than a conscientious critic is going to listen to these cover versions of American CCM hits sung by children aged four to 10 at one sitting. Such a chore is akin to a CIA torture session, particularly when you get to the version of Jars of Clay's "Flood" with the worst drum solo ever recorded. As this isn't something to listen to at home, I don't see its function going further than Sunday schools and all age church services, but even here there will be problems. The version of Casting Crowns' "If We Are The Body" best displays the weakness of children covering adult songs as it's pretty obvious that the children, earnest though they are, are just too young to be speaking or singing mature lyrics like these.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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