Album Review: Tunes on Toast

Children’s music is one of those genres that is harder to write than people give it credit for. You need songs that kids want to hear over and over again, but you also don’t want parents reaching for the skip button after five minutes. Sammy and the Fam seem to have found a really nice balance on Tunes on Toast.

The opening track, Mr Continental, is built around a simple ukulele strum, but it doesn’t stay there for long. As more breakfast foods get introduced, more voices and instruments begin to appear until the whole family is involved. It’s a gradual build that feels natural, and the little chord change at the end was a nice touch.

The ukulele is easily the most prominent instrument across the album, and it works. It gives every song a warmth that suits the family feel of the record. On the second track, Ice Cream Shop, the arrangements get a little bigger with bass and drums joining in, and hearing the family list different ice cream flavours instantly reminded me of standing in an ice cream shop trying to make up my mind. Avocado flavour? I wasn’t expecting that one.

There is definitely a Wiggles influence here, but I don’t think that’s something they’re trying to hide. These songs are written to get kids involved, and they do that well. What I liked was that each song feels a little different. The chord progressions and melodies change enough from track to track that the album never settles into one formula.

The production keeps everything nice and clear. The vocals are always easy to hear, which is important because the stories are really the focus. Nothing feels overcomplicated. The instruments are there to support the songs, not compete with them.

Lyrically, every track has its own little theme. Where Is Teddy? is a great example. If you’ve ever had kids, you’ve probably spent time helping them look for a missing teddy that somehow ended up in the strangest place imaginable. The slow ending and final reveal genuinely got a laugh out of me.

There are also little moments that adults will appreciate. The ending of Good Lookin’ Eyes has a joke tucked away that landed perfectly, and it never feels like it’s trying too hard.

I also had a lot of fun with Toast. It’s the sort of song where you can imagine families making up their own ridiculous toast toppings while they’re singing along. That’s when you know a children’s song has done its job.

Sammy and the Fam have put together a debut that feels genuine from start to finish. Based in Hawke’s Bay, they’ve written a collection of songs about everyday family life – breakfast, ice cream, missing teddies and grumpy toddlers – and there’s an honesty to it all that makes the album easy to like. It’s fun, catchy and feels like it was made by people who simply enjoy making music together. I can easily imagine these songs becoming favourites in plenty of family homes.