Perennial surfer dude/singer/songwriter
Jack Johnson lends his voice to the eternally silent Curious George on this collection of "Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies," original material built around the famous monkey and his strange obsession with "the Man with the Yellow Hat." Universal Pictures couldn't have picked a better collaborator for this soundtrack to the Curious George film, as
Johnson's easygoing delivery and breezy demeanor match George's silent curiosity to a T. Fellow songwriters
Ben Harper,
G. Love, and
Matt Costa contribute three songs to the predominantly children-oriented affair, while
Johnson and band give up an island rendition of
the White Stripes' "We're Going to Be Friends," as well as the umpteenth cover of Schoolhouse Rock!'s "Three Is the Magic Number." Heady stuff? Not exactly, but there's not an ounce of pretense to the project, making it a fun, safe bet for kids and a forgettable -- yet not entirely unpleasant -- piece of escapism for adults. [Universal Island's 2006 edition featured alternate album art and one bonus track.] ~ James Christopher Monger