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Approaching their near-50th studio album, Australian children's pop act the Wiggles show no sign of relinquishing their status as one of the world's biggest and most prolific preschool entertainers with their first 2011 release, Ukulele Baby! Released in conjunction with their same-name DVD, which sees the intrepid quartet explore a tropical island near Wiggle Bay, its 23 tracks attempt to introduce its young audience to the magical sounds of Hawaii, Greece, and France, just to name a few, with its use of mandolins, bouzoukis, and accordions alongside the ukulele, resulting in perhaps their most globe-trotting release to date. Like their previous output, the songs may focus on simple childhood pleasures like toys ("My Curly Sue Doll"), dancing ("Hula Hula Baby"), and pets ("Everybody Loves a Puppy"), and contain titles as silly as "Cluck Cluck City," "Ooki, Ooki, Ooko, Hear That Old Bouzouki," and "Doo, Doo-Doo, Doo!," but their '60s-influenced sound, not a million miles away from two of its members' former outfit, the Cockroaches, is certainly a cut above most kids' singalongs. Indeed, ignore the comedy voices and "When I'm Painting" is an infectious slice of rockabilly, "Henry's Spinning" is a gentle beachside ditty that wouldn't sound out of place on a Jack Johnson album, and "Thank You, Mr. Weatherman" sounds like Johnny Cash doing Motown, while the mournful strings and shuffling rhythms of "Bambino" could have been lifted from a 1940s torch song. The guest collaborators aren't quite in the same league as Kylie Minogue or Keith Urban, but Mental as Anything's Pete O'Doherty provides an authentic musical accompaniment, while national treasure Rolf Harris joins in on a fun rendition of '70s kids favorite "The Good Ship Fabulous." A few irritating novelty songs ("Round and Round, Round and Round," "Toybox") are destined to drive parents up the wall, but overall, Ukulele Baby! is a high-spirited, melodic, and catchy foray into world music that can be enjoyed by any age. ~ Jon O'Brien
