by Johnny Loftus
Barney, Baby Bop, and BJ return with Start Singing With Barney, a 23-track collection of lively singalong material. There's plenty of silly fun to be had here -- in Barney's world, phrases like "Diddle-daddle doo," "On your tummy now," and "Hi, little ducks! Waddle, waddle, waddle! So cute!" take on new resonance. Everything's a good time, from reading ("I Love to Read!/Books Are Fun!") to pitching in ("Clean Up"). But Barney isn't all about making mundane things magical. He and his dino-riffic pals also like to dance for their inspiration. "Bumpin' Up and Down," "Gaggle, Giggle, Wiggle Dance/The Dino Dance," and a country-flavored take on "Old MacDonald" all bop along at a kid-friendly pace perfect for following along at home. To that end, Start Singing With Barney includes a full lyric sheet in its liner notes. Album standouts include "The Popcorn Song," "The Clapping Song," and that perennial favorite and set-closer, "I Love You."