The Not-Its!' new release is a keeper

The Not-Its!, 'Tag, You're It!' (Little Loopy Records)

This doesn't sound like kids' music — until you listen to the lyrics. And even then, what adult couldn't use the occasional reminder that "video games are all the same, and too complicated" (from the opening track, "Freeze Tag") or that junk food can be OK but "just in moderation, only on special occasions" (from "I Love Food"). The Seattle-based Not-Its! insert these gentle messages, plus a lot of silliness, into their third CD since 2009. It includes songs about math, animals and goofing around.

The musicians have impressive credentials that include rock, punk and country, and the five band members have eight children among them so it should be no surprise that their music is not only kid-friendly but also goes far beyond nursery rhymes. The band's indie-pop-rock style resembles music I listen to, which is also great, because once my daughter discovers something she likes, she can't get enough of it.

I don't think my 3-year-old could make out a lot of the lyrics. They went by pretty fast, backed up by guitar, bass and drums. So while I was cracking up, she mostly just danced. Nothing wrong with that.

"Tag, You're It!" is a keeper. It will be a great soundtrack for playing the license-plate game on car trips ("Vacation") in those precious few years before your child has her own iPod and becomes obsessed with the Justin Bieber or Hannah Montana of her generation.

Julie Hanson, Seattle Times

Other new releases

Beyoncé, "4" (Sony)

Selena Gomez & the Scene, "When the Sun Goes Down" (Hollywood)

Gillian Welch, "The Harrow and the Harvest" (Acony) (Look for Charles R. Cross' article about Welch's new CD and her upcoming Moore Theatre concert in the Sunday, July 3 Seattle Times (www.seattletimes.com; search "Gillian Welch.")