Sara Hickman Newborn (Sleeveless)

Sara Hickman

Newborn (Sleeveless)

Awww... No question that Newborn is utterly adorable, but what's remarkable is how it avoids being too precious. Sara Hickman deftly sidesteps cutesiness by creating an album of lullabies and singalongs for parents to join in on rather than simple songs for babies. To that end, she adapts the classic "Hush (Little Baby)" from the rather materialistic attitude of buying good behavior to appreciating a moment in time; instead of "buy you a mockingbird," Hickman will "catch you a hummingbird" and that's precisely the fine touch that makes Newborn so listenable. She wrote, co-wrote, or revised lyrics on nine of the 16 songs here, and there's something comforting about these fresh and contemporary songs of love to babies. "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," Cat Stevens' "Moonshadow," Jimmie Davis' "You Are My Sunshine," and "Brahms Lullabye" are among the traditional songs. Her own contributions, such as "It's Alright" and "Lily," are just as endearing, and with tunes like "Goop's in It," Newborn ventures into enough silliness to keep toddlers and older children as well as infants amused. Of course it's hard not to be enchanted by Sara Hickman's lovely voice. The best thing about this album? The baby to whom you sing songs such as "Reserved for the One I Love" doesn't have to be a newborn.