Billy Jonas doesn't only employ instruments like the
guitar and piano in this delightful family recording, he uses homemade instruments
and one of the best instruments of all—the audience! What Kind of Cat
Are You?! is a clever and energetic collection of songs, most of which are
live performances, that invite participation.
The title track is enormously fun. Jonas involves his audience (consisting
of both children and adults) by posing musical questions, all of which are riddles
and wordplay using the word "cat", such as, "What kind of cat is really, really
scared?" (a scaredy cat) and "What kind of cat is a great big disaster?" (a
catastrophe), with the vocabulary increasing in complexity as the song progresses.
In "Some Houses", the lyrics explore different materials, such as plastic, metal,
and wood — all of which are traced back to their origin, the ground! "Alien
in My Lungs" is a hilarious song about a wicked cold, and "Nine-Foot Dragon
and a Four-Foot Boy" tells a compelling story. The cover, "Lean on Me", is warm
and heartening, and "Tongo!" invites dancing along. And, buried in the the slurpy
silliness of "Watermelon" is a lesson about photosynthesis.
Both the lyrics and the instrumentals on this family recording are highly
creative. Through singing, speaking, and whispering, Billy Jonas delivers an
especially interactive experience. He encourages listeners to grab something
(such as keys or chairs) to bang on; while the audience participation helps
encourage kids to shout out answers to musical questions and to repeat lyrics.
