Replay: Rock ‘n’ Roll with The Verve Pipe’s ‘A Family Album’

Post-grunge rock band The Verve Pipe released their one and only children’s album in October 2009. To me, this puts them leagues above other rock bands like The Rolling Stones or AC/DC whose unfiltered lyrics are unfit for family settings — clearly, they don’t care about the children.

A Michigan-based band, The Verve Pipe was formed in 1992 by Brian Vander Ark, Brian Stout and Donny Brown. They began their career with their first EP “I’ve Suffered a Head Injury” in 1992. 

Their songs are quintessential rock with strong bass and drum beats, allowing the guitar to take center stage. World-weary lyrics are enthusiastically rasped by the band. 

After the band was approached to contribute a song to the album “Calling All Kids,” they were inspired to create an entire album of family-friendly songs, according to an interview with MLive.

Three decades later, the band continues to perform with a new crew — Vander Ark is the only remaining member from the original trio. The band has a show on March 22 at City Winery in Chicago. At times like these, I curse my wonderful study abroad experience in Rome. 

“A Family Album” was played regularly in our family minivan and was the first album to christen my brand new portable CD player. We only had one copy of the CD, so I would hide it in my room, far away from my siblings. 

The album was tucked between two others — Ralph’s World’s “At the Bottom of the Sea” and Justin Roberts’ “Way Out.” So the hiding spot wasn’t ingenious but at least it meant I was able to snag it first. 

“Wake Up” opens the album with a rooster crow, which then leads into lively drums and electric guitar. Lead singer Vander Ark narrates a child scrambling to make it to school on time after sleeping in. Even though I had perfect attendance as a kid, I was obsessed with the track.

“Quick brush your teeth and pat down your hair / It’s a great big world just waiting out there so / Wake up, wake up, wake up,” Vander Ark sings. 

On Musical.ly — the predecessor to TikTok — I filmed myself pretending to jolt awake to the song’s opening cry of “Wake Up.”At the age of 12, I found the idea extremely clever and prepared to go viral. I did not. 

The album’s second song “We Had To Go Home” appalled my strait-laced self, with its lyrics telling the story of a boy told to behave at a birthday party. Disastrously, other kids flush a towel down the toilet and fill up water balloons and the boy is forced to go home — swearing he wasn’t involved with the tomfoolery.

The fourth track “Be Part Of The Band” inspired a new dream within 9-year-old me. No longer would I aspire to be an animator or inventor with purple hair — I was going to be in a band.

At the same time, students at my elementary school began receiving their instrument assignments for middle school. I was convinced I’d be on the trumpet. I had visions of wowing the crowd with jazz solos and high trills. 

But when it came time to audition on the trumpet, I could only produce a pitiful honk. I was promptly assigned to the violin. From then on, I didn’t want to “Be Part Of The Band.” 

“Cereal” plays into the band’s strongest skill set — rock music. Electric guitar, heavy drum beats and deep bass breathe exhilarating energy into the track, making cereal seem like the biggest deal in the whole world.

To me, cereal was a big deal. Some evenings I was allowed a bowl of Frosted Mini-Wheats after dinner, so I deeply appreciated the song’s recognition of cereal’s extravagance.

“Only One Of You” is quintessentially kid-themed as it tackles the issue of sibling jealousy. As I was adjusting into the middle child role, this song was incredibly relevant. 

“Yes,” I thought to myself. “That’s right. Henry has the attention now, but I was No. 1 from the start.”

It didn’t matter to me that I was not, in fact, No. 1 from the start — that would’ve been my older sister, Ellie. But the reassurance of parental love and of my irreplaceability comforted me during fits of sibling-induced envy.

In this song, the holler of the trumpet and the smacking of drums are calmed into something softer and more soothing.

The eighth track’s twangy banjo and peppy claps paint the picture of unbridled enthusiasm for the best time of the day — “Suppertime!” It holds the trophy for my favorite song on the album because it utilizes clever wordplay and amusing, literal interpretations of common idioms and food names. 

“Why do they call it a sandwich, there’s no sand in it / Why do they call it a hotdog, there’s no dog in it (or is there?) / I don’t even care ‘cause I’m still having it,” Vander Ark sings.

“Worrisome One” is another college-appropriate track, especially as I tackle the stress of living abroad. The song serves as a reminder to be brave and allow myself some grace as I navigate the unknown.

“Worrisome one, little worrisome one / These are worrisome times / And you worry sometimes / And though you sit on the sidelines / You can win the game next time,” Vander Ark sings.

I used to sing this track as I walked home from elementary school. I don’t think I understood the weight of the lyrics at that time, but they consoled me nonetheless. 

“A Family Album” ends with the lullaby-esque song “Go To Sleep Now.” To me, this is the perfect finale as the album reaches a natural conclusion — the end of the day. Delicate guitar plucks accompany the soft hum of crickets, creating the association of a warm summer evening.

“Hold my fingers / Grab hold of them tight / You and I will wish upon the moon so bright / As your eyes close / Let my fingers go / You are loved much more than you will ever know / So go to sleep now,” Vander Ark croons.

“A Family Album” is available to stream on all major platforms.

“Replay” is a recurring music review column.

Featured image courtesy of Sid Flips Music