Elmo's Lowdown Hoedown

Sesame Street is one of the most trusted brand names in all of television, and it's earned it. Elmo's Lowdown Hoedown isn't incredibly educational--your kids will not finish the album and start doing calculus--but there are lessons to be learned here: "It's Zydeco" introduces the musical style and a number of instruments; "Readers of the Open Range" encourages kids to pick up books; "A Tall Tale"--which features "Noel Cowherd" and "Polly Darton"--illustrates the limitations of gullibility. The music is, as always, topnotch, and the stories are fun. Special note: Elmo, the de facto host of the album, shows up on only a handful of songs, and Zoe is nowhere to be found. --Randy Silver