REVIEWS
Awards
2004 GRAMMY NOMINEE
2004 Just Plain Folks "Best Children's Album"
2004 Just Plain Folks Male Artist of the Year
2004 Publishers Weekly "Listen Up" Award
2004 Dr. Toy 10 Best Creative Products
2004 Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award
2003 Children's Music Web Award Winner
2003 NAPPA Honors Winner
...
CANDY MACHINE REVIEWS
Bass Frontiers Magazine
"A beautifully produced and poetic concept album for the entire family, in which the precocious Suzy and her timid younger brother Joe embark on a selfish search for the elusive Island of Sugar, but discover the Golden Rule instead."
Genre: Kids/Family: General Children's Music
-Review by Jarad Clement
The Candy Machine is the opposite of what a children's record normally is. This is not a clone of Radio Disney or the kids music channel on cable. David Labuyere and Zak Morgan made this album with the thoughts of the parents and children in mind together to ultimately make an enjoyable and bonding experience out of something that normally parents aren't crazy about.
"…I really made it with the hopes that it would be a record that families could listen to together…"
-David Labruyere
While listening to The Candy Machine for the first time, I became lost in the story of two naughty kids, Suzy and Joe, and their infatuation of sweets. While on their way to their vacation destination and in a heavy sugar-coma, they nod off into a mysterious land in search of The Island of Sugar, a place where everything is made out of healthy and nutritious candy. Along the way they run into odd ball characters like the Hillbilly Mermaids and escape the treacherous dangers of The Raven, an angry resident on The Island of Sugar. After an exhausting journey, Suzy and Joe come to the realization of the true nutritional value of candy and of the Golden Rule, treat others the way you want to be treated. The story is very entertaining and I even found myself, at multiple times, literally laughing out loud at the lyrics.
The production quality that David provides for The Candy Machine listeners is also top notch. There are so many nuances in the production that reflect each song. You can visualize the boat Suzy and Joe used to travel to The Island of Sugar with ease and you can almost smell the smoke stained beards of the Hillbilly Mermaids. It will allow a child's mine to really experience the story by captivating their imagination and, to hopefully, teach them the Golden Rule!
http://www.bassfrontiersmag.com/zak-and-dela-the-candy-machine-cd-review/
BEST OF CINCINNATI, Cincinnati Magazine, 2010
He's got Shel Silverstein's wit, Cat Stevens's sound, Jimmy Buffett's crowd appeal – and while those crowds are mostly too young for margaritas, Cincinnati native Zak Morgan's tuneful tales appeal to grown-ups as well. His 1999 debut Bloom still sounds fresh, When Bullfrogs Croak landed a Grammy nomination in 2004, and his latest, a concept CD called The Candy Machine, suggests the next logical stage of this perpetual kid's career: Zak Morgan: The Musical!
Boston Children's Music
Review by Amber Bobnar
Zak Morgan's new album, Suzy and Joe in the story of the Candy Machine, is a joint effort with Dela (David LaBruyere). Unlike most kids' albums, this one is a concept album that tells a real story.
Suzy and Joe go on a long and twisting adventure through rough seas, past Hillbilly Mermaids, and on to Sugar Island. It's the sort of CD that you can pay close attention to, pick up each word, and follow the story… or just listen to the music and enjoy the melodies. Either way, it'll take you on a fun ride.
It's also the sort of CD that really, really should be animated! It'd be so cool as a full length animated film. I hope someone else is thinking this, too!
http://www.bostonchildrensmusic.com/more-cds/
Midwest Book Review
Grammy nominated children's musician Zak Morgan and David "Dela" LaBruyere present The Candy Machine, a children's music CD album cheerfully recounting the adventures of Suzy and her nervous younger brother Joe in their self-absorbed search for the Island of Sugar. Instead of endless candy, the two discover something infinitely more valuable: the Golden Rule. An upbeat, fast-paced, musical adventure sure to entertain and delight, The Candy Machine is highly recommended.
Zak is like a young Mister Rogers.
– KIDS FIRST Coalition for Quality Children's Media, All-Star Review
Bright colors, catchy tunes, and a heartfelt message make Zakland an inviting destination.
– Booklist
Encourages children to exercise their imaginations and read books.
– Parenthood
"I haven't seen a better music program for pre-schoolers since Music Pizza by the late (and great) Shari Lewis."
– Kevin Morrison, COO of Family Communications, Inc. (Mister Rogers' Neighborhood)
It sparkles with witty lyrics and sonorous, inviting vocals…Morgan once again demonstrates a pleasing versatility.
– Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Uplifting, kid honoring songs.
– LA Times
Heading a host of top-notch musicians, Morgan vividly shapes each song with his warm, folk vocals.
– LA Times
Will be appreciated by children and adults who work with them.
– School Library Journal, Audio of the Week
Refreshing, varied and — doggoneit — vocabulary-building songs.
– Detroit Free Press (Knight Ridder News Services)
Such attention to artistic and musical detail is what elevates this disc from must-have to heirloom status, suitable for kids of all ages.
– CityBeat
WINNER Best Children's Album 2000, Just Plain Folks Music Awards
A brilliant and witty work that will challenge and fascinate kids of all ages."
– Just Plain Folks
Best of 2001, Chicago Parent
Morgan raises the bar for active listening with his wonderful wordplay and positive messages... Morgan's trademark wordplay hops right out at you…fine writing and musical sensibilities...fun language and rhythmic rhyming…
– Chicago Parent
Best of 2002, Cincinnati CityBeat
"The musician's lyrics are innocent and sophisticated, all in the same universe."
#1 Kids' CD, 2002
"A wonderful children's CD, richly endowed with clever wordplay and vivid detail…. The exceptional poetry of Bloom is further buoyed by the talented musicianship."
- Paste Magazine
"His sophisticated story-songs contain a good amount of wordplay that adult listeners will particularly appreciate…Morgan's rich, sonorous voice is at home both singing and spinning yarns."
– Publishers Weekly
"a possible successor to [Shel] Silverstein…these songs/poems will delight and inspire any listener."
– KLIATT, starred review
"Morgan's splendid imagination is reminiscent of Shel Silverstein's sly and edgy style… Morgan's real genius is he sings songs instantly relatable to both kids and adults."
– Rick Bird, Cincinnati Post
"Zak Morgan never talks down to kids and never fails to deliver positive messages about the sometimes hard realities of growing up."
– Larry Nager, Cincinnati Enquirer
