In Concert

by Bradley Torreano It may be hard to imagine, but the former house band for Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego has become one of the premiere forces in a cappella music through the '90s. This performance, taken from a concert in Santa Barbara in December of 2000, is a showcase for the group's incredible talents and bright arrangements that has no other instruments besides their voices. For fans of this sort of music, this is a real treat, as the group pulls out all the stops and feels free to show off their vocal talents at any opportunity. Unfortunately, the group's clean-cut image and appeal to children does sacrifice some of the emotional depth shown by other groups in the a cappella field, but they also seem to have more energy than many of their contemporaries. They do manage to occasionally pull out a gem that could appeal to any age group, like the yearning "This Isn't Love" and the delicate take on "Stand by Me." This is definitely a safe affair, so really any age group with an appreciation for their talents can easily get into this album. This is actually a good record for children, if only because the group never comes close to dealing with questionable topics or adult themes beyond love. Fans of this style of performance will probably be very impressed, while others may want to keep in mind how safe the group plays it during this concert.