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.
