Ride the Merry-Go-Round is another utterly charming album from Carol Nicodemi and company. Intended for kids of any age as well as anyone needing a half hour of happy music, the twelve original songs feature Carol's vocals both solo and with her daughter (Elyse Orecchio). A couple of tracks also feature Carol's grandchildren's sweet voices. The vocals are backed by Carol's husband, Ed, on guitar as well as Oskar Häggdahl on drums/percussion and Kevin Jones on bass. Five tracks have been released as singles between 2023 and 2025, and it's really nice to have them all in one place in addition to the seven newer songs. Along with the catchy sing-along melodies, many of the songs express important messages about friendship, the environment, and the power of positivity. The simple instrumentation and the "message" songs give the album a folk-music feeling that is bright, upbeat and encouraging.

Ride the Merry-Go-Round begins with the title track, a happy duet sung by Carol and Elyse that celebrates the joy and innocence of riding the horses on a traditional merry-go-round. "I Like to Know" is sung by Elyse and recounts the order of events that happen each day in the life of a young child who appreciates learning. "Me and You" is another mother/daughter duet that could also be interpreted as a love song or a theme-song for besties - fun and charming for a duo of any kind! "What Should We Do On a Rainy Day?" cheerfully lists a number of activities to do on a day when it's too wet to go outside - lots of good ideas! The vocal duet of "Be My Friend" encourages befriending people from different countries and learning together - a great lesson for any age! "Fly On the Wall" is a joyful march about catching various animals (and bugs!) - just try to sit still while listening to this one! "Endangered," a sweet trio for Carol and her grandkids - Avery and Tyler Nicodemi - puts climate change and the many endangered species of animals and birds in terms that kids can understand: "We need your help to go on." "The Little Blue Engine" is based on the story of "The Little Engine That Could" and is sung by Melody Orecchio, Carol's granddaughter - very positive and uplifting! "Mother Earth" honors nature and the need to care for it in language that kids can easily understand and relate to. The album comes to a close with "Stories," a piece that encourages reading and the joy and comfort getting lost in a story can bring.

As I mentioned above, Ride the Merry-Go-Round was intended for kids, but it really is fun and uplifting to listen to at any age. It is available to stream or download from Amazon and Apple Music/iTunes as well as streaming platforms including Spotify and Pandora. Both thumbs up!