This has been available for awhile, but I wanted to point out that Brady Rymer has three new songs available for download as part of his Children's Dimetapp Breathe & Boogie Tour. Go here to download "Healthy Livin'" and "Even the Animals Sneeze," a couple mid-tempo folk-rockers that would've sounded fine on his recent Every Day is a Birthday CD.
Also available for download is "We are the Sniffles," which also has a video on the site. I'm sorta bummed because it's the best of the three tracks -- propulsive, great harmonies -- but it's got a couple shout-outs to Dimetapp (both in the song and on the video). It's worth a spin, though, because aside from the commercial reference (which kinda kills any repeat-listening value for me), it shows Rymer and his band at their best.
Rymer, incidentally, will be releasing his latest album, Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could, on March 4. You can hear one of the songs from the upcoming CD, "Road Trip" by attending one of his final shows on this tour in Rochester (NY), Houston, Dallas, and Madison, New Jersey (details here) and picking up the free six-song Rymer CD they're distributing.
So, yeah, I'm just waiting for the edited version...
Listen To This: "Beard For All Seasons" - Gustafer Yellowgold
Ever since the New York Times used the phrase “The show is a cross between ‘Yellow Submarine’ and Dr. Seuss" to describe Gustafer Yellowgold, it's been plastered all over their promo materials. Hey, if I were them, I would too. But I always thought it was just barely appropriate -- yes, it's animated and poppy, but those weren't quite the musical and lyrical influences I was hearing on the debut DVD.
But they've posted another track off their upcoming Have You Never Been Yellow? CD/DVD set, "Beard For All Seasons," on their Myspace page. And "Beard" definitely sounds like the Beatles (a clean melody, horns, handclaps) aided by a touch of Seussian lyrical whimsy. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
(Oh, and the DVD, which comes out October 16, has an audio commentary from creator Morgan Taylor. While the idea of an audio commentary on a kids movie isn't weird at all, I'm pretty sure this is a first for the kids' music world. DVD geeks unite!)
Listen To This: "Sad Robot" - The Jellydots
They Might Be Giants frankly retired the category of "Best Robot Song For Kids (and Adults)" with "Robot Parade," but I'm not going to begrudge attempts by other artists to take a run at TMBG's crown.
This week's contestant is The Jellydots, who've just posted another new track from their upcoming album Changing Skies at their Myspace page. "Sad Robot" is, as the title suggests, not the happiest of tales -- a lonely robot dreams of communicating with the stars. It also features a heavy bass line and lots of guitar work. It is a considerably different track than the previously referenced "San Diego." It's more like the "Adult Version" of "Robot Parade," on TMBG's Dial-A-Song collection, perhaps. And it seems like there should be some wistful Japanese animation to go along with it...
Listen To This: "My Pet Rock" - Recess Monkey
Clearly, I'm a big fan of Seattle's Recess Monkey, so I won't apologize for posting every time a band member sneezes, but they've put a new song from their upcoming double album Wonderstuff on their Myspace page, and "My Pet Rock" is a simple, Beatles-y blast. I love me some "la la la la" choruses.
Oh, and for those of you needing video stimulation, watch Jack do his best Buddy Guy impersonation -- not playing blistering blues guitar, mind you, just leading kids on a conga line during "Monkey Bars" while the rest of the band vamps
Monkey Bars Conga Line at the Fremont Fair
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Listen To This: Rowland's Ramblin' Family Band
I've written before about the slight conflict I feel when hearing new stuff -- keep it secret until it's ready to be unleashed upon the world or let everybody know, right away? I almost always err on the side of sharing (it's in my mission, duh) and so that's what I'm doing here.
Go forth right now and listen to the 4 songs posted on the Myspace page of Brooklyn's Rowland's Ramblin' Family Band. It's a very rootsy/folk blend of original and traditional songs, some written for kids, others merely kid-friendly. The songs come from a home-recorded EP that guitarist Chris Mills admits sounds a little rough around the edges, but the songwriting and solid musicianship come through. (A couple band members are also in Bloodshot Records' The Silos.)
The song you're mostly likely to hear when you get to the page is the raggedy and sprightly "The Lemon Drop," but make sure you also listen to the lullaby "Little Dreamer." It's the last track that gave me the most Band-like vibe. Which makes it not-too-surprising to hear that they're playing this Saturday's Kid's Ramble with Levon Helm. Heady company for a band who only just posted songs to their Myspace page yesterday.
Fans of Dan Zanes, Dog on Fleas, the Hollow Trees, and Session Americana should especially check them out...
Listen To This: Josephine Cameron - "Oh Sister"
News from Josephine Cameron that she'll be releasing one track a week for free from her upcoming September release American Songs Vol. 2 at Cameron's Myspace page. First up, "Oh Sister," which is actually a Cameron original, a slow track about friendship and support. There's nothing particularly kid-focused about the track (and it's probably too slow to keep younger kids engaged, at least on CD), but it sounds like it'll be at home among a host of other much more traditional songs. Fans of Cameron's last CD, Close Your Eyes (review) and other traditional music should make sure to stop by the Myspace page weekly as tracks are added...
