I like to think I've done a pretty good job of introducing a lot of great artists to a larger audience here at this website, but for whatever reason I've had particularly good luck with the Seattle area. Recess Monkey, Central Services Board of Education, Johnny Bregar -- all of 'em you heard about here first. That's not to mention all the other artists up there in Washington State -- Harmonica Pocket, Eric Herman, Eric Ode, the Not-Its -- all of which makes me wonder what's in the water (or coffee) up there.
Well, I've got another Seattle name for you today -- Caspar Babypants (Edit: link fixed). Now, you might recognize the person behind Caspar Babypants -- Chris Ballew, lead vocalist for the Presidents of the United States of America (and, may as well get it out of the way, yes, the band that brought you "Lump").
But even if you don't, you owe it to yourself to hightail yourself over right now to the Babypants site, which features four seven sweet tracks for your listening and downloading pleasure -- "The Brown and Lonely Worm," "Small Black Ant," "The Island Hop," and "Monkey River." Some are traditional, some are original from Ballew's efforts in kids music, and "Monkey River," well, Ballew once put out an album that featured twelve different versions of that tune, so that one's been around awhile. All of them are so, so sweet -- soulful, laid-back music for fans of Elizabeth Mitchell, Dan Zanes, Dog on Fleas, or Session Americana. You may find yourself listening to them as often as you did "Lump" back in the day. (Edit: Chris has just added "Little Broken Truck," which features an awesome little "buh-beep-beep" fill, "Baby Bear," and a '60s-styled "Three Blind Mice.")
Anyway, the tracks are from Babypants' first album, Here I Am!, which will be out next month. I chatted briefly with Ballew via e-mail, and he said that he's a huge Elizabeth Mitchell fan, calling her his "inspiration" for the disk. He also says he's got three more albums in the works.
I, for one, cannot wait. Album art and track listing after the jump.
New Music From Elizabeth Mitchell (and Suni Paz)
Elizabeth Mitchell has posted a couple new tracks on her Myspace page. The first, "Little Bird Hops," she posted before (and it's still there for the taking, if you'd like to).
So the bigger news is a new track from Elizabeth Mitchell and fellow Smithsonian Folkways artist Suni Paz, whom she sang with in LA back in September. Mitchell's posted a duet of the traditional Argentinian lullaby "Arrorro." The lyrics (courtesy of here) sound like a balm to tired parents of newborns:
Sleep my baby, sleep my sun,
Sleep piece of my heart.
This beautiful baby wants to sleep
But the sandman won't come.
Sleep piece of my heart.
New Music (and Album) From Dan Zanes: "Jesus on the Mainline"
Updated post:
The fine folks at Festival Five have provided some clarification on the previously discussed The Welcome Table: Songs of Inspiration, Mystery, and Good Times mostly-gospel album. The album is coming out as an iTunes digital exclusive on Tuesday, December 23rd and an Amazon exclusive in its physical format on the same date. (Though I'd note that I just added the Amazon disk to my cart, so maybe Amazon didn't get the memo from Festival Five.) All other retailers will get the album (physically and digitally) on February 10, 2009. So yay for last-minute Christmas gifts (a gospel album is kinda appropriate for the season, no?)
If you want to get a sneak preview besides listening to the clips on the Amazon page, though, head on over to Zanes' Myspace page, where you can hear "Jesus on the Mainline" in its entirety. Nice rootsy gospel with some funky organ work to boot.
Anyway, here's the tracklisting...New Music From Bunny Clogs (Adam Levy from the Honeydogs)
OK, without even listening to the album, this album cover is one of my favorites of the year, and the band name wins "Best New Band Name," too.
The name makes a little more sense when you realize that it's the brainchild of Adam Levy, mainstay of the long-running Twin Cities band The Honeydogs (just repeat one band name after another). Anyways, for this side project, Levy recorded music at home with his kids (his daughters sing and his son did the art work for the record) and finished it with students at the music school at which he he teaches, the Institute of Production and Recording in Minneapolis. (Levy also recorded a couple tracks for that Down By The Riverside Twin Cities kids-comp released a couple years back.)
The result is More! More! More!. Oh, yeah, "Best Album Name," definitely.
You can hear six whole tracks at the band's Myspace page. I particularly like "Velveeta Girl and Squatsy," but all of the tracks have a definite slightly-skewed vibe to them, a la Mr. David or Me3 or Kimya Dawson. Electronica, lullaby, horns, even a little Prince, I think.
Anyway, the album will get a big push in the new year when it's formally released, along with a new Honeydogs album, but if you're an eMusic subscriber, you can get it right now...
Here's the tracklisting...New Music From Rocknoceros: "Gonna Get a Haircut" and "Lucky Lindy"
There is no such thing as working out the kinks on your new music anymore, even in the kids music genre. Thanks to YouTube, we can hear artists try out their latest stuff.
Such as this tune from the DC-area band Rocknoceros. You'll have to get past 30 seconds of announcement-type stuff, but after that, a new tune from their upcoming Pink CD. "Gonna Get A Haircut" features sweet harmony, guitar solos, and the phrase "flattop." I think.
Rocknoceros - "Gonna Get A Haircut" (Live)
But wait, there's more!
Listen To This: "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" - Charity and the JAMband
San Francisco's Charity and the JAMband has always been good about offering mp3s on their website, and now word comes from Charity that she's going to be offering these on a monthly basis.
The first one, for December, is a sweet little acoustic expansion of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". Definitely worth the time to listen (and download). Sign up at the top of the page to be notified of future downloads.
