First Colours Are Brighter, now this:
"This month brings the release of Songs for the Young at Heart, an album chiefly of cover versions of children's songs by different artists, curated by Stuart Staples and David Boulter of the indie band Tindersticks."
Aside from the curious British use of the verb "curated," of note is the participation of Jarvis Cocker, Kurt Wagner (from Lambchop), and Stuart Murdoch (from Belle and Sebastian).
The article says the album was released in England on Monday, January 22nd, but the V2 album page suggests Feb. 26th. Amazon.co.uk suggests both are correct. I know, it's confusing. Life is so not black and white, eh?
Tracklisting:
1.Theme For The Young At Heart (Stuart Staples)
2. Uncle Sigmund’s Clockwork Storybook – Sung by Robert Forster (The Triffids)
Originally by The Spinners in 1967
3. Florence’s Sad Song – Sung by Stuart Murdoch (Belle & Sebastian)
From “Dougal & The Blue Cat” – 1972
4. White Horses – Sung by Cerys Mathews
Originally by Jacky Lee in 1968
5.The Lion & Albert – Told by Jarvis Cocker
Original monologue by Marriott Edgar
6. Robinson Crusoe – Performed by The Tindersticks
Theme from the television programme from 1965
7. Hushabye Mountain – Sung by Stuart Staples
From Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – 1965
8. Morningtown Ride – Sung by Suzanne Osbourne
9. Inch Worm – Sung by Kurt Wagner (Lambchop)
Hans Christian Anderson soundtrack 1952
10. Mary, Mungo & Midge – performed by The Tindersticks
From the BBC TV series 1969
11. The Three Sneezes – Told by Martin Wallace
12. Puff, The Magic Dragon – Sung by ‘Bonnie’ Price Billy and Red
Originally by Peter, Paul & Mary in 1963
13. Hey, Don’t You Cry – (Stuart Staples) sung by Stuart Staples
New Music from Ralph & Ralph. (No, not that Ralph.)
More music from Little Monster Records recording artists Ralph & Ralph, this time at their new Myspace site.
Four songs, one for each member of Ralph & Ralph.
Yeah, that's what I said.
There are actually 4 members of the band, two of 'em women.
In any case, while I really like "Ralph and Ralph's Song" (previously available), "Supposed to Cry" is also pretty good.
All sorts of crazy instruments from that band. "Sounds like: nothin' else!"
Indeed. Can't wait to hear the full-length CD.
How Can We Lose A Record Label? We Never Had One!
Aw, c'mon, let's actually make it into 2007 before we start seeing examples of why the bloom is off the kids' music rose...
This note on the Terrible Twos' website:
The record will be available in stores nation wide in March. It was supposed to come out in January on Kid Rhino but they folded. So, now it's coming out on Paquito Records in March.Well, gosh, and Kid Rhino was just supposed to be ramping up their efforts. Worst. Ramp. Up. Ever. I'm trying to get some confirmation of this, but even if it has everything to do with WEA and nothing to do with kids' music, it's still sorta sad -- I was looking forward to seeing what a label with Warner's resources could do with the album. Still, for all you people looking for Terrible Twos' lyrics (seeing as I steadfastly refuse to break copyright law by posting 'em), coloring pages with lyrics for "Caroline," "We Can All Get Along With Dinosaurs," "If You Ever See An Owl," and "Oneplusoneistwo" are now available at the band's Myspace page. No chords, but this way you can sing along.
Tiny Mix Tapes for Tiny Mix Tapers
Another day, another YAKMA (Yet Another Kids Music Article), this time from the fine folks at Tiny Mix Tapes, which I've been reading for a number of years now. (Really.)
It's a detailed article on the current crop of "adult" artists making kids music, with quotes from Saint Etienne's Bob Stanley and Paper Bag Records' Leila Hebden and a review of classic albums from years past. The article never really gets into which ones are "excellent" and which are "crappier than crappy nappies," but, oh well.
While I'm not sure it's of much news to regular readers here, the article certainly casts outside the regular cast of characters normally interviewed for a YAKMA. It also provides this one nugget of information that's news to me: Saint Etienne plans to release the Up the Wooden Hills EP as a full album in 2007. I knew that was the plan eventually, but had not seen a date (or an article with a Saint Eitenne quote) before. I've been meaning to review the EP for some time now -- better make sure I do that before the full album is released...
Are The Terrible Twos Better Than the Wiggles?
An interesting discussion over at (sm)all ages about the Terrible Twos and the Wiggles, the closest thing to a KIDS MUSIC BLOGGERS FITE! I've seen in some time. It's worth reading.
In any case, the album, which is pretty awesome, is going to be re-released on Kid Rhino at the end of January. But you can order it now from CDBaby, and here's the cool part -- rather than listening to the same two songs sampled at the Terrible Twos' website over and over, the CDBaby page has nice more-than-30-second samples of all the songs.
(As for my take on the debate, I agree with Eric that it's just poor form for a musician to slag on another musician. Spend time talking about what makes your music yours, not defining it by what it's not. But I think Jeff's close to the mark when he talks about the commercialization aspect. Combine that with the narrow distribution channels of most kids music, and it's no wonder that many parents get tired of the Wiggles... it's because it's the only game in town, the only thing you see as you're tooling around Target with your kids. There's a lot of great music out there -- it's one of the reasons I've been writing about kids music for five years now -- but it takes work to find it, and most families know that time can be a scarce resource.)
Yet Another Kids Music Compilation
Not to be confused with YAKMA (Yet Another Kids Music Article), YAKMC reflects what will certainly be a trend to watch in 2007 -- compilations of kids music by "adult" artists.
I've known about this compilation for a few months now, but now that it has a release date, it's time to get the word out.
DeSoto Records, home to artists such as Jawbox and (the late) Dismemberment Plan, has finally announced a April 17, 2007 release date for its three-years-in-the-making compilation Play. With artists such as the Young Fresh Fellows, Mudhoney, and Supersuckers, it will at the very least be interesting to listen to.
(By the way, if you're a fan of Jawbox, you may be interested in the news regarding Callum Robbins, the infant son of Jawbox singer/guitarist J. Robbins (who's gone on to produce bands such as Jets to Brazil). Cal has been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy and the DeSoto website is soliciting donations on behalf of the family for what will likely be expensive medical bills.)
