Remember when I said that I thought there was room for some more small kids' music labels?
Well, Dan Zanes has obviously been thinking along the same lines, because in his latest newsletter he's announced that he's signed up both Barbara Brousal and Father Goose to do albums for his Festival Five label. Now, Zanes has released a couple less-kid-specific albums of his own, and re-released an old album featuring David Jones, but this is the first step toward creating a family music empire and total Zanes-ian domination.
Or maybe it's just a couple CDs from his bandmates. CDs which ought to be cool, to varying degrees.
I'm going with the latter option.
Anyway, it more than made up for hearing that Brousal won't be making the Tucson stop on his upcoming tour. (Oh well, Charlie Faye's voice is pretty good, too.)
Mr. David A Bit 'Jumpy' About His New Album
Yes, it's all about making punny headlines that don't really make sense in the context of the article around here.
Anyway, for those of you wondering what's next on the plate of San Jose-based Mr. David, he notes on his show page that his next album, Jump in the Jumpy House, will be released in June 2007. And for those of you wanting to hear songs off the new album, get on over to Technology Credit Union in San Jose next Tuesday, March 6th to see Mr. David in concert.
So... I'm wondering... is it "jumpy house" on the West Coast? Because we call 'em "bouncy houses" 'round these parts... Is this like a "cola"/"soda pop" thing here?
Little Monsters, Big Expectations
So with the collapse of V2 Records, one might be wondering what the future of Little Monster Records is.
I have word that Little Monster Records will be announcing a new home soon, which I'm very excited about, because even though I found their Beatles release underwhelming, I'm increasingly excited about the rest of their release schedule.
To wit: yesterday's WNYC Soundcheck, which included Little Monster's Kevin Salem. About 10 minutes in they play a portion of the title track to their upcoming Let's Go Everywhere CD, and it's nothing less than what would you get if you combined Johnny Cash (specifically "I've Been Everywhere") and jazz funk. In a good way. In an awesome way. Folks, John Lurie is performing on the album -- this is going to be interesting at the very least and could be great.
To wit, part deux: Well, sadly, I don't have a part deux, because Ralph and Ralph have deleted a blog post where they talked about their goals for the new album. But now it's gone (or they've deleted their old myspace page with the post) and I can't really say anything other than "I read it, and it made me excited to hear even more tracks than what's on their myspace page. Knew I should've posted it at the time...
Exclusive: Terrible Twos E-Card
Want to hear the first three songs from The Terrible Twos' debut album If You Ever See An Owl? Well, I'm happy to introduce to the world this e-card, courtesy of Vagrant/Poquito Records.
The album, from The New Amsterdams getting all kids' music on us, is getting a national release on April 10 and the e-card lets you listen to the first three tracks from the CD, "Ladybug," "When I Get To Eleven," and "We Can All Get Along With Dinosaurs," in their entirety. Take a listen, and pass it on. Your friends and your friends' kids will thank you.
(And if you don't understand the fuss, read the review or listen to more songs here.)
It's Already February, And I Have A Third Most Favorite Song
Yes, "I Wish I Lived In Michigan" is awesome. So is "I Hog The Ground (Groundhog Song)".
But I have a third awesome song to share: Georgie James' "The Grizzly Jive."
The track is off the forthcoming DeSoto Records kids' compilation Play!, which I've been anticipating for awhile now.
I got an advance copy this week, and while you'll have to wait awhile for my review, this bubbly indiepop track from the new-ish DC-based duo is just so great that I need to spread the word now.
And I find to my delight DeSoto Records is super-obliging, offering up a full mp3 of the song at its Downloads page. You can also download "Always Check For Holes," from Channels w/ Damon Locks. (Channels includes former Jawbox member J. Robbins and Janet Morgan, who supplies the British accent on the track.)
Go. Now.
But Do They Have Deedle Deedle Deetention?
Did you fall in love with "Major Deegan" by the Deedle Deedle Dees off the Park Slope Parents Album?
Are you a teacher?
Well, then, the band's new blog is for you. It will be "a resource for teachers who would like to use the music of the Deedle Deedle Dees in their classrooms. Lesson plans, background notes, activity and coloring sheets, and reading lists will all be here for you to use."
And regardless whether you're a teacher or just a payer of property taxes to your local school district, you can hear four songs from their upcoming March 3 release Freedom in a Box at their Myspace page. The mixture of their history songs with their toddler movement songs seems a bit awkward over the space of just four songs, but they're definitely interesting. "Henry Box Brown" has got the banjo thing down pat, and "Nellie Bly" would be what you'd get if The Band ever decided to write a song about, well, Nellie Bly...
