I don't talk a lot about music that isn't specifically kids' music, but that guideline's never stopped me before from veering into stuff for the adults.
And so when I saw the video below for Tally Hall's "Good Day," I thought, hey, that's worth posting. For one thing, it's a really cool song. For another thing, it's a really cool video. The punchline to the video will probably go over your kids' heads, but the video and the song is pretty kid-friendly. Especially if you and your kid are able to process rapidly-changing cuts and about 8 different tempo changes.
"Good Day" is from Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum, which is being re-released by Atlantic Records on April 1. (You can hear "Good Day" and more at their Myspace page.)
Now, I'm hardly the first person to the Tally-Hall-for-the-kids party (Clea mentioned this very song more than 18 months ago), but there really is a kids' music connection here...
New Music from the Bummkinn Band (Enough To Fill A Ten-Gallon Hat)
While everybody and their dog is writing kids' rock and folk, there are still a few genres that are relatively open for new bands and musicians to make their mark, kid-wise. (There is, for example, virtually no kids' polka music, save for the occasional Weird Al Yankovic track.)
LA's Bummkinn Band is one of the few making country music for kids, and they've just posted a whole bunch of new tunes off their upcoming spring release -- love this title -- Rockin' the Yeehaw. (No, I have no idea what it means.) Where? At their Myspace page, of course. Six tracks, all off the new CD, and they're almost all a uniformly uptempo bunch, certainly more so than the songs off their debut CD, Starry Skies and Lullabies.
The band played a lot (probably all) of the tracks last September at Austin Kiddie Limits, so I'll recommend the two I mentioned back then, "Broke My Heart on the Swing Set" and "Crab Bit My Toe," along with the strutting "I Dropped My Ice Cream." They're aiming straight at the kindergarten set, but parents who can appreciate today's Nashville sound might find a few minutes skimming through the tracks worth their time.
New Music: Barenaked Ladies' "Pollywog in a Bog" (On Cruise Ship)
Not wanting to wait to hear music from the Barenaked Ladies' May album-length foray into kids' music, Snacktime?
Well, then, get yourself to a cruise ship!
(Huh?)
The band hosted their "Ships & Dip III" Caribbean cruise in late January (hmmm, wonder how much interest there would be in a Zooglobble cruise?). The Brothers Creeggan, a BNL side project featuring BNL bassist Jim Creeggan and former member Andy Creeggan, played a show which included Jim's "Pollywog in a Bog," from the upcoming album. It's a mid-tempo reggae tune and here, at least, also features a mid-song dancehall rap.
So who's with me on Zooglobble cruise idea? How about renting a paddle boat?
Elephants in the Outfield?: Justin Roberts' "Pop Fly" Album Cover
You know, why stop at showing album art from one eagerly anticipated 2008 release when you can show two.
This is from Pop Fly, the sixth kids album from Justin Roberts. Sarajo Frieden, who did the artwork for Roberts' masterful Meltdown! CD (and, yes, I did use the word "masterful," it is and I won't brook an argument), does the honors once more. I see elephants standing out in what would appear to be right field. Not sure if there are some imaginary rhinos there.
And, yes, I did take the cover from Justin's website. Was it the "New CD" sign that gave it away?
Pop Fly is out on Carpet Square Records April 15.I'm Feeling Peckish... Barenaked Ladies "Snacktime" Album Cover
And who says album art is passe'? Did the Barenaked Ladies resurrect Edward Gorey from the dead (and give him a cheerier disposition in the process)?
In any case, as noted earlier, BNL's first kids music CD, Snacktime is out May 6 on Desperation Records.
(Oh, and if you want to hear who makes an appearance on the disk, Bill's got the scoop. Lyle Lovett -- now there's a guy who should do a kids' album.)The Last TMBG Post... Until the Next One
It's time I dial back a bit on the They Might Be Giants Here Come the 123s madness. The album's been out for more than a couple weeks, and there's plenty of other music to talk about. Before I completely turn things over to my Here Come the 123s archive, a pair of final thoughts.
First, my conjecture that the album might break the Billboard Top 10 proved too optimistic. Thus far, their peak chart position is #172. Given that Herbie Hancock's sales of 5,044 albums that same week put him at #159, it would appear TMBG probably sold just under 5,000 copies their first week. Now, given that they also debuted at #9 on the Kid Audio Chart, and only dropped to #10 in week 2, it's not unlikely that they'll continue to sell four or five thousand albums a week, especially given the ongoing promotion. But doubtful that they'll make the Billboard Top 10.
And for those of you who are already awaiting the next TMBG kids' album, the reported album on the planets and science is definitely a go. This article quotes a Disney executive as saying that the album could be released as early as next year. The podcasts will go on forever, one can only hope...
