You probably already know that the next Dan Zanes album, ¡Nueva York!, is almost here (set to be released on May 20). You may also remember the Zanes mentioning to me earlier this year that he's recorded an album of Broadway tunes.
But in between those two albums is a third album with some new Zanes material coming out later this spring. It's called The Welcome Table: Songs of Inspiration, Mystery and Hope, and it's a compilation of new and previously-released DZ&F material "mostly from the North American gospel traditions." With the promise of new Zanes music and the fact that proceeds will benefit the New Sanctuary Movement, an American organization of churches and synagogues "working toward deportation reform," I think it'll definitely have a few fans...
Baby Does Indeed Love Music
I already talked about the ever-expanding Baby Loves Music empire, but apparently BLM founder Andy Blackman Hurwitz is taking it to heart. In this interview with Wired.com's GeekDad, Hurwitz outlines his future release schedule:
"Hip-Hop comes out April 1 [Ed. - that I've told you about], Salsa September 1 [Ed. - OK, that's been pushed back]. Blues (being produced by the North Mississippi All-Stars) is being recorded in the fall as is Reggae (being produced by Stephen Marley), and both of these should come out in early ’09."
Whoa. That could be seriously good.
While I think Hurwitz sells the rest of the kids music genre short -- he says,
"I hate to be a music snob and like to think that there's some merit to anything creative so I don't want to come across as "dissing" other kids music - it's just that ours is created and produced by the best in the business, musicians with decades of experience in the art of songwriting and songcrafting and I think that's what makes the difference - REAL musicians."
... thereby indeed "dissing" the significant number of talented artists in the genre meeting that criteria right now -- I am impressed by the talent he is bringing to bear to all these different genres.
I'm just waiting for the meta-overload of a "Baby Loves Kids Music" disk.
(Hat tip: Idolator)
More Pop Fly Details
For those of you awaiting the release of Justin Roberts' next CD, Pop Fly, his latest newsletter has a treasure trove of info. (For those of you who don't care, his latest newsletter still has a treasure trove of info, though I suspect little of it would interest you.)
First off, the tracklisting, 11 JR originals, produced by Liam Davis.
1. Pop Fly
2. She's a Yellow Reflector
3. Big Field Trip
4. Henrietta's Hair
5. The Backyard Super Kid
6. From Scratch
7. Stay-at-Home Dad
8. She Sits
9. Giant-Sized Butterflies
10. Kickboard, Baby, Yeah
11. Fruit Jar
Second, Roberts' trumpet player Dave Winer is putting together a video for the title track and is looking for close up pictures "of your child or your inner-child" to be assembled into a giant collage. No word if this going to turn into some sort of "Where's Waldo?"-like hunt. Anyway, for details, check out Roberts' Journal page.
Recess Monkey Plays For World Dignitary, Screaming 6-Year-Olds
You know, when Recess Monkey recorded "I Went to the Zoo (w/the Dalai Lama)" on their debut CD, Welcome to Monkey Town, I don't think they were engaging in wish fulfillment.
But the Dalai Lama is visiting Seattle in April as part of the Seeds of Compassion event and on April 12, the band is essentially going to be the Dalai Lama's opening act, a sweet gig if there ever was one. (Because, hey, nobody going to see the Dalai Lama is going to boo them for not playing "Stairway to Heaven.")
And for those of you going to Recess Monkey's shows this weekend and a couple weeks from now as part of the recording for their upcoming July album Tabby Road or if you're just curious about the new album, click ahead, why don't you, and see the tracklisting...Barenaked Ladies Love Their Fans, Hate Quebec and Rhode Island
I don't typically mention contests from bands here (though I'm going to do so a couple times here in the next few days), but I was amused by this, the rules and regulations for a recently-launched contest the Barenaked Ladies are running to promote their upcoming kids' music CD Snacktime.
The assignment is -- draw the band. "Barenaked Ladies just want to see the most creative cartoon of them," they say, and the winner will receive a BNL hoodie, t-shirt, and personally autographed copy of Snacktime.
Yeah, yeah, cute, whatever, but the rules, goodness, those are long, though the band probably does have a few more fans than the bands typically releasing albums in the genre. They're capped by the final statement -- "The contest is open to legal residents of the United States and Canada (excluding Quebec and Rhode Island)." The pure randomness of the statement (which I'm sure is backed by very sound legal reasoning amused me. Anyone from Quebec or Rhode Island care to share why they might be prohibited from entering said contest?
Giant News: New Album from the Terrible Twos Due This July
If you've heard If You Ever Hear An Owl from The Terrible Twos, then you were probably excited to hear that the band was prepping its follow-up, Jerzy The Giant (that is, had I told you, which in some rush or other, I didn't. I apologize.)
Y'know, I was going to make you click through to see the album cover, but why should I make it difficult?
Oooooh, I like that. Jerzy the Giant is out July 28 on Vagrant.
(And if you haven't heard the very excellent Owl, by all means check out the band's Myspace page for some of the songs and read the review.)
Update: In case you're wondering, that fun illustration is from University of Kansas Associate Professor of Illustration Barry Fitzgerald, who met Chief Two Matt Pryor through, yes, their kids. Check out more of his kids' stuff here.
