Video: "Boo!" - Trout Fishing in America

Another Halloween, and there's a bunch of Halloween-themed music out, most of which I really don't care that much about because I don't care that much about Halloween.

So the Halloween videos and music I feature here are definitely cream of the crop, such as the latest video from Trout Fishing in America.  It's for "Boo!," one of the most distinctive tracks off of Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers.  The song and the video (directed by Maxwell Sorensen and Louis Sparre for Tweed Video) are spooky in just the right way for your favorite 8-year-old. 

Trout Fishing in America - "Boo!" [YouTube] 

Video: "Recess" - Justin Roberts

Justin Roberts has not been one of those artists who've ridden to kids music stardom on the tails of his videos -- he's only made a few, and while they're good, they tend to attract tens of thousands of views because of the quality of the songs.

From a pure video perspective, Roberts' brand new video for "Recess," the title-track from his award-winning album, this is probably my favorite of his.  That's mostly because the video -- directed by his sister Staci, name-checked in the song and showing off fancy disco moves of her own as the teacher -- very much captures the playfulness that Roberts and his Not Ready for Naptime Players brings to their live performances.  I fully expect to see some disco moves the next time I see them live.

Justin Roberts - "Recess" [YouTube] (h/t USA Today) 

Video: "From You" - Charlie Hope

Charlie Hope, who in her warm-hearted simplicity and clear voice, I sometimes think of as the latter-day, female equivalent of Raffi (though with a Juno and without the Daniel Lanois connection), has a new album coming out next month.  She's just released her first video from Sing As We Go , an animated video for "From You," and it's a tender, computerized felt-like creation from UK animator Charlotte Blacker.  (We are big Charlotte Blacker fans 'round here.)  It bodes well for the album as a whole.

Charlie Hope - "From You" [YouTube]

Video: "Fill It Up" - Josh and the Jamtones

Isn't This Old House?  filmed in the Boston area?  Then perhaps this video, filmed during the "buildout" of the Josh and the Jamtones headquarters, could be part of a Very Special Kindie Edition of the home improvement show.  The video is for "Fill It Up," one of the appealing tracks on their new album Bear Hunt , and while it's simple, it shows the gregarious band being gregarious.

But, really, my chief reason for featuring the video is the paint brushes.  I would like to see more videos featuring the paint brushes, please.

Josh and the Jamtones - "Fill It Up" [YouTube] 

World Premiere Video: "For Halloween This Year" - You and Me and the Rain (Lori Henriques and Todd McHatton)

It's been a busy past few weeks for Los Angeles' Todd McHatton.  Last week saw the release of his (first) EP and animated show with Mista Cookie Jar as part of Todd and Cookie.

This week, another new band he's a part of, You and Me and the Rain, is unleashed upon the world.  His partner in this effort?  Portland's Lori Henriques.

The first product of their collaboration is a duet about Halloween creativity called "For Halloween This Year," though to call it a "duet" sells it short by half, as both Henriques' older child and McHatton's younger one make vocal contributions.

The idea of combining Henriques' jazz and showtune sensibility and McHatton's psychedelic kindie was not obvious to me when I first heard of it, but their shared taste for nifty wordplay ("is rogue in vogue this year?") and their well-matched vocal tones shows that this could be very fruitful.  What could come from this? It's fun not knowing.

In any case, I'm pleased as punch to present the world premiere of the song's video, directed by Gina and Todd McHatton and offering low-cost, high-imagination costumes for Halloween (or anytime of year).

You and Me and the Rain (Lori Henriques and Todd McHatton) - "For Halloween This Year" [YouTube]

World Premiere: "Lishy Lou and Lucky Too" Theme Song

It's been a very busy year for Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band.  Not only did they release the Spanish-language album Fantastico! earlier this year, they've got a second album, Lishy Lou and Lucky Too , set for release next week.

Oh, did I mention that the album is the aural, radio show analogue to a hoped-for Lishy Lou and Lucky Too TV show?

Like I said, very busy.

But although it's all coming out now, Alisha Gaddis -- AKA "Lishy Lou" -- says that she and Lucky "were quietly and crazily working on all this for over a year."

Although Gaddis that she does most of the funny writing in the family ("Lucky is always the head of songwriting and all things musical"), they had some help for the new album.  In addition to having Michael Farkas help Gaddis and Diaz out with songs for the album, writer Chris McGowan wrote the Laugh-In   bits for the album.  McGowan and write Rebecca Leib also wrote a lot of writing for their other project (the TV show).

As for the TV show, Gaddis says they "really want to expose kids to the classic live action television that we grew up with - I Love Lucy, Pee Wee's Playhouse, The Monkees - but with a modern twist."  (The fantastical characters in the picture above are all introduced on the Lishy Lou and Lucky Too website.)  One reason for the TV show, she says, is that "We want to entertain the kids in the Midwest or the far Pacific Northwest (and all those places in between) that we don't get to see face to face otherwise."

Asked whether it's easier or harder to write comedy for children, Gaddis says: 

I think it is just as difficult to write comedy for children as it is for adults.  You must always play to an audience's strengths, integrity and intelligence (at least that is what we believe).  Kids are clever sponges who deserve the best.  That is what we really try to give them.

So here, then, is the world premiere of the video for the Lishy Lou and Lucky Too TV show.