Two complaints about "Happy Sad Silly Mad," the new video from Jeremy Plays Guitar's album Use Your Words:
1) the order of the emotions in the song is "happy, sad, mad, silly," not "happy, sad, silly, mad." Sheesh.
2) Also, the "mad" kids are, like, the least mad kids ever.
Other than that, I'm cool with it. "Doo, doo doo"s make everything cool.
Jeremy Plays Guitar - "Happy Sad Silly Mad" [YouTube]
Monday Morning Smile: "Here Is My Co-Pilot" - Holly Throsby
OK, "smile" might be overstating it a bit, but this video, for "Here Is My Co-Pilot" by Holly Throsby has a hypnotic allure due in no small part to the nifty song itself, which is off Throsby's forthcoming album Team. It's the choreography-in-a-racquetball-court, though, that leads me to post this here. Not at all kid-related, but safe for all. (Oh, and have you checked out the review of Holly Throsby's See!? You really should -- that one is kid-related, and also safe for all.)
Holly Throsby - "Here Is My Co-Pilot" [YouTube]
Thanksgiving Feast, Family Music-Style
First you'll need to get to where you're going. Jim Cosgrove is offering up a free download of his song "Gobble Across the USA" here (enter "gobble" as the checkout code). As Cosgrove notes, it's not really a Thanksgiving song, but it features a lot of gobbling and a lot of food, which seems appropriate enough for me.
Then, once you get there, the prayer, courtesy of Bill Harley. His poem is called "Thanksgiving Prayer" and regardless of your religious affiliation (or lack thereof), I think you'll appreciate it.
[And here's a second blessing of sorts, this one coming from the Harmonica Pocket -- it's called "Give Thanks" and you can download it here.]
Radio Alert: Secret Agent 23 Skidoo / Elizabeth Mitchell. And NPR. And Me.
Late notice, perhaps, but I'll be on NPR's All Things Considered this afternoon/evening with a review of Underground Playground and Sunny Day, the latest albums from Secret Agent 23 Skidoo and Elizabeth Mitchell, respectively. I hadn't really thought of it because I didn't focus on it much in the review, but perhaps Skidoo's daughter Saki and Mitchell's daughter Storey should get together to record a track, given how integral they are to their parents' latest album.
If you're stumbling onto this website for the first time after hearing the review, welcome. Lots of other great music here, such as Lunch Money's new album Original Friend or Frances England's new album Mind of My Own. Or even Many Hands, a great compilation featuring those four artists and more. Anyway, thanks for stopping by.Video: "Kids' Table!" - Kindiependent
Kindiependent continue to kick out the kids' themed supergroup jams. First it was "Vagabond Worms", and now it's "Kids' Table!," featuring Recess Monkey, Johnny Bregar, and Keeth Apgar from The Harmonica Pocket. Banjos, keyboards, trading verses, and a funny punch line. Apropos if you (like me) are starting to plan a big Thanksgiving get-together. Download the song at the Kindiependent home page. (Link to the video after the jump.)
Review: Original Friend - Lunch Money
The music of the South Carolina band Lunch Money may be demure at times, but it's never been shy about wearing its anthropomorphized heart on its anthropomorphized sleeve. Which is one of its strengths -- a trio of thirty-somethings singing why they love their library might fail in the hands of lesser artists, but Lunch Money's giddy enthusiasm equal to that of kids thirty years younger makes the song work.
Original Friend is every bit as "open book" as its predecessor Dizzy, but this time around songwriter Molly Ledford's subject is friendship. Friendship temporarily lost and then regained (the strings-assisted 1-minute opener "Friends Again"); friends who are awesome (the title track, and a prototypical Lunch Money indie-pop song); friends willing to imagine with you (the pop-by-way-of-circus-music "Getaway Car"). This album isn't quite as extroverted as Dizzy was, but it features Ledford's strongest batch of songs yet. And while the dedication to Jennifer Jean Day, "who had the original friend donut" (and who Ledford is presumably singing about in the title track "What’s up today, Jennifer? / You say you’re writing a song? / Maybe I’ll try my hand at that for my whole life long.") might hint at some sadness, it's really a rather joyful record. Even songs about the possible interruption of friendship (the rocking "Please Don't Move (to Another Time Zone)") beat with a heart and with good humor.
That joy is due in no small measure to the large number of musicians who share the record with Molly, J.P., and Jay. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo turns in a great rap on "Welcome To My Dollhouse," Frances England offers her voice to "You and Me and a Bottle of Bubbles," and Dean Jones pitches in on "Getaway Car." And that's in addition to all the strings and horns, not to mention keys from producer Tor Hyams, who doesn't really tweak the Lunch Money sound, but just shares it with a few more folks.
The 34-minute album is most appropriate for kids ages 5 through 9. You can listen to samples here or pick up the mp3 of the title track here. Also: the illustrations by Brandon Reese -- the whole design really -- along with the off-kilter album credits (e.g., on "Picking Teams" -- "harmonica, forlorn yet upbeat - J.P. Stephens") make this an album that is so totally worth picking up in its physical format.
Because, of course, you do need to get Original Friend. Lunch Money offer up a tasty musical donut filled with lyrics that capture friendship, and, by extension, childhood in a way that is relatable to kids and recognizable to adults. Can I wear my heart on my sleeve? I love this band. Highly recommended.
