Monday Morning Smile: "Fountains of Wayne Hotline" - Robbie Fulks

This is not exactly kid-focused -- OK, it's not kid focused AT ALL -- but I was introduced to this song a couple weeks ago via NPR's consistently entertaining Pop Culture Happy Hour and fell in love instantly.

Power pop?  Check.

References to Fountains of Wayne, a band I adore?  Check.

Nerdy, metatopical song about songwriting?  Check.

So what if it's not kids music?  It's from Robbie Fulks, favorite of kindie artists such as Justin Roberts.  And besides, all my readers whose kids grew up listening to so much awesome pop-rock have got to start learning the basic structures of songwriting somewhere, right?

(Also, please get the Pop Culture Happy Hour feed into your podcast routine forthwith.)

Weekly Summary (2/3/14 - 2/16/14)

Listen To This: "Sing To Me" - Walter Martin feat. Karen O

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Very geeked to hear the news that Walter Martin, the organist for the band The Walkmen (now on "extreme hiatus") is coming out with a new album of family-friendly music We're All Young Together.

When you hear the whole thing, I think you'll be geeked to hear the actual album, too.

But for the moment, you'll have to limit your excitement to enjoying this gentle lullaby from the album -- "Sing To Me" features the Yeah Yeah Yeah's Karen O.  If in fact you're allowed to be excited by a lullaby, seems to miss the point, right?

Anyway, besides Karen O, who appears on a couple tracks, there are a number of other guest stars -- Matt Beringer from the National, Kat Edmonson, and Alex Ounsworth from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.  We're All Young Together will be released on May 13.

Video: "Palindrome" - Dog on Fleas (Readeez-Style World Premiere)

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I'm a big fan of Dog on Fleas.  I'm a big fan of Readeez.

Combine the two?  SOLD.

That's right, the merry band of brothers (metaphorically speaking) from upstate New York get help from Michael Rachap on their latest video.  Why wouldn't you when the video's for "Palindrome," one of the tracks of the Fleas' upcoming album Buy One Get One Flea?  This isn't the first time kindie's gone readee -- there are a number of 'em -- but this is the first you get to hear about (and see) the llama mall.  (That's Flea John P. Hughes, by the way, on vocals, giving Dean Jones a break -- perhaps he's thinking of more palindromes.)

Dog on Fleas - "Palindrome" (Readeez-Style) [YouTube]

Video: "Throw Me Something Mista" - Jazzy Ash (feat. Mista Cookie Jar)

Mardi Gras 2014 doesn't start for nearly a month, but Jazzy Ash is making sure you have plenty time to get your beads ready.  Her leadoff single from her brand new album Home (out this week) is "Throw Me Something Mista," a second-line inspired tribute to the New Orleans tradition of Mardi Gras parades and trinkets flung from floats.  The song and video feature fellow Southern California kindie musician Mista Cookie Jar.  Playing the role of the second-line band in the video: a bunch of kids strutting and hamming it up.  Fun.

Jazzy Ash featuring Mista Cookie Jar - "Throw Me Something Mista" [YouTube]

Video: "Cakenstein" - Gustafer Yellowgold

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Nobody would ever deny Morgan Taylor's taste for the absurd in his Gustafer Yellowgold videos.  Shops featuring clothing made of cheese?  Jumping on dessert from on high?  So, yes, Taylor can get into Shel Silverstein territory with the best of 'em.

But this, friends, is by far the oddest video yet, and I mean that as high praise.  Who would think of writing a song called "CAKENSTEIN" using the '70s-iest of soft rock?  And then it all goes horribly (wonderfully) awry.  Pick up the single on iTunes here, but without a doubt, enjoy the video below.

Gustafer Yellowgold - "Cakenstein" [YouTube]