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?
Video: "Home" - David Tobocman
As you might expect, I get a lot of e-mails from people who make kids music. Sometimes they include links to their own website (which I often peruse, if briefly) or perhaps YouTube videos. I've long since learned not to keep my expectations too high, which makes the occasional discovery that much more fun.
I'm clearly not the only person David Tobocman has e-mailed to let people know about his video for his song "Home," but that won't stop me. [Note: Tobocman let me know he hadn't yet e-mailed people, only the artist, and her post generated the viral popularity thus far...]
Tobocman's a southern California musician, and "Home" reminds me of nothing so much as the wistful songs on the soundtracks from another southern California musician, Randy Newman. The illustrations of Valerie Walsh make an excellent match. It's a great little video.
David Tobocman - "Home"
You can listen to samples from all of Very Helpful Songs here.
Video: "You Can Be Anything" - Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang
I can't say that "You Can Be Anything," off Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang's non-holiday, self-titled debut CD, is my favorite track off that CD. (Gwendolyn, make a video for "Anatomy," stat!) But the newly released video, if you're about 3 years old, seems like it hits a whole bunch of sweet spots. Animation, fire trucks, other kids dancing -- yeaaaaaahhhh....
Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang - "You Can Be Anything" (link is now updated)
And for the adults, about 36 seconds in, your topic is whether ELO merits the #8 ranking. Discuss.
New (Old) Music from Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke - "Sylvester" (aka "Big Pet Pig")
Yeah, I posted this song ten months ago. I don't care. It still rocks (in a very, er, folky and gently humorous way).
Plus, now you can see what the mysterious Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke look like. Well, I guess they're not that mysterious. But it's not like I'd seen a picture before...
Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke - "Sylvester (Big Pet Pig)"
Video: "Animal Alphabet Song" - The Hollow Trees
Kids' music videos don't have to be complicated or produced on a "Thriller"-like budget. In fact, this video, the first from The Hollow Trees' excellent new album Welcome to Nelsonville, is a little better because of the cut-and-paste nature of the video. It's not the best song from the album, but it's a cute little 2-minute video.
The Hollow Trees - "Animal Alphabet Song"
Video: "Even Numbers" - They Might Be Giants
This is not my favorite song on They Might Be Giants' Here Come the 123s CD, but it might just be the most-beautiful video on They Might Be Giants' Here Come the 123s DVD. Yes, it's the "next installment":
Tell me that's not an awesome picture book come to life.
Plus an additional video ("Letter Shapes") and an awesomely dorky-but-tuneful theme song for the podcast.
