The first video from the upcoming Gustafer Yellowgold CD/DVD set, Gustafer Yellowgold's Mellow Fever (out March 17), has been posted to YouTube. It's the mellow (of course) "Getting in a Treetop," which features a pretty vocal line from Morgan Taylor and some acrobatic somersaulting from the man in yellow.
Gustafer Yellowgold - "Getting In A Treetop"
Video: "The Island Hop" (and more!) - Caspar Babypants
Classic. You'll have a grin on your face (or finger) all day. From the excellent debut CD Here I Am! (review)
Caspar Babypants (Chris Ballew) - "The Island Hop"
But wait, there's more!
Dogs and Butterflies: New Stuff (sort of) from Mr. David
It's been awhile since I've talked about California-based musician Mr. David -- too long methinks -- but that doesn't mean he hasn't been busy. He's just posted "Rainbow of Butterflies," a mellow groove originally recorded last year as a fundraiser for a Bay Area preschool. It features a chorus of kids, some nifty guitar work, and if you like Mr. David at all, it's worth your time to check it out -- the track is at his Myspace page.
Mr. David, who recently relocated to the Los Angeles area, also released a video for "She's a Good Dog," off his excellent Jump in the Jumpy House disk from '06. Pretty simple -- Mr. David, and a dog, and not much else -- but I think the song is one of the more idiosyncratic and affectionate portraits in song of a canine friend. (Tip: view the video in high quality -- "normal quality" looks a little chunky.)
Mr. David - "She's a Good Dog"
Video: "Valentine" - The Hipwaders
We're coming up here on Valentine's Day (or, as we also like to call it here in Arizona, Statehood Day), so that means it's time for some topically-appropriate YouTube cribbing.
First up on the list -- The Hipwaders, who've posted one of my favorite tracks from their fine Educated Kid album -- "Valentine."
Lots of 3-D, with a red 3-D person and a blue 3-D person acting out the song. A political allegory?
The Hipwaders - "Valentine"
In Memoriam: Blossom Dearie
Sad news over the weekend as jazz singer Blossom Dearie passed away at the age of 82. Her relevance here is her presence on 2 classic Schoolhouse Rock songs - "Unpack Your Adjectives" and "Figure Eight." Both songs have been covered since by artists like Daniel Johnson and Duplex, but Dearie's porcelain voice put her own indelible stamp on the tunes. (Hat tip: Idolator)
"Unpack Your Adjectives" (vocals: Blossom Dearie)
One more after the jump...
New Dog on Fleas Music, Video (With Bonus Elizabeth Mitchell!)
My Dog on Fleas cup runneth over this evening.
First, head on over to the band's Facebook page to give their new bonus track "Love" a spin. The word "love" makes up maybe 80% of the total lyrics, so it'll probably fit well on your kid's mix CDs they're making for their 2nd grade class for Valentine's Day. (What, they're not making mix CDs?)
Second, head on over to Jitterbug to watch a new video for "Cranberry Sauce Flotilla", the super-fun title track from the album of the same name. Lots of men in hats. But not Men In Hats.
Finally, I told you about the High Meadow Songs album about a year ago, and in January 2008, there was a benefit concert.
Luckily, someone captured Dog on Fleas, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Daniel Littleton doing "Jenny Jenkins" live. (Sadly, it took me a year to discover it.) Great version.
