... even though it's related to They Might Be Giants and their next kids' album.
Normally I wouldn't be too concerned with the kids music opinions of a 48-year-old man with no children, but when said 48-year-old man is TMBG's John Flansburgh, I'm willing to make an exception. In Sunday's New York Times, Flansburgh lists five artists and albums he might have his kids listen to, if, you know, he had kids. Gettings props? Baby Loves Hip-Hop (the Dino-5), Tiny Masters of Today, and fellow scarred Disney Music Block Party Tour veteran (yes, the whole sorry chapter is over tomorrow) Dan Zanes. Plus a couple other somewhat surprising choices.
(And suddenly, news that the band is working on its next kids' album, this one devoted to science -- hat tip Bill -- is everywhere, as the Times article mentions that Flansburgh's spending time writing songs for that next kids album. Though let's all hope Here Comes Science is just a working title, because hoo-ee, that's a stinker.)
Video: "Under My Bed" / "Green Monster" - Recess Monkey
After their long, long national tour, the boys at Recess Monkey made it back to Seattle A-OK and, last weekend, played a show at the Experience Music Project. Joined by Matt Swanson, the boys played a medley of "Under My Bed" and "Green Monster," accompanied by video screens that look like they were swiped from the U2 tour, goodness, those look gargantuan.
I believe the show was actually recorded in HD, which explains why it sounds and looks just a wee bit better than my videos from their show in Phoenix.
Listen To This: "Share" and "Is It Really Any Wonder?" (and more!) - Renee and Jeremy
A few weeks ago, I got a note from Jeremy Toback, half of the LA duo Renee and Jeremy (you guess which half) which said that they were going into the studio to record the follow-up to their sweet and hypnotic debut It's A Big World!. Toback described the album as "definitely not lullabies... groovy and sweet. A little light, a little dark, like smores."
Well, music from those recording sessions are starting to trickle out. Luxury Wafers, the blog of the ChessVolt studios where Toback and Renee Stahl are recording the new album, has posted five new live mp3s for listening or downloading. "Share" is definitely the more upbeat of the tracks, while "Is It Really Any Wonder?" is a little more downtempo along the lines of the first album. If you liked the first album, you're gonna like those. (And if you haven't heard the first album, live tracks of "Free," "Night Mantra," and "We Are One" are there for your enjoyment, too.)
Toback wrote in to clarify that they're actually recording the album at his house -- they just finished this past week. So those tracks up above, which were definitely demo-style anyway, have nothing to do with the actual recording session for the album, photos of which are after the jump.
Listen To This: A Bunch of "No Character" ScribbleMoster Tunes
Songs With No Character has had many different planned release dates, but it appears that ScribbleMonster has settled on November 4th for the official release of its self-titled "first 'family album'."
Want to hear some of the new album? Then get yourself over to the band's Myspace page, where you can hear the newly-posted "Good Morning Little Children," "All Ready To Go,""Doing The Right Thing," and "Scratchy Records," along with the previously-posted "The Game of LIFE." All four songs have their charms, but it's "All Ready To Go" and "Doing The Right Thing" that will get your family bopping. Nice use of horns on those two.
Oh, and I love about halfway through "Scratchy Records." Made me laugh.
Video: "One Little Cookie" (and more!) - Justin Roberts
A whole slew of videos from Justin Roberts popped up yesterday, including a fan-made video (though officially blessed by Roberts) for one my favorite Roberts songs of all time, "One Little Cookie." The sound's a little tinny (fixed!) good, the video didn't compress perfectly for YouTube (fixed!) is good, but that gingerbread Justin is classic.
And like I said, the song's great.
Justin Roberts - "One Little Cookie"
Two more Justin videos after the jump...
Real Simpler, or, More Real Simple
To those of you stopping by after reading my article "Music To Their Ears" in the printed version of Real Simple Family 2008, welcome! To those of you stopping by after reading that exact same article (but for whatever reason titled "The Best Children's Music" instead) in the online version, welcome! (And to you longtime readers, welcome back, of course.)
If you're looking for more details on the artists and albums mentioned, you can go to this post for a whole bunch of links. Or just wander through the links at the right.
I liked the concept of the article, actually. I sent 'em about 20 disks of interesting new releases along with some family favorites, but just like American Idol, once they got to Hollywood (or, in this case, New York), the fans (the kids and families) had the final say. Not quite how feedback of "dancing and head bobbing" led them to pick their two quiet-time CDs -- maybe it was the absence of dancing and head bobbing.
