Grammy Update: Hey, Musicians! (And Producers!)

I mentioned a while back that for those musicians who wanted to have a bigger say in the Grammy Awards now was the time to join the Academy. Well, with the big election less than a month away, I just thought I'd update you on the status of the Awards. According to Karen Rappaport McHugh, the deadline for registering to select the Grammy finalists in each category has passed -- it was October 1. But the deadline for selecting the winner among the finalists/nominees is December 1. (Nominees are announced Dec. 4.) Even if you don't have an album in the running (it's too late to submit yours this year), you musicians and producers and art directors should sign up now... The 51st Annual Grammy Awards are set for Feb. 9, 2009.

New Music From Yo Gabba Gabba. (Sorta. Kinda.)

I've already talked about the new Yo Gabba Gabba! CD coming out next week, but you don't have to wait 'til then to get some YGG-related tunes. Vancouver's The Salteens have released two new songs they recorded for the show. If you follow that link and give 'em an e-mail address, you'll instantaneously start downloading two tracks they recorded for the show -- "All My Friends" and "Count on my Hands." Of the two, "All My Friends" is the poppier and more straight-forward song; "Count" is a little more didactic, but cute in its own way. One of the songs, according to lead singer Scott Walker, was used in the current Season Two, but with different lyrics. On a side note, Salteens fans will be a bit disappointed with the forthcoming CD as the wrong Salteens song will be on disk. Apparently everyone loves "I'm So Happy I Can Dance," but the disk features "Be Kind To Animals."

Review in Brief: One Day Soon - The Sippy Cups

OneDaySoon.jpgWith the release today of their One Day Soon EP, San Francisco's The Sippy Cups have followed the lead of other, more adult-oriented bands, who consider EPs an integral part of their musical release pattern. The five songs here were recorded as part of the band's sessions for their upcoming 2009 release, and is the first new album from the band since October 2006. So are the songs worth the wait? Well, mostly yes. "One Day Soon" kicks off the album, a mid-tempo number about growing up (or at least older) that would have fit perfectly on the generally more rocking Electric Storyland. So would have "Ladybug Beat," at least if it had been plugged in (it's acoustic here). I've already talked a little bit about "The Day After Halloween,", which is a bit of departure from the Sippys' normal metaphor-filled and fanciful songwriting. Its melancholy nature is a perfect fit for fall -- it's a Halloween song that isn't just for Halloween, and is my favorite track here. "Listen With Your Eyes" is a sweet lullaby (though there's a bit too much going on for it to be effectively used an actual lullaby). The only false step is "Effervescing Elephant." Ironically for a band which started out primarily playing covers of '60s era psychedelic songs, this Syd Barrett cover falls flat. It's supposedly a live staple of the band, but this off-the-cuff version just doesn't have any oomph. The album will appeal mostly to kids ages 4 through 10. The album is about 14 minutes long and, perhaps most interestingly, is available only as an iTunes download. At $3.99 for the whole album, it's pretty cheap. It's a small but decent collection of tracks which can only serve to heighten anticipation for their upcoming full-length. Newcomers to the band can probably wait (or go back to Electric Storyland forthwith), but fans will definitely enjoy this, too. Recommended.

Listen To This: "Creepy Lullabies"

I told you last week about the two new releases from the wonderful Wee Hairy Beasties. Jon Langford, Sally Timms, and Kelly Hogan, backed up by Devil in a Woodpile, are giving their bug-sized slice of Americana another shot, this time with a Halloween take, on their Creepy Lullabies double-single/EP. And you can now go hear for yourself. Get yourself on over to their Myspace page to give five new songs a spin. "Wee Scary Beasties" gives their theme song a twist, "Creepy Lullaby" is a gentle, ever-so-slightly-askew, lullaby, and "Monster's Disco" would be, if there was any justice in this world, a massive novelty hit. "The Lonely Vampire" and "Pumpkinhead" also make an appearance. In addition, there are some more details about that second full-length. It's entitled Holidays Gone Crazy, and it's set to be released Nov. 4. It appears that many (all?) of the Halloween songs will make an appearance on this full CD, along with more traditional songs such as "Dinosaur Christmas." (What? That's not a traditional Christmas song? Well, maybe it will be.) Anyway, go listen.

Laurie Berkner! Webcast! Tonight!

Well, perhaps it's not quite as exciting as "Weird Al" Yankovic releasing his new song on iTunes days after its conception, but it's close, especially for the 3-to-5-year-old set and some of their parents, too. Laurie Berkner will be hosting her first-ever webcast tonight at 8 PM Eastern. Go here to watch. Letters will be read, "Rocketship Run" will be played acoustically. Fun will be had (presumably) by all....

Video: "The Day After Halloween" - The Sippy Cups

San Francisco's The Sippy Cups have a new EP, One Day Soon, coming out today on iTunes, and to celebrate they've posted a video for the EP's most timely song, "The Day After Halloween." The song is a bit of a departure from a lot of Sippy Cups songs as it's pretty straightforward in its narrative structure. It's not a departure in that it has a not small amount of humor, and the accompanying video, about a kid who refuses to take off his ghost costume the next day, has got some amusing visuals. 7 + 5 = CANDY. Has that ghost been taking math lessons from my daughter? The Sippy Cups - "The Day After Halloween"