Y'know, I've always thought that "MMMBop" was one of the great pop hits of the '90s. The Hanson tune was seemingly everywhere when it was first released, and more than a decade later, it still holds up -- it's one of the most hummable meditations on change and mortality ever released. Anyway, they released a new album this summer called Shout It Out. The lead single "Thinkin 'Bout Somethin'" isn't a kids' tune (the singer's girlfriend has done him wrong) but it's not inappropriate, it is catchy, and the video, well, the video is a bunch of fun. (And if it all just looks vaguely familiar, you're right.)
What I'm thinking about is why they decided that they wanted to apostrophize 2 but not 3 of the words in the song title.
Hanson - "Thinking 'Bout Somethin'" [YouTube]
(After the jump, the song that kicked it all off. You know you want to hear it again.)
Video: "Fits Right In" - Robbie Schaefer
It's been a long time since Robbie Schaefer released new music for families. I mean, he gives us the goofy (and fun) Songs For Kids Like Us more than four years ago, and then what happens? He goes and gets himself a radio show on Sirius-XM's Kids Place Live. Apparently being a music director for a radio station means you don't get to record new carp-related family music.
But Schaefer's finally gotten around to recording "Fits Right In," which he's been playing at live shows for a little while now. It's a catch little piece of kids folk-pop -- fans of Justin Roberts will quite enjoy it, I think. You can download it here and on iTunes. I don't think it's going to take 4+ years before the next Schaefer release. Listen to Schaefer play the song solo (and acoustic), captured live by Gwyneth.
Robbie Schaefer - "Fits Right In" (Live @ Eddie's Attic, Atlanta) [YouTube]
Stream Frances England's "Mind of My Own"
San Francisco's Frances England may be a pro at making lovely handmade art, but she's also good at that newfangled electronic stuff. As I noted this summer, England's signed up with the folks at Topspin to get her music heard far and wide.
And so it is that her new, not-even-yet-released album Mind of My Own is available for your streaming pleasure. Just click away below. Might I suggest the leadoff title track, or #6 ("Place in Your Heart," with Mates of State), or perhaps #9 ("Cookies and Milk," featuring the Jellydots' Doug Snyder)? Or perhaps just the whole thing. And once you've done that go here and give her other albums a spin. Mind of My Own is released Nov. 9th.
"Pop Ups," "Wall Street Journal," and "Zooglobble"
I would typically suggest that one of these things is not like the other, but last Friday, that was not the case, as the Wall Street Journal ran an article featuring New York's The Pop Ups that featured a quote from Bill Childs and quoted my review of Outside Voices, their debut album.
I know most of you have probably read the piece, but it's a decent article that actually covers more than surface platitudes about the kids music genre right now. Or at least about a single band.
(And, yes, I will get to some ACL coverage very soon.)
Video: "Hula Hoop to Da Loop" - Keller Williams
Enjoying listening to "Hula Hoop to Da Loop" from the forthcoming Keller Williams album Kids? Of course you are. But maybe you're more of a visually-stimulated family. Then check out this video, featuring Williams, a display of his looping prowess, and a display of his (and others') hula-hooping prowess. Fun.
Radio Playlist: New Music October 2010
Time once again to update the Zooglobble radio station. Lots of disks since my last update. This playlist airs in the mid-afternoons (West Coast time), but if you can't listen in the afternoon, the tracks are scattered throughout the day, too.
Antarctica - Aaron Joseph (A Band of Our Own)
Josey Durango, The Boy Raised By Bullfrogs - The Amoeba People - (Songs, Stories, And Other Non Sequiturs)
I'm in Trouble Again - Big Bang Boom (Songs Your Mom Will Like!)
Mister Rabbit - Caspar Babypants w/ Charlie Hope (This Is Fun!)
Hot and Bothered - Duke Ellington (Swing Cafe)
Place In Your Heart - Frances England w/ Mates of State (Mind of My Own)
Sock Monster - Groovy David (Everybody)
Wrong's Alright - Jeremy Plays Guitar (Use Your Words)
Spaghetti And Goofballs - Jim Cosgrove (Swimming In Noodles)
Hula Hoop To Da Loop - Keller Williams (Kids)
Vagabond Worms - Kindiependent
What I Like - Krazy Kuzins (Krazy Kuzins Its A Kid's Thing)
Hairdos - Meredith Wright's Sweetbeatz (Soulful Songs for City Kids)
Studio Brew - The Monkey Bunch (Power 2 The Little People)
Brinca Jump! - Moona Luna w/ Dan Zanes (Piñata Party)
The Hammer - Paul Campagne (The Little Blue Doggy)
QWERTYUIOP - Professor Banjo (Old Time, Good Time!)
Digging The Weeds - Readeez (Growing Veggie Soup; Celebrate Earth Music Series)
Suspicious Minds - Rockabye Baby! (Lullaby Renditions of Elvis Presley)
All My Friends Are Different - Salteens (Kid Songs)
Red Rover - Scythian (Cake For Dinner : A Children's Album)
Due to internet radio restrictions, playlist is shown alphabetically by artist.
