Oh, what the heck, let's just call it Lunch Money Day in anticipation of tomorrow's release of Original Friend. And perhaps you're wondering what the spiffy album art designed by Brandon Reese looks like while streaming the 0s and 1s that make up the free mp3 of "Original Friend." Have no fear, as in the video below Reese himself thumbs through the album art. If you're worried about ruining the experience, trust me, reading the notes (which aren't really visible in the video) is an entirely different pleasure.
Share: "Original Friend" - Lunch Money
Well, I'm not sure how share-worthy this is, since Lunch Money's third album Original Friend is being released tomorrow, and you're probably gonna buy it anyway and the album art is great, but, hey, free mp3. It's the title track from the band I feel more original around. Go here and download that sucker... (And while you're at it, make a nifty EP out of it by grabbing some tracks from Dizzy and Silly Reflection. Though you probably have those albums, too.)Itty-Bitty Review: The Bestest of the Best - Dog on Fleas
Is it uncharitable of me to say I don't understand why Dog on Fleas hasn't had greater popular success? I mean, that statement implies a) that Dog on Fleas hasn't achieved tremendous success, and b) the American family-music-buying public is clueless (or, alternately, c) that I'm clueless). All the things that are part of the family-music success of, say, Dan Zanes or Elizabeth Mitchell -- the organic musical arrangements, the rescuing of lost parts of the American and world songbook, the hooks -- are right there. And certainly fellow musicians such as Mitchell and Uncle Rock know the Fleas and its chief songwriter Dean Jones and hold 'em in high esteem.
I'm hoping that The Bestest of the Best, the perfectly-titled greatest hits compilation of the New York band will help rectify the situation with the general public. It's a 20-song collection of tunes stretching all the way back to the first Fleas' album, Fairly Good Songs for Fairly Good Kids, and a fine introduction to the band's happy blend of folk, pop, and other funkier styles. I gravitated towards the selections from my favorite Fleas' album, When I Get Little, but there are other excellent tracks from other albums there, too -- the jazz-hipster "Dig" from Fairly Good Songs, for example, or the sweet, lazy, indie-pop of "Clouds" from Hoi Polloi. The album also includes 3 newly re-recorded versions of old songs plus their great rendition of "Buffalo Gals" with Elizabeth Mitchell and Daniel Littleton from the overlooked High Meadow Songs release.
In best Dan Zanes fashion, the Fleas' music is most appropriate for kids ages 3 to 93. You can hear samples of the tracks here or full versions of some of the songs here. Depending on how many Dog on Fleas albums you own, The Bestest of the Best, may merely be, well, fairly good. But if you don't have any Dog on Fleas, please get this album and find out what some lucky others already know -- listening to this band is a very pleasurable and joyful experience. Recommended.
Disclosure: I was provided a copy of the album for possible review.Songs For Adoption (Updated)
I first posted a list of songs for adoption about four years ago. Without going into great detail (if you want more, read the original list), adoption has been a part of our how family has grown, and for that I'm grateful.
This Saturday, November 20, 2010, families across the United States will celebrate National Adoption Day. Everyone's adoption journey is a little bit different, so trying to come up with a list of adoption songs is difficult work. Still, here's a short list, which I've generally tried to restrict to very adoption-specific songs. I'm sure there's more that's crossed my desk over the past four years, so if I've missed any, please let me know in the comments.
"Happy Adoption Day," by John McCutheon (off his Family Garden CD or his Supper's on the Table... best-of)
"From God's Arms to My Arms to Yours," by Michael McLean
"The Red Thread," by Lucy Kaplansky, off the album of this same name
"Cartwheels and Somersaults," by Justin Roberts, off Meltdown! -- OK, this isn't really about adoption, but it is all about the joy of adding another child to a family and it spoke to our family's situation wonderfully.
"Not Alone', by John Carlin from his CD First Time For Everything
"When Love Takes You In," by Steven Curtis Chapman off Declaration
"Once Upon a Time," by Miss Lynn off her forthcoming album Something New (and download the song for free here) -- those of you with a Guatamalan adoption experience should check it out, especially...
What Do Lincoln Center, Kindie-jazz, and Babies Have in Common?
The fine folks at jazz-for-the-sippy-cups-set group Coal Train Railroad have managed to get themselves a gig at New York City's Lincoln Center, which merits congratulations. So does the fact that singer Katy Bowser is expecting a baby. When the two meet up, however, it can complicate things. (Babies complicating life plans? Really?) Long story short, the concert's about a month after Katy's due date, so Katy's husband and baby are gonna have to make the trip up to NYC, too.
So they're turning to Kickstarter for some help. Raise enough money, and Katy and Chris'll actually get paid. Raise even more, and it'll go towards a new CTR album in 2011. Nice rewards, too: $10 gets you an EP (woot!) and a Nashville party invite, $25 gets you a personalized "Happy Birthday" song, and $50 gets you a video of show highlights. Go here for more deets.
The Ketchup Report, Vol. 3
Another Ketchup Report, slathering kids music news all across the internet with all-natural ingredients.
-- Bill Harley channels a little Dylan and Guthrie on his song "Enough Is a Feast," which he's now offering as a free download here through Thanksgiving. (If you want to contribute to or volunteer at a food bank at this time of year when food is maybe even more important than it usually is, Harley suggests finding one here.)
-- I'm a longtime fan of the Tricycle Music Fest, even after its cross-country move to San Francisco. Check out the videos from last month's edition here, including "Tricycle," of course, from Frances England and other videos from Charity Kahn and the Time Outs.
-- Twin Cities folks, heads up, Clementown, the Okee Dokee Brothers, and Adam Levy are playing a benefit show on Saturday, December 4 for friends of Clementown's, Krista and Terry, who've both been diagnosed with cancer. Great lineup, good cause. More details here.
-- I'm also a fan of the "Listen To Your Buds" campaign encouraging kids not to turn up their speakers (or headphones) to 11. This fall's performers? Oran Etkin, who's performing in Philadelphia public schools this week and Brady Rymer.
-- Gustafer Yellowgold, back on (off-)Broadway! Gustafer Yellowgold’s Infinity Sock will have a run of Saturday performances (11 AM and 1 PM) at the DR2 Theatre, 103 E. 15th St. New York City, from February 26 through April 2. It apparently will include the song "Wisconsin Poncho," which is "set in an all-cheese clothing store." This, friends, is why I love kids music.
-- The Kindiependent concert at the Seattle Public Library some of you may have heard about? 1,500 people, folks. Strength in numbers, that's what it's about. The group's got a couple new concert series coming up in the Seattle area starting this fall, too...
