I kinda think everybody should get to be woken up by a personalized marching band at least once in their life, but barring that, Toronto's The Monkey Bunch have the next-best thing. It's "The Morning Call" off their 2006 self-titled debut album. (Their 2010 follow-up Power to the Little People was one of those albums I liked but never got a chance to review. It was also nominated for a Juno Award, so between the two, I think they probably got the more significant recognition.) Anyway, sleepyheads who watch this video are likely to miss a few of the slightly more subversive moments. But they'll be awake.
Sho, Mo & the Monkey Bunch - "The Morning Call" [YouTube]
Pop! For Kids (and Their Minders)

With Messianic Fervor
I would make for a lousy missionary.
Talking to people one at a time, trying to convince them right then and there in the correctness of my position is not my strength -- proselytizing makes me blanch. I would rather spend time day after day, week after week, year after year, offering facts and sharing opinions, not to mention listening to others. If others come to my point of view, great. If not, it's not worth ramming my head into a wall repeatedly. And maybe I'll have my own mind changed.
My approach to kids music has been pretty much the same. I'm happy writing my opinions on my website and argue them with some vigor, but get me one-on-one with somebody about kids music, and I'm, like, "Uh, I kinda like Elizabeth Mitchell."
I know.
I should be a little more forceful (and, OK, that quote above's an exaggeration) but it's not an exaggeration to say that the person who talks most about Zooglobble locally isn't me -- it's one of my friends who's constantly asking for my business cards and giving them to people she meets.
So it was with some amusement that I read an article about Rani Arbo and her career with her band Daisy Mayhem. Her career navigates both the folk and kids music camps...
Rani Arbo is one of Middletown's biggest exports — hell, it wouldn't be a stretch to call her one of Connecticut's, considering her band's rigorous touring across the nation. She and Daisy Mayhem have the rare luxury of fitting into two niche markets, whereas most bands are lucky to fit into one. Since they use acoustic instruments (including drummer Scott Kessel's all-recycled kit — he uses cat food tins and a suitcase for a kick drum), they fit in handsomely with the folk, bluegrass and roots music circuit. And their versatility with both adult and children's songbooks allows them to tap into the kids' music fanbase, who Arbo (vocals/violin) describes as “messianic about things they like.”Uh-oh - she's got us.
Video: "Mr. Butterfly" - The Que Pastas
When I last told you about Denver's Que Pastas, it was to mention their free EP. (Pro tip: it's still free.)
Now I'm telling you about their shiny new video for "Mr. Butterfly." It's done by eg design, the same folks who've done the snappy set of videos for the Bazilions, with help from artist Season Mustful. Call it "The Very Funky Caterpillar."
The Que Pastas - "Mr. Butterfly" [YouTube]
Video: "Parachute (Using the Ghost of Buddy Holly As A)" - Fishboy
So I saw this the other day, and I just thought you (and your family) needed to see it, too. It's for "Parachute (Using the Ghost of Buddy Holly As A)" from Denton, Texas band Fishboy and their 2007 album Albatross: How We Failed to Save the Lone Star State With the Power of Rock and Roll. A catchy tune, a Pong reference in the video, and although it contemplates the possible death of the song's narrator, by the end it's uplifting and even makes the title make sense. Fishboy has a new album out -- Classic Creeps -- May 10 (stream it here). You can download this track for free here.
Fishboy - "Parachute (Using the Ghost of Buddy Holly As A)" [YouTube]
(Via the Pop For Kids blog, more on that anon.)
Please Release Me: April 2011 Edition
Another month, another list of new and upcoming releases. (Last month's list is here.) As always, if I've listed you on here and gotten something wrong (or something not ready for primetime), let me know and I'll edit or delete it. And if you're not on here and think you should be, drop me a line, too, and I'll get you added for the next iteration.
Joanie Leeds: What a Zoo! (April 12)
Brady Rymer: Love Me For Who I Am (April 12) [features duet with Laurie Berkner]
Azam Ali: From Night to the Edge of Day (April 12)
Daddy A Go Go (aka John Boydston): Grandkid Rock (April 19)
Rockabye Baby: Lullaby Renditions of the Flaming Lips (April 26)
Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke: Hey Pepito! EP (mid-April)
Eric Herman: The Elephant (DVD, national release April)
Randy Kaplan: Mr. Diddie Wah Diddie (April)
Tom Chapin: Give PEAS a Chance (May 3)
Lucky Diaz: O'Lucky Day! (May 10)
Moey's Music Party: Happily Ever Moey! A Fairy Tale Lark in Central Park (DVD, May 10)
Readeez: Readeez Vol. 3: Knowledge is Good (DVD, CD, May 13)
Egg: Hard Boiled (spring)
Rockabye Baby: Lullaby Renditions of Jimi Hendrix (Spring)
Recess Monkey: FLYING! (June 21)
Charlie Hope: Songs, Stories and Friends: Let's Go Play! (June)
Central Services Board of Education: Title TBA (summer)
Rocknoceros: Colonel Purple Turtle (Sept. 13)
Andy Z The Grand Scream of Things (Oct. 4) [produced by Tor Hyams]
Milkshake: Title TBA plus Holiday Album Title TBA (Fall 2011)
Other 2011 albums: Ah-Choo, Alastair Moock, Peter Apel, Funky Mamas, Dan Zanes, Hipwaders, Big Don, Mr. Richard, Chuck Cheesman. Also, Rockabye Baby for Van Halen, The Police, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Madonna.