Share: The Littlest Star - Meadows

Last week I told you about The Littlest Star, the first album from Meadows. Meadows is a side project from married (and parental) musicians Keith and Hollie Kenniff. I thought it was a solid album of traditional songs tweaked juuuust enough to make them listenable on repeat, plus a few originals. And I compared them to Elizabeth Mitchell. Positively. So when Keith asked if I'd be interested in sharing The Littlest Star with you, dear readers, I said, you bet! (Note: I probably didn't actually use the phrase "you bet!," as I don't think I've said that for decades now.) So if you'd like to download the album for free (yes, for free), just click yourself over here and download the zip file. But hurry, as this free download won't be available for very long.

Listen To This: "Cousins" - Dean Jones, Grenadilla, Recess Monkey

Five things to love about this video for "Cousins," a song recorded a couple weeks ago in New York by Dean Jones, Grenadilla, and Recess Monkey. 1. Dean Jones 2. Grenadilla 3. Recess Monkey 4. The fact that these three groups got together to write and record a song. 5. The discussion of "homophone." Dean Jones, Grenadilla, Recess Monkey - "Cousins" [YouTube]

Wordzworth

[With apologies to The New Yorker's "Shouts & Murmurs" section.]

KIDZ BOP Hits The Books! KIDZ BOP and ADAMS MEDIA INTRODUCE THE FIRST-EVER BOOK SERIES BASED ON THE #1 KIDS’ MUSIC BRAND THIS AUGUST: BOSTON, MA (August 1, 2011) — Happy Birthday KIDZ BOP! The #1 music brand for kids ages 5-12 in the U.S is turning 10 this summer. To celebrate, KIDZ BOP is turning the page, starting a new chapter and launching the first-ever KIDZ BOP books! KIDZ BOP invites fans and young readers to join the party when three all-new book titles hit shelves this week. [Press Release] MEMORANDUM To:Philip Browner, Senior Executive VP From:Justine Brennan, VP for New Products Now that the first three books in the "KIDZ BOP BOOKS" series ready for immediate release, I wanted to let you know we have finalized the galleys for the next books in the series. Just as the Kidz Bop albums bring in tween-aged kids to sing along, we've brought in kids as young as 6 to help use rewrite great books at a more age-appropriate level. They've been a key partner in our authoring process. As you are aware, our long term plan is to alternate applying the Kidz Bop touch to new books with tackling more classic literature. (I'm pleased with our progress on our version of The Hunger Games, in which Katniss and Peeta are sent to the Capitol for a fun party and foosball tournament.) You are welcome to review the galleys for this set of Kidz Bop takes on classic literature at any time, but I wanted to give you a sense of what the books will entail. Please pass along any comments you might have. Justine ******* Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell To Arms "It is very ~~dangerous~~. DANGEROUS [shouted]" The nurse went into the room and shut the door. I sat outside in the hall. Everything was gone inside of me. I did not think. I could not think. I knew she was going to ~~die~~ SMILE and I prayed that she would ~~not~~ FLOP. Don't let her die. Oh, God, please don't let her die. I'll do anything for you if you won't ler her die. Please, please, please, dear God, don't let her die. Dear God, don't let her die. Please, please, please don't let her die. God please make her not die. I'll do anything you say if you don't let her die. You took the baby but don't let her die. That was all right ~~but don't let her die. Please, please, dear God, don't let her die~~." Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness

I Like Justin Roberts Concerts. But Especially This One.

It doesn't take a lot to get me excited about a Justin Roberts concert. He plays an awful lot of them, though, so I rarely make mention of them here. However. Katy Lloyd, one of the first loyal Zooglobble readers, and for a number of years, actual real-life friend to my family, has made good on her promise years-ago to bring Justin to her hometown of Seattle for a Why Not Sea Monsters? concert. What is "Why Not Sea Monsters?" Well, it's a pair of albums Roberts recorded a number of years ago with Liam Davis -- they tell stories in song from the Old and New Testament. Lest you think that it was some idle, quick cash-in recording, Roberts' graduate degree is in theology, so he knows of which he speaks. Or sings, whatever. In any case, Roberts is going to be performing a Why Not Sea Monsters? concert on Friday, August 19 at Fauntleroy UCC Church in West Seattle at 6:30 PM. He doesn't do a lot of these shows -- I'd guess he averages maybe one a year -- so if you're in the area, it's a chance to hear him do songs you don't normally hear. (If you wonder what they're like, here's a review of the disks.) Even better than seeing a reader coordinate a show in her community is seeing the other good work the concert will create -- it's a fundraiser for Family Promise of Seattle. The organization works with area congregations to provide shelter, food, and transitional assistance to homeless families, a segment of the homeless population that is often underserved. Good friends here in Phoenix helped start the group here, and our family has supported the Phoenix operation with both money and as well as helping whenever own congregation hosts families. So. Great artist, great cause. If you're in the Seattle area, it's a wonderful (and rare) opportunity. Go!

Monday Morning Smile: "All Is Not Lost" - OK Go

Speaking of Pilobolus, OK Go's latest video is a collaboration between the band and the dance troupe for OK Go's new song "All Is Not Lost." It takes just a little while to figure out what's going on, and then it becomes increasingly hypnotic. You and your kids can even play with an interactive version of the video. Also, I'm thinking of just renaming these "Monday Morning Smile" videos for OK Go since I seem to use them a lot for this purpose. OK Go - "All Is Not Lost" [YouTube]

The Ketchup Report, Vol. 11

It's time for another roundup of all things ketchup related... OK, not really, it's just a variety of stuff that caught my eye (and ear) since, well, the last Ketchup Report. This one is an all-video edition. Except for these words right here. And the ones below. First off, this is how you do a promo for a kindie album. A very effective teaser for Alastair Moock's forthcoming album These Are My Friends featuring Moock and Annad Nyack. If there was a tagline for the teaser, it might be "It's just crazy enough to work!"