The kids music genre these days does a great job with music for the under-8 set, but for the most part abandons the tweens to the vagaries of older siblings and Radio Disney. Where are the albums for kids too old for Laurie Berkner but not ready for Lady Gaga?
This year's best album for that age group is the latest record from the Bay Area band
The Hipwaders. It's called
The Golden State, and as you might guess from the title, it's a big, sunny power-pop embrace of their homestate, from the Beach Boys-like melodies on several tracks to paeans to life in California (see: "Come To California," "Slow Children at Play"). There are enough hooks here to outfit a pirate convention -- the driving "Hey, Josie!" might just be even more catchy than "Educated Kid" (and my fealty to that song is
long-established), while "My Dog Steve" features an insanely catchy chorus that gets even catchier once the "na-na-nas" are thrown in. The trio sounds as good as they ever have.
As for the part about the album being for tweens, that's more of a lyrical thing (though the power chords may also have something to do with it). On the angular "The Wrong Thing," the song's narrator is
trying to make better choices: "They say you can’t grow without mistakes / Do they have to count every one I make? / I want to fly I want to soar / I don’t want to keep messing up anymore." "The Ramble," although it's about Central Park's Ramble, celebrates exploring the outdoors and could easily be about the California coast. The band also reworks one of their older tunes, "Stand Up to the Bully" with a ska beat. And while I've always thought the band focused more on boy protagonists (heck, there's a song called "So, You're a Boy") on here, "Go Go Girl" gives a "single-digit" aged girl just as much enthusiasm as any of guitarist/songwriter Tito Uquillas' other protagonists.
The album is most appropriate for kids ages 6 through 11. You can listen to samples from the album
here. A special shout-out to the album art from
Brian Clarke -- simple packaging, but elegantly done.
The back cover of
The Golden State features a boy in profile, skateboard in hand, overlooking a verdant valley and lake. It's the portrait of a kid on the verge of exploring the outside world, just like some of the characters in and many of the listeners to the album. It's the same kid who might just be inspired to pick up a guitar after listening to the album. The Hipwaders' best album to date,
Golden State isn't just a great album for the tweens in your life, it's a great album, period. Highly recommended.
[Disclosure: I received a copy of the album for possible review.]
The 2011 edition of Lollapalooza kicks off today in Chicago and with it, of course, the Kidzapalooza stage. More details here if you need to know the finer points of the activities going on, but I'm going to focus on the music.
Now, I speak as a) an atypical attendee of C3-produced music festivals, and b) someone who's not been to Lollapalooza, but it's my sense that Kidzapalooza isn't quite as kid-friendly an experience as the Austin Kiddie Limits stage at the Austin City Limits Festival is. Not that it's an unfriendly experience, mind you, just that if I were looking to mostly hang out in the kids' area for 3 afternoons, I get the impression that there would be a lot more families doing the same thing in Austin than in Chicago.
Producer Tor Hyams also brings in a slightly different mix of artists for the Chicago festival than for the Austin festival. One prominent way this is the case is in the number of kids' artists -- not adult performers making music for kids, but tweens and teens making music. There are three such artists doing multiple sets this weekend, and while it's not kindie as it's typically thought of, there are far worse things for your kids than seeing kids just a few years older than they are making loud music sound good. (And you may even enjoy yourself.)
Beyond those artists, Hyams has put together another solid set of folks who've recorded specifically for the pre-tween set and their families. Most of them (like the teen artists) are playing multiple sets this weekend, which gives you the opportunity to dash off with your kids and see some sets you want to see. (Though trying to decide whether you see The Joy Formidable or Titus Andronicus early Sunday afternoon? Tough call.)
But if you're there with your kids this weekend and thinking about heading down to the Kidzapalooza stage to check out the area and an act or two, here's the schedule and some comments about the acts.
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. [
