My Favorite (Best?) Kids Music of 2012

While the posting date on this says 2012, I have to tell you the truth.  I am totally  back-dating this thing.  I am writing this at the end of October 2013 in preparation of writing my Top 10 lists for 2013. 

You see, my secret shame is that I never published my list(s) of my favorite kids music of 2012.

Oh, the shame, it burns... 

Now, it's not like I didn't seriously think about this subject last year.  Besides co-coordinating the 2012 Fids and Kamily Awards, I also voted in them, and the top 10 albums below reflect my vote in the awards.  But I do receive far more great kids music than I can fit into my ten-slot F&K ballot, so this is my opportunity to give some shout-outs to some artists.  Looking at this list, there are easily 6 or 7 of those albums on the list from #s 11 through 25 that could easily be swapped into the Top 10 list.

So in order not to make this already more embarrassing or major-movie-romantic-comedy-like, without further ado (or, frankly, comment), here are my lists of the best (or at least favorite) in kids music, circa 2012.  (If you define, as I do, 2012 as being Nov. 1, 2011 through Oct. 31, 2012.)

Top Kids Music Albums

1.  The Okee Dokee Brothers - Can You Canoe?

2.  Elizabeth Mitchell - Blue Clouds

3.  The Board of Education - Binary

4.  Dog on Fleas - Invisible Friends

5.  Johnny Bregar - My Neighborhood

6.  Lunch Money - Spicy Kid

7.  Recess Monkey - In Tents

8.  Various Artists - Science Fair

9.  Secret Agent 23 Skidoo - Make Believers

10.  Various Artists (Matt Wilson) - WeBop: A Family Jazz Party

Albums 11-25 (unranked, shown in alphabetical order) 

Caspar Babypants - Hot Dog!

Coal Train Railroad - Swings! 

Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band - A Potluck

Duke Otherwise - Creepy Crawly Love 

Elska - Middle of Nowhere 

Jennifer Gasoi - Throw a Penny in the Wishing Well

Jumping Through Hoops - Rockin' to the Fiddle

Randy Kaplan - Mr. Diddie Wah Diddie 

Kori Pop - Songs for Little Bean 

Elizabeth Mitchell - Little Seed 

Elena Moon Park - Rabbit Days & Dumplings 

The Pop Ups - Radio Jungle

Renee & Jeremy - A Little Love 

They Might Be Giants - No! (Deluxe Reissue) 

Laura Veirs - Tumble Bee

A special shout-out here to Adventures of Chicken Weebus , which isn't really kids music so I didn't really consider it for this list, but based on pure entertainment value definitely ranks in our Top 25.

Top Kids Music Debut Albums (listed alphabetically)

Duke Otherwise - Creepy Crawly Love 

Elska - Middle of Nowhere

Kepi Ghoulie - Kepi for Kids 

Jumping Through Hoops - Rockin' to the Fiddle 

Kori Pop - Songs for Little Bean

Alison Faith Levy - World of Wonder (I know, not quite fair given her history with the Sippy Cups, but still...)

Elena Moon Park - Rabbit Days & Dumplings

Play Date - Imagination 

Laura Veirs - Tumble Bee

Various Artists (Matt Wilson) - WeBop: A Family Jazz Party 

Video: "40 Things To Do in a Blackout" - The Pop Ups

I don't think write, record, and film a video for a benefit song was one of the 40 things the Pop Ups mention in their new song, "40 Things To Do in a Blackout," but singing along definitely was.  The new track was inspired by (if that's an appropriate phrase) Hurricane Sandy, and all proceeds benefit Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.  (Purchase the track via Bandcamp, Amazon, and -- soon -- iTunes.)  The song takes a while to get a head of steam, but once it does, it's a ton of fun and worth a buck.  The video is just that much more fun.  After all, everything's better with puppets (another suggestion from the band, of course).

The Pop Ups - "40 Things To Do in a Blackout" [YouTube]

Video: "Count Them As They Go" - Justin Roberts

Ah, a new Justin Roberts album, perfect for seasonally-appropriate gift-giving.  His new album Lullaby comes out next week, and with a title like that, you can surmise that it won't contain raved-up power-pop confections.

It is, however, perfect for these rapidly shortening days of diminishing light and nesting feelings.

The leadoff single is "Count Them As They Go," and the video from the fine folks at ALSO is, like Roberts' songwriting, a model of precision, with everything in its right place.  Lovely and reassuring.

Justin Roberts - "Count Them As They Go" [YouTube]

Video: "The Case of the Dry Markers" - Zak Morgan

There's something ever so slightly off in this video for Zak Morgan's song "The Case of the Dry Markers," from his new album The Barber of the Beasts.  Not in a bad way, mind you, just that any song that creates a slightly ominous and nonsensical story from missing dry markers -- and then wraps that into a guest appearance from Bootsy Collins -- well, that just ain't typical.

Zak Morgan - "The Case of the Dry Markers (feat. Bootsy Collins) [Vimeo]

Video: "Give It Away" - Renee & Jeremy

It's been a long election season.  And while I celebrate all things electoral and watch relatively little commercial TV, even I would admit to looking forward to the impending absence of political ads from our airwaves.

Instead of watching six political ads, can I get you and your kids to watch this trippy 3-minute video for Renee & Jeremy's unique cover of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Give It Away" from their covers album A Little Love?  It will make you feel much happier before you dive into your exit polls, pundits, and electoral maps for the day.

Renee & Jeremy - "Give It Away" [YouTube]

Radio Playlist: New Music November 2012

Time to post another Spotify update for new music (see October's playlist here).  It's limited, of course, in that if an artist hasn't chosen to post a song on Spotify, I can't put it on the list, nor can I feature songs from as-yet-unreleased albums.  But, hey, there's always next month.

Check out the list here or go right here if you're in Spotify.

**** New Music November 2012 (November Kindie Playlist) ****

Todd McHatton – Fuzzy & Orange
Doctor Noize – Welcome to Grammaropolis
The Harmonica Pocket – Turkey in the Straw
Big Bang Boom – Bicycle
David Tobocman – Run Run, Race Car
Boxtop Jenkins – Wag More (feat. Indigo Girls)
Vered – At 63
Jennifer Gasoi – Little Blue Car
Elizabeth Mitchell – May This Be Love
Randy Kaplan & Kristin Mooney – John the Rabbit (feat. Jack Saxenmeyer) (from PLAY Music Vol. 2)
Helen Austin – Five Little Things
The Tumble Down Library – Bartholomew
Jonathan Grossman & the Nerdz – Who I Am
Beth Nielsen Chapman – The Big Bang Boom
Zak Morgan – Nancy Jane