Video: "Cakenstein" - Gustafer Yellowgold

Nobody would ever deny Morgan Taylor's taste for the absurd in his Gustafer Yellowgold videos. Shops featuring clothing made of cheese? Jumping on dessert from on high? So, yes, Taylor can get into Shel Silverstein territory with the best of 'em.

But this, friends, is by far the oddest video yet, and I mean that as high praise. Who would think of writing a song called "CAKENSTEIN" using the '70s-iest of soft rock? And then it all goes horribly (wonderfully) awry. Pick up the single on iTunes here, but without a doubt, enjoy the video below.

Gustafer Yellowgold - "Cakenstein" [YouTube]

Radio Playlist: New Music February 2014

January continued to be slow in terms of new album releases, so I've slid into early February when it comes to my playlist of songs from disks that have crossed my desk or hard drive (see the December playlist here). As always, it's limited 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 I'm always keeping stuff in reserve for the next Spotify playlist.

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

**** New Music February 2014 (February 2014 Kindie Playlist) ****

Ken Kurland – On My Way Home
Sophie & Les Petits – Joyeux Anniversaire
Robert M. Charde – Jean Lafitte
Linda Marie Smith – Surrender to the Sea
Mama Mac – Pajama Train
Ella Jenkins – Eight Clay Pigeons
Jason Didner and the Jungle Gym Jam – Stay in the Pool
Mil's Trills – Brooklyn
Mr. S & the Sandbox Band – Delaware Street
Clint Perry & The Boo Hoo Crew – Tire Swing

Video: "End of a Summer Storm" - Alison Krauss

I suppose the Sandra Boynton video that would make me happiest would be one that Boynton herself animated with her amusing anthropomorphic animals. But that also wouldn't fit the mood of "End of a Summer Storm," the Alison Krauss-sung tune from Boynton's fine Frog Trouble album. The video, directed by Keith Boynton, features a bunny on a mission -- it's a felt-y, puppet-y action adventure. (Sort of.) Also dig the Swallows and Amazons reference.

Alison Krauss - "End of a Summer Storm" [Vimeo]

Monday Morning Smile: "The Lion" - Benjamin Scheuer (Escapist Papers)

This is a beautiful song, the title track, as it were, from a new autobiographical stage show from Benjamin Scheuer. Scheuer's show The Lion will get its American premiere in June, but the video for this song performed by Scheuer and his band Escapist Papers has already won awards.

I would note that the song lyrics feature murder and death and sickness amongst animals. But so does Babar. In spite of that, it's probably the most uplifting song you'll hear all week, and the animation from Radish Pictures is gorgeous.

Benjamin Scheuer (The Escapist Papers) - "The Lion" [Vimeo]

Weekly Summary (1/20/14 - 2/2/14)

So this is really a bi-weekly summary… that first week, oof, not much done on the website.

Video: "How Big" - Eric Herman

It has been a long time since Eric Herman has shared a video for the world. Last week he released a video for "How Big." The song, from his 2009 album What a Ride, is a big existential look at life and our place in the universe.

Herman could not have known how difficult the next few years would be for him; his wife Roseann passed away last year after battling illness. He felt a deep need to finally create a video for this song nearly five years after first talking about creating a video. The result, from animator Mario Marinkovic, is suitably big-picture for the song. Somehow posting this in the wake of Pete Seeger's passing seems apropos.

Eric Herman - "How Big" [Vimeo; YouTube, too, if that's your fancy]