Well, not really, but c'mon, check out that cover art for This Is Fun!, the next album from Chris Ballew AKA Caspar Babypants. (Paul the Octopus predicts the album will be lots of fun!) The cover art, as was the case with the first two CB albums, is by Kate Endle (Chris Ballew's wife). As previously noted, the November 2 release will feature appearances by Elizabeth Mitchell, Charlie Hope, and Krist Novoselic.
Track list after the jump:
There has been no shortage of bilingual Spanish-language family music released over the past couple years, not just traditional music, but also some with a bit of rock -- Dan Zanes is perhaps the best-known, but others like Mariana Iranzi also recording albums.
One that I've been waiting for since the beginning of the year is the debut from Moona Luna, the family music alter-ego of Latin-alternative band Pistolera. They've had a couple tracks on their website for awhile now, but now they've got three up in blogger-friendly Bandcamp form. The band, led by singer-songwriter (and new mother) Sandra Velasquez, is actually recording two albums simultaneously -- one as Pistolera, one as Moona Luna -- so that probably explains why it's taken so long. But based on the tracks they've released thus far, I think it might be worth the wait.
Chris Ballew, AKA Caspar Babypants is drinking from the same water his Seattle compatriots Recess Monkey do -- this fall he'll be releasing his third album in only about 24 months. Due out November 2, it's called This Is Fun! and he's recruited an intriguing set of musicians to join him on a few tracks. He's not quite in Frank Sinatra/Santana territory in terms of number of duets, but still...
Elizabeth Mitchell (who is an increasingly popular presence on other family musicians' albums) sings with Ballew on a song by him and his son called "Dark of Night." Charlie Hope sings with him on one of my favorite traditional kids' songs, "Mister Rabbit." And while This Is Fun! won't be the first kids album to feature a rendition of the Nirvana song "Sliver" ("Grandma take me home... grandma take me home...), it will be the first to feature a member of, well, Nirvana. Yes, Krist Novoselic will be playing bass on the track.
So, whoo! (And while you're at it, check out the new track "Happy Heart" at the Caspar Babypants website. Continued good stuff.)
A little bit crucnchy, a little bit sweet, they're sorta like those new pretzel-based M&Ms except they come from Seattle. It's the Not-Its!, and this is a world premiere from their upcoming album Time Out to Rock, out July 20. The song's "Welcome To Our School," and features no small amount of rock and no small amount of inclusiveness either. Stream or download it here, courtesy of the band... but just for the next week. Enjoy! [Ed: And the week's over...]
Rounder Records sold off their Rounder Kids label a little while back, but just when they thought they were out, it keeps pulling them back in, because they've just announced the August 17 release of The Body Rocks on August 17. The album's a whole bunch of songs about functions of the human body. It's the creation of Marc "Doc" Dauer (musician, producer, and physician) and features performances by Liz Phair, Pete Yorn, Minnie Driver, Guster, and Dauer’s own three kids. (Insert joke here about appropriateness of Liz Phair performing on an album about bodily functions.)
The obvious reference here is Schoolhouse Rock, down to the familiar (but not in a legally infringing sense) album logo. However, based on the roots-pop songs at its Myspace pageMyspace page, I think some folks will find it a worthy successor so that there's no need for a Physiology Rock! version from the classic show. (And They Might Be Giants can probably cross Here Comes Anatomy off their to-do list.) Anyway, here's a video bio -- track listing is after the jump...
Well, not really, but c'mon, check out that cover art for This Is Fun!, the next album from Chris Ballew AKA Caspar Babypants. (Paul the Octopus predicts the album will be lots of fun!) The cover art, as was the case with the first two CB albums, is by Kate Endle (Chris Ballew's wife). As previously noted, the November 2 release will feature appearances by Elizabeth Mitchell, Charlie Hope, and Krist Novoselic.
Track list after the jump:
There has been no shortage of bilingual Spanish-language family music released over the past couple years, not just traditional music, but also some with a bit of rock -- 
Chris Ballew, AKA 
