Radio Playlist: New Music October 2013

A bunch of new music has come across my desk or been released since the September new music playlist, so time to post another Spotify update (see the September 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 October 2013 (October 2013 Kindie Playlist) ****

Lloyd H. Miller – Working On a Bridge
Todd and Cookie – All These Magical Things
Martykins – The Magic Pick
Josh and the Jamtones – Green and Spakkled Frogs
Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band – When I Grow Up
Jr. Madness – Jim-a-Long Josie
Chris Doud, Willy Tea Taylor & Joey No Knows – Jake the Frog
Davy Andrews – Space Monkey
Cadi Grace – The Craziest Dream (Wake Me)
The Bug Family Band – Hexagon
The Ohmies – Ohmies Jamboree
Jelly of the Month Club – Brand New Friend
Red Yarn – Bob the Rabbit
The Never Land Pirate Band – Ahoy Ahoy
Recess Monkey – Smooth Sailing
The Short Films – The Mysterious Okapi

 

Weekly Summary (10/14/13 - 10/20/13)

Video: "Fill It Up" - Josh and the Jamtones

Isn't This Old House?  filmed in the Boston area?  Then perhaps this video, filmed during the "buildout" of the Josh and the Jamtones headquarters, could be part of a Very Special Kindie Edition of the home improvement show.  The video is for "Fill It Up," one of the appealing tracks on their new album Bear Hunt , and while it's simple, it shows the gregarious band being gregarious.

But, really, my chief reason for featuring the video is the paint brushes.  I would like to see more videos featuring the paint brushes, please.

Josh and the Jamtones - "Fill It Up" [YouTube] 

Weekly Summary (9/30/13 - 10/6/13)

Itty-Bitty Review: Bear Hunt! - Josh and the Jamtones

Those of you who've seen Josh and the Jamtones in concert know that to call them high-energy is to underestimate the degree of enthusiasm they bring to a live gig.  The band Brings It.

You can hear a lot of that energy on Bear Hunt!, the third album from the Boston-area band.  The exclamation at the end of "Everybody Dance!" isn't window-dressing, it's a near command, and those kids who are still standing after that song probably won't make it through the next song, the just-as-energetic "Pirate's Life."  ("Snow Day" and the  similarly amped.)  The band gets an assist from occasional Dan Zanes collaborator Father Goose, an appropriate guest artist given the band's reggae and roots rock tendencies, on a couple tracks -- who knew "Swing Low" was a song about coming home from school?

I am not generally a big skit fan, and while Josh Shriber and chief musical collaborator Patrick Hanlin, generate quite a few laughs in their 4 skits that reenact in a skewed way the classic "Bear Hunt" song, devoting about 40% of their album's 44 minute run time to the skits takes away a lot of the energy generated by the songs themselves.  They felt more appropriate for live show banter.  (Judge for yourself, perhaps, by listening to the stream of four of the songs album, best for kids ages 3 through 7, below.)

Josh and the Jamtones are definitely a band to watch as their live shows have attracted a lot of attention.  The music on Bear Hunt!  doesn't try anything new, but is given a bit of flash and shine and if it doesn't make your family laugh, at the very least it's probably gonna make you dance.  Recommended

Note: I received a copy of the album for possible review. 

Radio Playlist: New Music June 2013

Another 5 weeks or so, another Spotify update for new music (see the May 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 June 2013 (June 2013 Kindie Playlist) ****

Recess Monkey – The Deep End

Josh and the Jamtones – Bring the Music

Ejs Big Box of Love – Big Box of Love

Bobby Beetcut – Funky Monkey

Mr. Saxophone – Gravy Stain

Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke – Trondaxx Berserker

Sandbox – Rock Song

Owen Duggan – Toes for Breakfast

Adam Bernstein – Silly Song

Dan Costello – I'm a Little Cookie

Josh & Gab – Nine O'clock Behind the Jack Rabbit

The Dirty Sock Funtime Band – Danceology