Video: "Rocketship" - Stacey Peasley (World Premiere!)

Sometimes all your kids -- or you -- need is a simple pop song with a cute video.  If that's you today, might I suggest this video for "Rocketship" from Stacey Peasley?  The song's a catchy and danceable guitar-driven number perfect for the closest kindergartener with a space obsession.  (Evidently there are a number of said kindergarteners, because Peasley reports it's the most popular track off her 2016 Marty Beller-produced album RSVP.)  When the song paired with the suuuuuupercute video from eg design based on illustrations from Jill Howarth, the whole package really, er... takes off.  [Ducks behind curtain to avoid thrown objects.]

Anyway, I'm happy to world-premiere this fun video!

Stacey Peasley - "Rocketship" [YouTube]

Video: "Baconstein" - Gustafer Yellowgold

There are many pleasing things about the word of a new Gustafer Yellowgold album, but the news from a few weeks back that the forthcoming track "Baconstein" would be getting a video was among the most pleasing.  "Baconstein" is a spiritual if not literal sequel to "Cakenstein," which, while not the most typical of Gustafer songs, is one of the funniest tracks in the Gustafer canon.  "Baconstein" tells another story of food run amok, a "Bacon Chucky Norris" with an attitude.  (As technology is for Wallace & Gromit, so food is for Gustafer Yellowgold, apparently.)

And now the video for "Baconstein" is here, so you can hear about (and see) Baconstein's six-pack abs.  And more.  Gustafer Yellowgold's Brighter Side is out Sept. 8.

Gustafer Yellowgold - "Baconstein" [YouTube]

Video: "Hot Nights" - Gustafer Yellowgold

Yay for new Gustafer!  That's right, our favorite animated friend from the sun is back.  September 8 sees the release of Brighter Side, the eighth Gustafer Yellowgold release from Morgan Taylor.  The album promises a look at both Gustafer's childhood on the sun along with more peeks into his current life in Minnesota.

"Hot Nights" is a funny take on really hot evenings featuring a melody and production that would slide right into '70s AM radio.  Speaking as a resident of desert Arizona, I can relate to the subject matter.  Speaking as someone who's listened to a bit of '70s AM radio, I can relate to that as well.

Anyway, enjoy this video, because unlike the other seven Gustafer releases, this new album is a music-only release and so there won't be a video for every song.  (I am very pleased, however, to see that there will be a video for "Baconstein," a sequel to one of the all-time great Gustafer songs "Cakenstein," along with at least one other.)

Welcome back, Gustafer!

Gustafer Yellowgold - "Hot Nights" [YouTube]

Video: "Mr. Pickle" - Michael and the Rockness Monsters

Let's face it, the era of silly novelty songs is pretty much over -- really, the presence of the occasional "What Does the Fox Say?" is a case of the exception proving the rule.  The only outlet at this point is Dr. Demento who continues to produce a weekly online radio show featuring, no doubt, plenty of songs that are silly but not necessarily solely comedic in intent.

So I sort of think that Michael and the Rockness Monsters' "Mr. Pickle" (off Funny Faces) would be an excellent addition to an upcoming Dr. Demento playlist.  The song features the nasally ramblings of the titular character and his musings on his way to leading the pickle parade.  And that's about it.  No homilies about changing the world, or feeling good about yourself, or standing up to bullies.  Just a song about a talking pickle.  And now, a video that gives visual life to those silly lyrics.  Bless 'em, we need a few more songs like that.  And maybe Dr. Demento back on the radio.

Michael and the Rockness Monsters - "Mr. Pickle" [YouTube]

Video: "Bird-Watcher Watching" - Billy Kelly

My First Comedy Album cover

I once called Billy Kelly the Funniest Person in Kids Music, and that was against some tough competition.

So the release of My First Comedy Album, Kelly's (not my), er, first comedy album, while a departure, wasn't exactly a surprise.  I wouldn't exactly call it "kids' comedy," but in its good nature, curse-free patter, and being devoid of first-date and airplane food jokes, it's certainly kid-adjacent.

You could stream the entire album to see if it makes you or kids chuckle or guffaw or chortle -- man, those are some great words -- but what if you only have about 40 seconds?  Then I'd recommend his "Bird-Watcher Watching" bit, helpfully animated by Kelly himself, below.

Billy Kelly - "Bird-Watcher Watching" [YouTube]

Video: "Mellows On My Mind" - Henriques²

There is no shortage of spousal teams in kids music -- think of Lunch Money, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, or many more -- and unsurprisingly lots of parents and children, but siblings?  Those pairings are far fewer.

But there's a new such pairing on the horizon, and it's one I'm really looking forward to.  It's called Henriques², and it features the siblings (natch) Lori Henriques and Joel Henriques.  "Mellows On My Mind" - Henriques²  The two of them have paired up several times before on videos for Lori's music, but now they're joining forces musically for a full-length album due out this summer.

Based on the first track, it's definitely something I'm looking forward to.  The track is called "Mellows On My Mind," and it's retro (perhaps that's more Lori's influence) and forward-looking (Joel's) at the same time sonically.  And marshmallows (not to mention cereal) are always a popular item around kids.  Says Lori, "When we were writing the lyrics, we loved the idea of one simple quotidian thing (a bowl of cereal) inspiring us to create something more amazing."

I'm really happy to be world-premiering the video, which features drawings by Joel's kids, animated by Joel himself.  More details on the album to come!

Henriques² - "Mellows On My Mind" [YouTube]