Review: Home - Tim Kubart

Tim Kubart - Home album cover

Bless Tim Kubart and his big pop heart.  Whether he's playing his heart out as Tambourine Guy for Postmodern Jukebox or playing with Chica on Sprout's Sunny Side Up Show, the musician and actor dedicates himself to entertaining the viewer and listener to an uncommon degree, even for, well, entertainers.

Kubart's previous albums, a self-titled EP with his band Tim and the Space Cadets and a full-length Anthems for Adventure, contained bits of pop goodness and some tracks that begged to be heard in concert, but on his brand new album Home, out this week, Kubart goes the full pop monty.  You will not hear a kids' music album this year that tries harder to hit pop heights, where you think repeatedly, "Oh, that would be fun to hear on the radio / in concert / on Friday Night Videos."

Luckily, it usually succeeds.  The album title reflects its theme -- songs about life with family and in your home, wherever you and your family call it.  "Breakfast Club" is a song celebrating breakfast, and just typing that, I know, it sounds so basic, but it's so poppy -- handclaps, slinky guitar work, and a nifty rap from Sunny Side Up co-star Carly Ciarrocchi -- that you find yourself singing along to a song, well, celebrating breakfast.  "Showtime" features "Whoas" and "La la las" and a celebration of dressing up a la the Pop Ups' "Costume Party," albeit more uptempo.

On it goes, from the horn-assisted "Sunday Crafternoon," -- I know, that title -- on which Kubart's occasional fellow Postmodern Jukebox musician Drue Davis offers up another rap that by itself makes the song worth it to "Better," which goes all Lumineers on us and features a duet with kindie superstar Laurie Berkner.  I heard echoes of Walk Off the Moon and '80s soundtrack legend Kenny Loggins in "Backyard Swinging," and of Thriller-era Michael Jackson in "Rooms."  If Tim Kubart were female, I'm sure I'd be thinking of female pop juggernauts like Taylor Swift or Carly Rae Jepsen instead.

I can't say that I found the three "Job at the House" interludes -- which sound like commercial jingles for, well, household chores -- very engaging.  And as always been Kubart's wont, his songs (written with longtime musical partner and fellow ex-Jimmies bandmate Matt Puckett) are super-focused on the kids lyrically, with less for the adults to latch onto.  (That's not a criticism, but some families -- i.e., parents -- dig it, and others, less so.)  Having said that, the album opener and closer, "Last Turn Home" and "Moving Day," which both ape fun.'s soaring singalong chorus style, attempt a more emotional approach to the subject of home and where it is and are definitely the two tracks that might appeal equally to a much broader audience on a topical level.

The 37-minute album is most appropriate for listeners 4 through 7, but its modern pop sounds are crafted to have a much broader appeal sonically.  While I've always thought Kubart's music had their share of pop hooks, Home is bursting at the seams with them and is his best effort yet.  As I said, bless Tim Kubart and his big pop heart.  Definitely recommended.

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

Review: Anthems for Adventure - Tim and the Space Cadets

Tim Kubart, head of Tim and the Space Cadets, left the kindie band The Jimmies nearly years ago because he wanted to write and perform his own kids music.  Along with another Jimmies veteran, Matt Puckett, Kubart released an awesome video and 5-song EP in 2010 and slowly crafted the full-length debut, which gets released next week.

The result, Anthems for Adventure, is a big, sprawling, messy album.  I like to think of it as one of those big arena-ready albums you might have heard released in the '70s.  There are echoes of Elton John and the Eagles, mellow pop-rock for the kindie set, but there are some more indie sounds as well.  ("Bumblebee," for example, could be the shiniest song Clap Your Hands Say Yeah never wrote.)  Hand-claps and sing-along choruses (hi, there, "Superhero!"), it's an album whose songs are meant to be heard in concert.

When I say "messy," I don't mean sloppy.   I really liked the slow-building arrangement of "Endless Summer," about celebrating summer even in the midst of summer.  One of the standouts, "Upbeat/Downbeat," honors its theme of making music with a serious Motown-era groove.  And with more than a couple dozen different musicians making an appearance, there's a lot of musical firepower providing a miniature wall of sound.  My only warning is that the lyrics are very focused on the kids, celebrating their perspective (see, for example, "Double Knot," an emotional ode to an outsized pair of shoes).  Many folks will see this as an good thing -- and who could blame them? -- but if you prefer your kids music to take a more parent-inclusive approach lyrically, this probably isn't your first choice.

The album is most appropriate for kids ages 4 through 8.  You can hear some of the tracks at the band's website.  Anthems for Adventure might be the most apropos kindie album title of the year as it's filled with songs about explorations large and small, songs to be sung along with.  Tim and the Space Cadets wear their corduroy-patched heart on their sleeve; sympathetic adventurers will enjoy this spirited celebration.  Recommended.

[Disclosure: I received a copy of this album for possible review.]

Holiday Kids Music Reviews (2012 Edition)

There were fewer Christmas and holiday CDs released this holiday season, but those that were all will probably appeal to at least a few families.  Yes, it's Christmas Eve, but you can still download those albums in time, right?  (And there's always 2013.)

Renee & Jeremy - Sunny Christmas

If I had to pick just one holiday album for this season, I think this EP from the Los Angeles duo would be it.  Perhaps that's a function of one too many Christmases in a clime that sometimes lets you wear short sleeves while eating your figgy pudding.  As always, the duo are in fine vocal form on the five standards ("Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is the standout) and one original, the title track.

The Laurie Berkner Band - A Laurie Berkner Christmas

Berkner offers up the most traditional-sounding album, with fine arrangements throughout.  Having said that, given how you may hear many of these tracks multiple times any particular December day, the two best tracks here are the less-familiar "Children Go Where I Send Thee," a duet with Brady Rymer, and "Silent Night," which features Berkner and Elizabeth Mitchell, the two best female voices in kids music.

Mr. Richard & the Pound Hounds - Merry Christmas!

Florida-based Mr. Richard has much to be thankful for this holiday season -- his family's been battling some medical issues this year -- so not surprisingly, his new extended EP is a bouncy one.  A mix of Christmas standards and originals, my favorites are the jangly original "Up In My Christmas Tree" and the album-closing instrumental "Cantique de Noel" (aka "O Holy Night").

The Jimmies - Mama Said Nog You Out

This album's a year old, but it's no longer a Barnes & Noble exclusive.  So that means you can stop by your local, er, Amazon or iTunes and pick up a copy of Ashley's take on the season.  (Hint: there's no rendition of "O Holy Night" on this album -- this album's for the folks who like the mad rush of December.)  I liked the album last year, and I still like it this year.

Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke - Sing Songs of Christmas Cheer

Speaking of 2011 albums, I realized shortly after I published those reviews last year that I'd inadvertently excluded the extended EP from one of my favorite kids' bands (I think the album came out fairly late in the cycle as well).  In any case, the album is as goofy (and hard-rockin') as the rest of the duo's work -- "Angels We Have Heard On High" is epic in every sense of the word.

Dan Zanes - Christmas in Concord

I should also note that Dan Zanes' 2011 holiday EP has been expanded into an extended EP.  He adds a couple songs -- an original ("I'm Counting the Days (Until Christmas)") and a traditional spiritual ("Rise Up Shepherd and Follow" with Suzan-Lori Parks).  Though both are note, if you got the EP last year, neither track is a required addition.  Having said that, it was my favorite holiday album of 2011 (probably tied with the Key Wilde disk, and edging out the Jimmies disk), so if you don't have it already, it's worth picking up.

Big Bang Boom - The Holidays Are Here

I had to ask the title to these 5 songs (hence my original title, "untitled Christmas album"), but it's pretty good nonetheless.  As you would expect from the band and their cheeky attitude (see: "Santa Didn't Come Last Night"), there's no reverent rendition of centuries-old hymns, but it's generally tender and nostalgic.

Free Music Player for Myspace at ReverbNation.com

SpongeBob Squarepants - It's A SpongeBob Christmas Album

Yes.  SpongeBob Squarepants has a Christmas album.  (Why not?  Everybody else does.)  Here's the thing -- it's actually pretty good.  OK, the opening track sounds tacked on, but once you get past that, it's clear that more thought and care went into the album than was necessary.  Folks with no TVs (or senses of humor) won't appreciate it much, but it's more entertaining than I, not any big SpongeBob fan, expected.