I remember hearing somewhere that Todd McHatton and Morgan Taylor, creator of Gustafer Yellowgold, were working on music together, and thankfully for the world at large, the product of their efforts is making its way into the world. The first track from their partnership -- named Underbirds -- is out and "Brilliance" is, well, brilliant. Oh so shiny.
Paul Spring - Home of Song Sampler
Paul Spring is a musician who's set to release his first album for families, Home of Song, on March 19. "Big deal," you might say. There have got to be dozens if not hundreds of kids music debuts released yearly, right?
Sure. But few if any of them have the Okee Dokee Brothers and Dean Jones pitching in. Just take a listen to this 5-song sampler (especially "Peter Pan," whose awesomeness was already apparent a couple years ago). I think a lot of folks will be eager to hear the full-length album.
Holiday Music Sampler
Artist: Various
Album: N/A
Description: Christmas is still more than a couple weeks away (as is Kwanzaa), but it's already the second night of Hanukkah, so I think it's officially safe to start with the winter-holiday-related posts. I'll have a handful of posts throughout the season, but I'll start off simply, with a ten-pack of holiday tunes (Christmas, Hanukkah, and TV-Special) from a variety of artists, including Randy Kaplan, Brady Rymer, the Jimmies, and more, available to download for a limited time.
Source: Soundcloud
Rabbit Days and Dumplings Sampler - Elena Moon Park and Friends
Artist: Elena Moon Park and Friends
Album: Rabbit Days and Dumplings
Description: It's a five-song sampler, not the whole enchilada ("whole kimchi"? "whole spring roll"?), but if you're not sure that an album of Dan Zanes-influenced family-friendly songs from Asia is quite your thing (though I think for a number of you, the answer is "yes"), take a listen. I especially like track #7 ("Poong Nyun Ga," a Korean harvest song, which is a rousing sing-along), but there's a lot of stylistic diversity on the tracks and it's worth your time.
Source: Rabbit Days website
Mommy Says No! - Asylum Street Spankers
Artist: Asylum Street Spankers
Album: Mommy Says No!
Description: As I said in my review of the album more than 5 years ago, "Some mommies will say "no" to Mommy Says No!. A sizeable minority of families won't like it all. But I think most people who are reading this review here will find it a hoot, energetic enough and tuned into kids' lives for the kids, while entertaining for their elders." If you're just now stumbling onto this site, it's definitely worth a virtual spin to see if it's for you.
Source: Bandcamp
The Bestest and Horriblest Songs for Children - Fatcat & Fishface
Artist: Fatcat & Fishface
Album: The Bestest and Horriblest Songs for Children
Description: If only New Zealand's Fatcat & Fishface had had the success on this side of the globe (both vertically and horizontally) as their countrymates Split Enz. Then this greatest hits collection would be filled with songs as familiar in Washington as in Wellington. Oh well -- for those families who like their kids music on the odd and silly and even occasionally dark and/or tender side, this is well worth trying out.
Source: Bandcamp
European Playground - Various Artists (Putumayo)
Get Fruity! - Apple Brains
Artist: Apple Brains
Album: Get Fruity!
Description: Loopy and lo-fi indie-pop celebrating healthy eating. I know, that sounds a trifle dull, but with song titles like "Water The Loveliest Beverage" and "A Mango Is a Precious Egg To Be Cherished," I think you get the idea it's not. ("Ba-na-nas," once heard, will probably be lodged in brains for approximately 24 hours.)
Source: Bandcamp
