Kid Approved Tunes
I recently discovered some music that is perfect for little ears, yet still adult approved. Check out these CDs:
Dogs on Fleas: When I Get Little
When I Get Little, the 4th and latest CD from Dog on Fleas, is full of Zen koans, tongue twisters, nonsense and completely sensical lyrics balanced atop fresh, mostly acoustic music in loose and honest performances. The soulful singing of Debbie Lan, John Hughes, Dean Jones and David Levine blends with piano, guitar, fiddle, bass, drums, mandolin and horns in creative, fun arrangements of original songs.
In theory this is music for kids, but in reality it’s good, heartfelt music that people of all ages love. There is a broad range of musical styles: the Cajun flavored title cut, an African Balaphone-driven version of the traditional Coo Coo, the frantic “Mon Pain Perdu”, a song about pirates and French toast sung in French, and the beautiful, hopeful “Peace Will Come”, a future classic by Debbie Lan.
Elizabeth Mitchell's You are My Bird
It might seem odd to use the term tour de force in reference to a children's folk recording, but that's the description that comes to mind when you listen to Elizabeth Mitchell's paragon of the genre. The songs aren't new (you'll hear covers of staples by the likes of Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, as well as more unexpected artists such as Bob Marley and the Velvet Underground), but Mitchell's expert vocal performance—her voice rolls, when called for, from a crisp vibrance to a gentle airiness—makes each one seem as if it has been written for her. Whether she's singing in English, Spanish, Japanese, or Korean, she embodies the spirit of folk music. Guthrie and Seeger would be proud.
Uncle Rock: Plays Well With Others
Don't be scared off by Robert Burke Warren's stage name: He's more "uncle" than "rock." In this mostly acoustic song set, the former actor sanitizes some psychedelia (The Who's "Magic Bus," Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet Ride") and covers "Pure Imagination" from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The bulk of the album, though, is original tunes, ranging from tender ballads ("Connected") to folksy sing-alongs ("Playin' Possum"). Then, of course, there are freewheeling, fun tracks like "Sugar Talkin'" and "Rock & Roll Babysitter," which leave no doubt as to the origin of Warren's nom de guitar.
Teacher and the Rockbots
This one is for older kids ages 7-9 and is just fantastic!
This latest release from the Rockbots explores a variety of social studies and geography subjects and it features a unique songwriting style that helps kids develop their problem-solving skills. Clues are provided in the verses and kids try to figure out the answers before they’re revealed. This songwriting technique is a fun way to address the competitive nature of kids and it adds an interactive quality to the music. Only the Rockbots offer this. While written for kids who are around 7-9 years old, kids as young as 5 are advancing their knowledge while being entertained by this "edgy-cational" music.
Dogs on Fleas: When I Get Little
When I Get Little, the 4th and latest CD from Dog on Fleas, is full of Zen koans, tongue twisters, nonsense and completely sensical lyrics balanced atop fresh, mostly acoustic music in loose and honest performances. The soulful singing of Debbie Lan, John Hughes, Dean Jones and David Levine blends with piano, guitar, fiddle, bass, drums, mandolin and horns in creative, fun arrangements of original songs.
In theory this is music for kids, but in reality it’s good, heartfelt music that people of all ages love. There is a broad range of musical styles: the Cajun flavored title cut, an African Balaphone-driven version of the traditional Coo Coo, the frantic “Mon Pain Perdu”, a song about pirates and French toast sung in French, and the beautiful, hopeful “Peace Will Come”, a future classic by Debbie Lan.
Elizabeth Mitchell's You are My Bird
It might seem odd to use the term tour de force in reference to a children's folk recording, but that's the description that comes to mind when you listen to Elizabeth Mitchell's paragon of the genre. The songs aren't new (you'll hear covers of staples by the likes of Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, as well as more unexpected artists such as Bob Marley and the Velvet Underground), but Mitchell's expert vocal performance—her voice rolls, when called for, from a crisp vibrance to a gentle airiness—makes each one seem as if it has been written for her. Whether she's singing in English, Spanish, Japanese, or Korean, she embodies the spirit of folk music. Guthrie and Seeger would be proud.
Uncle Rock: Plays Well With Others
Don't be scared off by Robert Burke Warren's stage name: He's more "uncle" than "rock." In this mostly acoustic song set, the former actor sanitizes some psychedelia (The Who's "Magic Bus," Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet Ride") and covers "Pure Imagination" from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The bulk of the album, though, is original tunes, ranging from tender ballads ("Connected") to folksy sing-alongs ("Playin' Possum"). Then, of course, there are freewheeling, fun tracks like "Sugar Talkin'" and "Rock & Roll Babysitter," which leave no doubt as to the origin of Warren's nom de guitar.
Teacher and the Rockbots
This one is for older kids ages 7-9 and is just fantastic!
This latest release from the Rockbots explores a variety of social studies and geography subjects and it features a unique songwriting style that helps kids develop their problem-solving skills. Clues are provided in the verses and kids try to figure out the answers before they’re revealed. This songwriting technique is a fun way to address the competitive nature of kids and it adds an interactive quality to the music. Only the Rockbots offer this. While written for kids who are around 7-9 years old, kids as young as 5 are advancing their knowledge while being entertained by this "edgy-cational" music.
posted by karen at 8:00 PM
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