Family Man Recommends: Quick Picks for June 2012

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Family Man

Reviewed by Gregory Keer

In this Father’s Day edition of the FMR: Quick Picks, I lead off with a dad from Southern California, Jeremy Toback, who has a new CD with his musical partner, Renee Stahl. Renee & Jeremy harmonize beautifully on A Little Love as they perform acoustic versions of a lovingly selected collection of classic songs, ranging from pop chestnuts such as “Daydream Believer’ and “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” to alt-rock stand-outs like “Shiny Happy People” and “Give it Away.” Yes, this is one that grown-ups can listen to without the kids as well as use to give kids a lesson about great songs and wonderful interpretations.

Last year’s featured review for June was a Recess Monkey offering. Here they are again with In Tents, proving that these Seattle singer-educators are both prolific and amazingly consistent in making fantastic music. Sixteen tracks juggle and fly through the air of a circus theme through songs such as the title track, “Odditorium,” “Carousel,” “The Dancin’ Bear,” and “Crystal Ball.” I really don’t know how these guys can be so clever in music and lyrics with a new CD every year, but I don’t care as long as my kids and me are having a great time.

The Okee Dokee Brothers are a duo that have earned a non-stop litany of accolodes for their bluegrass music for kids. It is so very well deserved, but you can decide for yourself by listening to Can You Canoe: A Mississippi Adventure Album. The recording is the result of a month-long canoe trip taken by the “brothers,” Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing, who were inspired to write such songs as “Haul Away Joe,” “The Bullfrog Opera,” “King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O,” and “Small and Simple” (featuring Elizabeth Mitchell).

A few other treats worth mentioning for Father’s Day gifts are: Songs in the Shade of the Flamboyant Tree, a marvelous French-produced book-and-CD package of French Creole llullabies and Nursery Rhymes; the latest from Caspar Babypants, Hot Dog (filled with witty songs by one of my favorite kindie music makers); and Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project, a CD of songs by Broadway composers and performers made to benefit breast cancer research, support, and education.

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Sugar Free Allstars – All on a Sunday Afternoon

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Family Man

Reviewed by Gregory Keer

If you ask most children, watching Mom or Dad get down with their funky selves when inspired by really danceable music is either hysterically funny or frightfully embarrassing. Well, the kids will have to deal with it once you spin this spirited new album by the Sugar Free Allstars. In fact, the youngsters will probably teach us a few moves as they party with the mix of R&B, rock, and jazz (among other styles) on All on a Sunday Afternoon.

Based in Oklahoma City, the duo of Chris “Boom” Wiser (on lead vocals, keyboards, saxes, etc.) and Rob “Dr. Rock” Martin (backing vocals and percussion) have infused their third family recording with enough brightness to light a street on a hot August night. Sparking much of the music is their love of Motown and Memphis soul as is evidenced by their “Gotta Get Up” track about starting the day, featuring Jack Forman of Recess Monkey and Shawana Kemp of Shine and the Moonbeams. “Sunday Afternoon,” includes help from Trout Fishing in America as it runs a bluesy thread through this ode to unstructured family time. A hard-driving beat (augmented by percussionist Marty Beller) and brass blasts propel “Put ‘Em Away,” which encourages kids to clean up after themselves. “Ready to Give Up Teddy” has a ‘70s groove going in this tune about moving on from a comforting stuffed animal.

Inventiveness abounds on the album as the Sugar Free pair employs onomatopoeia on “Hiccup” to explain the science of a hiccup and raises the roof with gospel on “99 Questions” to teach the truth about the value of being inquisitive to learn anything in life. Even a cover of the Talking Heads’ “Stay Up Late” feels fresh with Chris Wiser’s fatherly phrasing.

While I would never accuse these Allstars of being sugary, “Very Best Friend” is a mid-tempo song about being buddies that hits the heart. Whether it’s the heart or the feet that are affected by this recording, it is one that should be playing in your house or car this Father’s Day and beyond.

www.sugarfreeallstars.com– $12.99 (CD)/$9.99 (Digital) – Ages 2 to 11

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Family Man Recommends: Quick Picks for May 2012

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Family Man

Reviewed by Gregory Keer

The Mother’s Day edition of FMR: Quick Picks is headed by Potluck, the new album from Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band. This sunshiney follow up to Oh Lucky Day! radiates with warm-hearted songs about kid vehicles (“On My Bike,” starter businesses (“Lemonade Stand”), familiar mice (“Tres Ratones”), and imaginary companions (“Invisible Friend”). Making this alt-rock for kids CD even more blessed is the fact that band leaders Lucky Diaz and Alisha Gaddis are getting married this month. Lots to celebrate, especially for listeners of this great-sounding collection.

Mother of two Hope Harris takes the art of singing and songwriting very seriously. That doesn’t stop her from adding playfuflness to her musical lessons about 19th and 20th century visual artists for Picasso, That’s Who! (And So Can You!). Harris brushes her songs with Latin sounds (“Picasso, That’s Who”), jazz (“Swingin’ Little Duck,” about Alexander Calder), and French folk (“Impression, Monet”). This is a beautifully crafted and smartly researched production that charms as it teaches.

Yet another gem from the Putumayo Kids music series comes in the form of Cowboy Playground. Classic and original Country & Western songs are by everyone from Riders in the Sky (“I’n an Old Cowhand”) to the inimitable Buck Howdy (“Pecos Bill”). This is a well curated selection of fine and usually mellow pieces for new listeners and long-time C&W fans.

We head further south for the origins of the blues, the genre Gaye Adegbalola uses to deliver her tunes about manners (“Please, Please, Please, Please”), muilti-generational experiences (“Grandma & Grandpa’s House”), and responsibility “Don’t-Be-Moody-Do-Yo’-Duty Song”). A proud mom, educator, and winner of of the Blues Music Award, Adegbalola serves up “Blues in All Flavors” with purpose, passion, and humor.

I Am Happy! with Sukey Molloy is a recording that engages babies to preschoolers with interactive tunes (“I Put a Scarf on My Head”), new experiences (“Riding on a Ferry’), and soothing messages (“Be Happy Don’t Worry”). Molloy trained as a dancer before turning to singing and it translates well as she inspires the very young to move and wonder. Infant-toddler and preschool teachers would do well in using this as a soundtrack to their programs.

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Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – Make Believers

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Family Man

Reviewed by Gregory Keer

To riff off the album title, the latest effort by hip-hop kindie artist Secret Agent 23 Skidoo made a believer out of me. I’ve heard a bunch of his music and have thought highly of his work, but this new recording floored me. Full of ridiculously catchy hooks, propulsive rhythms, and fantastic wordplay, this hip-hop extravaganza is unique and classic all at the same time.

23 Skidoo, whose real name is Joel Sullivan, works from his home base in Asheville, North Carolina, and employs a bevy of superb supporting players from the area, including his daughter Saki (MC Fireworks) and his wife Brooke (Bootysattva). The end product is highly polished yet deeply personal. 23 Skidoo performs with the wisdom of a dad and the sharp edge of a seasoned pro.

The 11 tracks on Make Believers hip and hop, but also rock and sway. “Magic Beans” whirls forth with funk-infused horns and an irresistible beat as the kid-friendly rapper spins a version of the “Jack and the Beanstalk” tale. “Space Cadet” has a New Orleans spice that espouses the flavors of imagination. 23 Skidoo channels a punk-rock slant into “Brainstorm,” goes old-school soulful with “Rocketfuel,” and chops some salsa for his encouraging “Hot Sauce.”

“Nightmares Disappear” is one of the most outstanding songs on the platter, with its doo-wop vibe paired with 23 Skidoo’s remarkable verbal skill as he expands on the worries a child has at night and how those anxieties are soothed by Mom and Dad. For “Snowforts and Sandcastles,” Molly Ledford of Lunch Money makes a dreamy counterpoint to the rapper’s song of trial and hope.

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo is a rare and real artist who makes music that cuts across any barrier between genre or age. Make Believers easily earn my highest Family Man Recommendation.

www.secretagent23skidoo.com – $15 (CD)/$9.99 (Digital) – Ages 2 to 11

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Family Man Recommends: Quick Picks for April 2012

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Family Man

Reviewed by Gregory Keer

Leading off this edition of the FMR: Quick Picks is Invisible Friends, the newest album from Dean Jones and his Dog on Fleas trio. Jones has been putting his magic musical touch on a lot of other projects, including those by Recess Monkey, the Deedle Deedle Dees, and Elizabeth Mitchell, but it’s clear he has plenty of tricks left for this rollicking new disc. “There’s a Band in My Head” offers a zany assortment of instruments to depict what’s going on inside the singer’s noggin. Other clearly audible (if not visible) good stuff includes the well-supported (by superstar kindie-rock vocalists) “Peapod,” the unusual “Fortunate Mistake,” the aptly named “Party,” and the toe-tapping “Has Anybody Seen My Shoes?” The collection is upbeat, eclectic, and simply terrific all around.

Mo Phillips is an offbeat performer who records in lo-fi (from what he calls his “secret ninja laboratory in Portland, Oregon”). Monster Suit sounds like this musician, dad, and educator is performing right now in your garage. Drop the needle down on such songs as the early-’60s-style “The Worst Party Ever Thrown,” the inclusive tale of “The Princess and the Cowboy,” and the strange but catchy “Rollerskate Banana Peels.” This is a disc that will sneak up on you and make you sing along for your kids. Trust me, you’ll all be better for it.

World of Wonder comes from singer-songwriter Alison Faith Levy, a longtime member of the kindie-rock ensemble The Sippy Cups. She’s got a strong and true voice as evidenced by her work on The Pretenders-like “Like a Spiining Top,” the lovely “Three Tulips,” and the swaying “I Had a Rooster.” World of Wonder fits the preschool set nicely with its messages and lessons, though the deeply felt music can transcend any age bracket.

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The Pop Ups – Radio Jungle

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Family Man

Reviewed by Gregory Keer

Let’s start off with the full disclosure that I work with musician/composer/educator Jared Stein, the brother of Jacob Stein, who, with Jason Rabinowitz, comprises The Pop Ups. As is his low-key way, Jared did no more than mention there would be a follow-up to the shining debut disc, Outside Voices (#2 on the Family Man Recommends best of 2010 list). Instead, Jared’s pride in his brother’s work was reflected in the way he let the album speak for itself.

I’d like to do the same here by just encouraging you to scoop up this recording right away, but I have a habit of writing about music I like, so indulge me as I introduce one of the more adventurous bunches of family songs to come along this or any year.

Because Stein and Rabinowitz have developed a show (premiering in their home city of Brooklyn later this month) that features the songs of Radio Jungle, the whole album has a theatrical quality that engages young listeners to learn and laugh as they listen. An Outkast meets Earth, Wind & Fire influence shimmers through “Connect the Stars,” which will make kids boogie while they sing along about seeing animals in the night sky. The song benefits from the addition of Shine and the Moonbeams’ Shawana Kemp vocalizing with the guys. “Math Rock” veers to a more contemporary indie-rock sound as it inspires kids to count with the music. “Box of Crayons” continues the rocking out as it extols the benefits of coloring your own pictures of the world. The duo flies to Eastern Europe for a musical departure highlighted by strings and a clarinet on “Feelings Change.”

Rhythms from the real jungles of Latin America breeze throughout a number of the pieces, as shown on “The Bat,” which stirs up mystery and light about the winged mammal. Two of the liveliest tracks are about stuff you pick and eat. “Best Fruit” layers in character voices with its Ozomatli-like mix for an interactive salad of a tune and “Banana” gets all Caribbean on us in its lesson on one of the world’s most
popular fruits.

Radio Jungle has a little bit of Sesame Street and a lot of musical ingenuity that pushes well beyond the usual boundaries of family music. With it, the Pop Ups have quickly secured their place as one of the genres leading lights.

www.thepopups.com – $10 (CD)/$9 (Digital) – Ages 2 to 9

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Family Man Recommends: Quick Picks for March 2012

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Family Man

Reviewed by Gregory Keer

Among the FMR: Quick Picks for this month is A Year in the Day, the new CD/DVD from the delightfully odd Gustafer Yellowgold. As with previous collections, these songs and videos are about a golden alien from the sun who comes to Minnesota, though this project’s theme involves holidays (both the usual and the unusual). Musicially, a little bit of The Beatles and Elliot Smith layers in with lyrics that could be from Dr. Seuss or William Joyce. If you haven’t gone Yellowgold before, this is a good one to try out.

Instrumental Dreamland is the latest release in the multicultural music series from Putumayo Kids. It’s an exquisite collection of bedtime tunes for kids (and relaxing music for adults, for that matter). Musicians from Brazil, Ireland, and Mali, among others, bring their skills (ranging from the guitar to the kora) to songs such as the familiar “What a Wonderful World” and “Brahm’s Lullaby” as well as the unique “O Filho Que Eu Quero Ter” and “Kouyate.”

For the very young, The Good Ms. Padgett Sings The Little Red Hen makes a fine choice for its combination of song and story. Anna Padgett tried out these tracks on her Brooklyn, NY, preschool students and the result is four stories — “The Little Red Hen,” “Goldilocks,” “Henny Penny,” and “The Billy Goats Gruff” — that are full of whimsy and intelligence. At just over 22 minutes, this is a great way to entertain little ones over and over again.

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Grenadilla – Can’t Wait

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Family Man

Reviewed by Gregory Keer

Sure, it’s only March and cold weather still threatens a lot of our fair land. This is all the more reason to step into the warm ocean-spray sounds of Grenadilla, an American vocal ensemble that borrows much of its music from the South African kwela tradition. Grenadilla (pronounced “gren-a-dill-a”) also takes its name from the South African word for passion fruit, which makes all the sense in the world, given the sweet and exotic nature of this 14-track recording,

Led by singer-songwriter Debbie Lan, who produced the project with Dog On Fleas frontman Dean Jones, the album rolls forward with “Sitting on Top of the World,” an upbeat song that would be comfortable as the kindie-rock cousin to Paul Simon’s Graceland. The fine musicianship (which includes Lan on the traditional pennywhistle and piano as well as Jones on various instruments) is matched by the creamy smooth voices of Grenadilla’s six female singers (Lan, AnneMarie Callan, Brittany Sacash, Natasha Williams, Jodi Palinkas, and Leah Glennon). The musical blend works wonders on such tunes as “Doodle Doodle Doodle Doodle Do” (with its verbal play), “Can’t Wait” (with its Laurel Canyon folk), “Sunday Afternoon” (with its South African horns and American blues guitar), and “The Same as Me” (with its theme of individuality). The album rounds out dreamily with “When I Fall Asleep.”

Can’t Wait is like one of those small surprises you find in the sand when you’re not really looking. Pick it up and listen with your kids.

www.grenadillasings.com – $14.98 (CD) – Ages 2 to 9

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Family Man Recommends: Quick Picks for February 2012

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Family Man

Reviewed by Gregory Keer

The month of Valentines would not be the same without sharing a few more albums I adore.

My first pick is from Katherine Dines, one of the very first family artists I had the chance to introduce to my children. WIth her gentle voice and developmentally focused songs, Dines is a perfect choice for babies and preschoolers, though a number of her tunes suit grade-schoolers as well. On her collection of best-loved songs, Hunk-ta-Bunk-ta…Music for Growing Families, some standouts include “All the Way Around the World,” “Dad on Diaper Duty,” and “Sweet Shakin’ Bed Quakin’ Belly Achin’ Wide Awake Blues.”

Farmer Jason, whose real name is Jason Ringenberg, has won a host of honors, including an Emmy award for the children’s program he did in Tennessee. It’s easy to see why this fella is so praised since his storytelling and bluegrass-based music is full of so much life. On Nature Jams, his ode to having a good ol’ time in the great outdoors, Farmer Jason is joined by special guests (including musicians from R.EM., The Black Crowes, and Cheap Trick) as he rollicks through “Can You Canoe,” “Dison the Bison,” and “Have You Ever” (with Brandi Carlile). A DVD accompanies the CD, making it twice the natural fun.

Stephen Simon has been making marvelous albums that blend stories with classicial music for the Maestro Classics series. Two recently released examples are The Soldiers Tale (featuring the music of Igor Stravinsky) and My Name is Handel (spotlighting the composer’s “Water Music”). Both of these productions will hold children (ages 5-12) spellbound as they listen, learn, and are moved by the music.

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Bill Harley – High Dive

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Family Man

Reviewed by Gregory Keer

I used to tell my eldest child these stories about a group of heroes called the Black Robots, who teamed up with my son to save the neighborhood and the world from evil dinosaurs and invading aliens. As I got older, my patience for making up these kinds of stories got thinner and, regrettably, my middle child only got a few tales of a character called the Red Pirate (my wife originated the character). My youngest got a couple of hackneyed stories that aren’t memorable at all as I ran out of gas for original yarns.

I still read books to my littlest son, but there’s just something so darn engaging and imagination stirring about a story told orally, without pages and with plenty of gusto. Thankfully, I found Bill Harley to be my surrogate storyteller. Here’s a guy who seemingly never runs out of patience and happiness in telling tales, as his latest recording, High Dive and other things that could have happened…, proves in its four narratives.

In his folksy manner, and with plenty of musical accompaniment, Harley unspools the dramatic threads of life between the ages of eight and eleven. “It Could Have Happened” speaks of the very act of telling stories that may be hard to believe, yet that’s part of the magic of the storytelling act. “High Dive” is a nearly 12-minute rhyming tale with a jazzy vibe about negotiating a big jump into a pool and puppy love. “Field Trip” is an epic 30-plus minutes that delves into friendship and the antics (including water balloons) of grade schoolers. Lastly, “Monster Valentine” brings to life the innocent feelings involved in giving cards on that lovely holiday.

While the content level of these stories is most suited for elementary school-aged kids, Harley’s warm voice and character-filled inflections can hold the attention of younger – and, frankly, grown up – audience members.

www.billharley.com – $15 (CD) – Ages 2 to 11

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