There's a reason this video had over 300,000 views within 48 hours of its release a couple weeks ago: it's enchanting. Sean and Lisa Ohlenkamp (and their friends) make a Toronto bookstore come to life using stop-motion animation. Regardless of whether you're pro- or anti-Kindle (and I think you can guess on which of the debate this video would side), the word "magical" isn't too much of a stretch to describe this.
The Joy of Books [YouTube]
Rick Dobbis' resume is a lengthy one, with many stops in the music and record business, including a stint as president of Sony Music International. His latest effort targets a younger audience than one he's spent much of his career focusing on -- preschoolers and elementary school-aged kids.
Along with business partner Richard Ellis (that's him on the right, Dobbis on the left), myKaZootv and myKaZoo Music are attempting to bring a wide variety of music videos in one centralized (and curated) place as well as seeing if the idea of a kids' record label can be saved. Their label's first release, Farmer Jason's Nature Jams, comes out February 7, and the myKaZoo website will be up and running this month. They've got ambitious plans in a field that has seen many ambitious plans -- and seen many of those fail.
Dobbins chatted with me this week about his introduction to kids music, why he thinks myKaZoo is good for the genre and not just his artists, and one inspiration for the site's name.
Zooglobble: What are your earliest musical memories?
Rick Dobbis: I grew up with a sister six years older than me. She was a huge, huge rock 'n' roll fan. This was the early '50s, so folks like Elvis Presley, Connie Francis. My sister was a huge Connie Francis fan -- my father once brought her an autographed picture of Francis and she just about died.
My father... the name "myKaZoo" isn't specifically named for my father, but he was an amateur kazoo player. He opened for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes at an annual show three years in a row.
My first kids record was the theme from Davy Crockett. My first album was "A Taste of Honey" by Jimmy Rodgers.
How did you get into kids music?
Well, Rick Chertoff, who's a distinguished producer, he and his wife and others formed Dream Jam Productions to do stuff related to music and movement. It'd primarily been focused on books. We were sitting talking one day, and we asked, "why don't we create our own music -- good music that shares the values we're trying to convey?" That struck a chord with me, so I worked with them and that's when the Dream Jam Band came into being.
I worked with every genre over my career, and internationally at a particularly good point, a great time to open my mind. It was new, and new is healthy. There's some wonderfully creative content in the genre. It's also under-resourced and underrepresented in the marketplace.
“Reach high, think big, work hard, have fun!”
This is probably imprinted in the brains of probably millions of kids and their parents. It's the motto of New Orleans' Imagination Movers, and as mottoes (and band jingles) go, it's a pretty darn good one.
The band's popularity is due in no small part to their Disney Junior series (and, yes, new episodes are coming in 2012), but anybody's who seem 'em live (even folks like me who weren't in their target audience) will testify to the fact that they're going to have a career long after they stop making music and video for the Mouse.
In fact, in 2011, they signed a deal with Razor & Tie, and next month -- February 14, to be exact -- Razor + Tie will release the band's new CD/DVD Rock-O-Matic. I've listened to a lot of the album, and I can guarantee a few tracks will be concert favorites. Luckily, the band's embarking on an 80-date concert tour starting in early March (details here) so you'll have plenty of opportunities to put my guarantee to the test.
The album was made available for pre-orders yesterday; besides the CD, it also includes a DVD, which the Movers promise includes "skits that recall old-school Movers comedy heroes like Monty Python and the Monkees" and more.
But perhaps you'd like to hear one of those new songs before February 14? Well, then, I'm proud to present the world premiere of one of those instant concert classics, "Everybody Sing." I apologize in advance for getting this stuck in your brain for the rest of the day.
Imagination Movers - "Everybody Sing" [YouTube]
Photo credit: Adams Photography
Sure, the world's heart is aflutter at the idea of a Hall of Fame band who've been playing for more than 20 years reuniting with their original singer.
But it's not Van Halen and David Lee Roth.
It's The Wiggles (yes, they were inducted into an Australian Hall of Fame just last year), who announced today that original Yellow Wiggle Greg Page would be returning to the band, with replacement Yellow Wiggle Sam Moran stepping aside.
For those of you who are wondering what I'm actually talking about, a little more than 5 years ago Page stepped away from the band due to serious bouts of fainting and lethargy. He was replaced by Moran, who had been a dancer with the band and Page's understudy.
And now today, in some bizarro merging of All About Eve and Star Is Born rewritten with a happy ending, Page wants to return, and Moran has agreed to step aside. (The reason appears to be that Page has recovered medically and perhaps is not doing great financially.)
But just because all is well within Wiggle-land doesn't mean the rest of the community agrees. Within just three hours of the announcement on the band's Facebook page, over 3,000 people wrote to express their view on the matter. "Sam for Green Wiggle" seemed to be the consensus.
Five years ago, I finished off the piece by essentially wishing Page "get well soon," so I'll finish this piece by saying, "welcome back."
A meditation on mortality from They Might Be Giants.
Also, a kick-butt rock tune (it's from their fine 2011 "adult" album Join Us).
And a celebration of life.
All of that in a two-and-a-half-minute video. Unless you think the phrase "when will you die?" will prompt questions from your kids that you just don't want to deal with (and, hey, I'm not judging) totally appropriate for the kiddos.
They Might Be Giants - "When Will You Die?" [YouTube]
Nope, we're not done yet with our look at the best in kids music from 2011. For the second year in a row, I'm going to list big ideas from the past year. Not so much albums or songs, but concepts or trends I think will continue to have big impacts.
Inspector Widget: Maybe this is just the blogger/website operator in me, but the biggest trend of 2011 to me was the full flowering of web businesses designed to make it incredibly easy for artists to share their music with the world. Unlike the trainwreck that Myspace was from almost the beginning, these new entities let artists share (and sell) their music with a minimum of fuss and distraction. I'm talking about websites like Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Noisetrade, and Topspin. Now, all of these entities existed prior to 2011, but there was a definite increase in the usage of these entities by the music world in general, and kids music joined right in. Rather than making listeners come to the artist, these embeddable widgets make it easier than ever to meet potential fans where they are -- on Facebook, on Twitter, or on music sites that know a good thing when they hear it. (Ahem.)
Widgets Aren't The Only To Have Your Music Heard: 2011 wasn't just the year of the widget, there were lots of other innovative ways kids musicians got their music out in front of fans both current and potential. One of my favorite (and potentially most important) is from The Bazillions, who have established their own Roku channel to provide instantaneous streaming of their videos to literally millions of households. (Details here.) But iPhone apps, iPad apps, Kickstarter campaigns, and circus collaborations were other ways that kindie musicians tried to reach folks who might not have thought of kids music beyond the big box artists.
Two Heads are Better Than One: Sugar Free Allstars and Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. Little Miss Ann and Suzi Shelton (with an assist from Baze and His Silly Friends' Marc Bazerman). Recess Monkey and Dean Jones (collaborating on the next Recess Monkey album, In Tents. Just a handful of the individual song collaborations between artists whose collaborations might not have occurred just 5 years ago when the scene was a lot more scattered and solitary. Collaboration has always occurred, of course -- folks like Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer and Bill Harley have reached to make music with others for a long time. But connections happen so much faster now that I expect that such collaboration will soon become the rule and not the exception.
Fourteen Heads Are Better Than Two: I mentioned this concept last year in the wake of Kindiependent, the Seattle-area cooperative promoting six local bands. But other areas continue to create their own support groups. Besides AMFM in LA and Let's Play! in San Francisco, which both formed in 2010, the Windy Kindie Chicago Cooperative set up shop this year. And the most active cooperative is probably KindiePDX in Portland, Oregon, which teems with activity, advice, and, well, support.
I would also be remiss if I didn't mention kinDIY, the self-organized wiki-style site (founded by Bill Childs and Susie Tennant, and which I'm an administrator of) designed to help kids' musicians navigate the complex world of kids music.
Ending the Damn "Finally": Jeff Bogle at one point this year suggested a simple piece of action that he thought (and I agree) would go a long way towards increasing the visibility of kids music -- having musicians suggest to their audiences other musicians they might enjoy. In my words, it's up to musicians to end the damn "finally." You know, those "finally"s that say, "Finally, kids music the whole family can enjoy." That statement is a lie, shows ignorance on the part of the speaker, and worst of all, it conveys the idea that the kids music genre is incredibly small when just the opposite is true. Musicians need to convey to their audience the truth, which is that they are part of a long-standing tradition of making music for families that has never been as vibrant as it is today. Some artists have done that in the past, and more are doing it today, but there's room for a lot more. Even if you're not collaborating with anyone else on record or on stage, it's time to share the love more broadly.
A few years back, I was a little enchanted by What Did You Do Today, Steven Scott Lee?, the debut album from Nashville-based Steve Lee. Lee leaped right into the kids' music scene, got a bunch of his Nashville friends (they have a musician or two there), and recorded a bunch of incredibly catchy songs (along with a few skits). I called "Grab a Balloon" my favorite track, "quite possibly of the year", and the album made my list of top albums from 2007.
Lee has been a little bit quiet on the kids' music front since then, though he's been keeping himself busy out and around Nashville and tour-managing some acts.
Even better (from these admittedly biased quarters), Lee's been starting to play kids music around Nashville with a band he's put together called Yumza!. In talking with Lee, I'm pretty hopeful that the rest of the country will here the new songs pretty soon.
In the meanwhile, use this widget to grab six of the songs (including "Grab a Balloon") from Stephen Scott Lee for the price of an e-mail and zip code. I promise you that you'll find at least a couple songs to love.
I think all kids should get a chance to -- among other things -- a) ride a train, and b) scat. Now, if those kids start scatting while on the train as they do in this brand new (world premiere!) video from Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band, then I guess I'm cool with that.
The lovely artwork's by Micah Player and features Lily and Zeborah, characters in Lately Lily, the apparel line Player helps produce. Player did the album art for both Diaz albums, including Oh Lucky Day!, the album this song, "Say What?," is from. The visual pleasures are quiet ones -- rather than featuring lots of action, this video mostly consists small changes you and your kids will have sit quietly and watch to notice.
And, just like the last time I world-premiered a Lucky Diaz video, the video release comes closer to the release of his next album than the one the song is from. That's right, Diaz's next album, A Bit A Luck! will be out in less than 4 months, on May 8. Reportedly it features a horn section, which, in my experience, is never a bad thing.
Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band - "Say What?" [YouTube]
Time again to update the Zooglobble radio station, covering assorted tracks collected in the last couple months or so of 2012. (You can see my October 2011 playlist here.)
This playlist airs in the mid-afternoons (West Coast time), but if you can't listen in the afternoon, the tracks are scattered throughout the day, too. The listing below is in alphabetical order; the on-air play order is totally random (due to Internet music restrictions).
Bill Bailey - The Biscuit Brothers (Get Up & Go)
It's Not Fair - The Buzzniks (Bug Out)
Goldfinches - The Chickadees (The Froggy Hop)
Help - Cloud Cult (Minnesota Beatle Project Vol. 3)
Walk Away - Debbie And Friends (All About Bullies...Big And Small)
Sacagawea - The Deedle Deedle Dees (Strange Dees, Indeed)
Max The Wonder Dog - DidiPop (Everyday Adventure)
Samantha the Butterfly - Fox & Branch (Things Are Coming My Way!)
I've Been Playing In A Soul Band - Groove Kid Nation (Music In Motion)
Sugar Buzz - Jeanie B! And The Jelly Beans (Sugar Buzz)
Living Inside Of A Jar - Jim Gill (Jim Gill Presents Music Play For Folks Of All Stripes)
The Mixing Bowl - Kira Willey (Kings & Queens of the Forest)
Soldier’s Joy - Laura Veirs (Tumble Bee)
Sometimes - Little Miss Ann (Walk with Me)
Welcome To The Library - Melvil Dewey (Deweylicious! Library Hip Hop)
Bambas - Mujeres (Els Transports)
Masha And The Rain - Sasha Bondarev (Sand Castle)
Wrong Side Of The Bed - Soundzania (Soundzania Elementary School)
Stink Bug - We Kids Rock Band (We Kids Rock!)
Jumping Through Hoops is the name for an all-star band of Brooklyn Americana musicians, including Kristin Andreassen, guitarist Chris Eldridge, and the project's creator, child psychologist/stringband fiddler (a phrase I typed just so I could be the first person ever to type that) Dr. Kari Groff. Given Dr. Groff's background and the fact that the next JTH release is designed "to help families with the tough issues kids face growing up," you might think this would be a dry, didactic release.
It's not.
There are parts of this album so joyful it seems to burst forth from the computer or iPod. You need not be a believer to feel moved by the band's take on the spiritual "Open Up the Window Noah." The album opener "Dance All Night" mixes a subtly positive message ("Dance all day and all night long / find your voice and sing along / dance all night 'til the break of day / feet can't stop while the fiddle girl play") with a melody that will encourage many listening to dance along. "The Secret Key" is a gentle original about friendship, and you might think that maybe the overt messaging's kicking in, but that's followed up by the zippiest version of "Shortnin' Bread" you will ever hear. The rest of the album continues to maintain that balance, buoyed by accomplished playing.
There are a handful of songs whose messages are targeted at kids ages 4 through 9, but it'll likely have a broader appeal than that. You can stream the 26-minute album using the widget below. Rockin' to the Fiddle is a fabulous little sliver of bluegrass and Americana for the whole family. Fans of folks like Elizabeth Mitchell, Little Mo McCoury, Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, and Dan Zanes -- and just plain good music -- ears up. Definitely recommended.
It's 2012, and time again for an updated list of new and upcoming releases, many of which were on last month's list. Additions to the list are noted with a "++"; changes to previously-mentioned items are indicated with italics.
As always, if I've listed you on here and gotten something wrong (or something not ready for primetime), let me know and I'll edit or delete it. And if you're not on here and think you should be, drop me a line, too, and I'll get you added for the next iteration.
++ Little Miss Ann: Walk With Me (Jan. 15)
++ Kidz Bop: Kidz Bop 21 (Jan. 17)
++ Two of a Kind: Sing Me Your Story (Jan. 24)
++ Tom's Fun Band: Macaroni and Cheese (Jan. 27)
Princess Katie and Racer Steve: Love, Cake & Monsters (January?)
Central Services Board of Education: Binary [tentative] (January?)
The Good Ms. Padgett: ... Tells The Little Red Hen and Other Stories (January?)
RhymeZwell: Robots on the Dance Floor (January?)
Big Don: Big Don's Brand New Beat (January?)
Riff Rockit: Riff Rockit (CD, DVD, Jan. 24)
Katherine Dines: Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta HITS (Jan. 31)
Ellis Paul: The Hero in You (January)
The Fresh Beat Band: Soundtrack (January)
++ Rockabye Baby: Lullaby Renditions of Depeche Mode (Feb. 7)
++ Farmer Jason: Nature Jams (Feb. 7)
The Bari Koral Family Rock Band: Anna And The Cupcakes (Feb. 14)
Putumayo Kids: Instrumental Dreamland (Feb. 28)
Tim and the Space Cadets: Anthems for Adventure (February)
Bill Harley: High Dives and Other Things That Could Have Happened (February)
Doctor Noize: Grammaropolis (March 4)
Recess Music: La Bella Stella (March 27)
Gustafer Yellowgold: Gustafer Yellowgold’s Year in The Day (April 3)
Mo Phillips: Title TBA (April 10)
Caspar Babypants: HOT DOG! (April 17)
++ Sukey Molloy: I Am Happy (April 24)
Orange Sherbet: Delicious (May 1)
Hope Harris: Picasso, That's Who (May 8)
Okee Dokee Brothers: Mississippi River CD/DVD (May)
Randy Kaplan: Mr. Diddie Wah Diddie (spring?)
The Funky Mamas and Friends: Pickin’ In The Garden (spring)
Elena Moon Park: Rabbit Days and Dumplings (spring)
++ The Pop Ups: Radio Jungle (spring)
++ Alison Faith Levy: World of Wonder (spring)
The Dirty Sock Funtime Band: Dirty Socks Come Clean (June 26)
Charity and the JAMband: Family Values (July 3)
++ Recess Music: Someone Else’s Shoes (September 25)
Andy Z: The Grand Scream of Things (Halloween 2012)
Other expected 2012 albums: Ah-Choo, Peter Apel, Ratboy, Jr., Sugar Free Allstars, Renee & Jeremy, The Bramble Jam, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo (Make Believers), Bobby Susser (Wo), Eric Herman (2 albums: one music, one comedy skits), Keith Munslow (2 albums: one solo, one with Bill Harley), Wayne Potash, Alex and the Kaleidoscope Band, Lori Henriques, Shine and the Moonbeams, Yumza! ++
I couldn't say much -- anything, really -- that would improve upon the speech that Readeez creator Michael Rachap chose to give the Readeez treatment. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speech on the Washington Mall in 1963 is a classic -- here's the powerful last ninety seconds.
I liked Papa Crow's 2011 debut Things That Roar quite a bit. So I'm pleased to be able to offer you (courtesy of Papa Crow himself, Jeff Krebs) a copy of that fine album, good at any time of year, and especially here in the hush of winter.
But even if you've already got the album, there's another reason why you might be interested -- the winner of the contest will also get a handmade Papa Crow T-shirt (usually part hand-painted, part stenciled and part hand-stamped, and made by Krebs' wife) in a size of their choosing.
So what do you need to do? Just enter a comment below or in the Facebook post announcing the contest with the animal who makes your favorite animal noise, roar or not. One entry per family, entries due by 11 PM East Coast time Thursday, Jan. 12. I'll pick one winner at random.
And even if you don't win, if you're not familiar with Things That Roar, you can always sign up using the widget to the side to get three free downloads from the album for the price of an e-mail and zip code.
Five years ago Kira Willey released Dance for the Sun: Yoga Songs for Kids, an album of, well, yoga music for kids. It was, against the expectations I had when first presented with an album of "yoga music for kids," pretty good. It wasn't dorky, it wasn't goopy, and, frankly, you could listen to it even if you and your kids didn't know a downward dog from a hot dog. (And I say that as someone who practices -- albeit without real training -- yoga.) It also proved to be the exception to the rule -- no other similar CD I've heard has come close to its listen-ability. My wife used it to help teach a couple basic yoga sessions for kids, too.
So I was pleased to hear last spring that Willey was working on a follow-up, and now it's finally here. It's called Kings & Queens of the Forest: Yoga Songs for Kids Vol. 2, and I think folks who liked the first go-round won't be disappointed with this new album. And if you're not sure whether it's for you, Willey's offering up a couple of songs off the new album free for the downloading. You can go to Willey's site for a free download of the peppy "Mr. Cricket Hop." And once your kids need a little quieter time, you can download (or stream) "The Mixing Bowl" via the widget below, courtesy of Willey.
Would you like some free music -- like, ten songs worth? Ten good songs worth?
Then Coal Train Railroad would like to be of assistance.
They've offered up ten free tracks from their three albums -- two from their self-titled debut (which I liked), two from their latest album Coal Train Railroad Swings! (which I liked a lot), including "I'm Diggin' Me," and the whole 6-song EP Live in Monophonarma, which includes their take on the Jellydots' classic "Bicycle."
The price of all this swingin' jazz goodness?
An e-mail (preferably yours, otherwise some other random person's gonna get the download code) and a zip code (again, preferably yours).
If you're not familiar with the band, it's definitely worth it.
