Love & Peace is full of music that parents and children can enjoy together. It includes some of the most magical musical moments from Music for Little People’s rich musical history with unique performances such as Brian Johnson (AC/DC) performing “If I had a Hammer” with award winning kids singers, Faith Hill singing a heartfelt ballad to her daughter and Willie Nelson joining a bunch of friends to cover Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land”. It begins with a classic from my own childhood, “Baby Beluga” by Raffi, followed by one of my personal faves “On The Good Ship Lollipop” by Maria Muldaur. “The diversity and spirit in this historical tribute to the wonderful world of children’s music contribute to a musical experience that your family won’t want to miss!”
These are the first two of a selection of CD’s that will be released throughout 2010 to celebrate their 25th anniversary. They’re awesome, but you know what else is awesome? They’re only nine bucks right now!
Win them! Enter to win a copy of each of these fab CD’s with a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, May 7, 2010.
This CD, Flute Sweet & Tickletoon in Green Golly & Her Golden Flute is truly like nothing I’ve shared with you before. It’s intended for ages 4-10, and is 57 minutes of awesome.
Flute Sweet & Tickletoon introduces kids to the wonder of classical music using an embellishment of the classic fairy tale Rapunzel called “Green Golly & Her Golden Flute.” It’s in two parts – the first a narrative graced with flute and flute-guitar renditions of several classical selections, and the second flute recital by Barbara Siesel accompanied by pianist Jessica Krash which allows children to enjoy in greater depth the selections performed during the narration.
This CD will be release on May 11, but you can win it sooner!
Win it! Comment by noon on Friday, May 7, 2010 to enter.
Another newcomer to the fabulous Putumayo Kids Playground series, Jazz Playground is a collection of international jazz songs for children. “From bebop and swing to Latin and African jazz, this multicultural CD celebrates the vibrant diversity and global influence of jazz and will get the whole family grooving!”
I am a big jazz lover (with absolutely no knowledge…just a simple love of listening) so I was thrilled to share this with my own children and more thrilled to see how much they loved it. Check out a couple of videos with your kids…and then buy it!
or…Win it! Comment here before noon on Friday, May 7, 2010 to be entered to win a copy.
NYC-based singer/songwriter Joanie Leeds’ new CD, I’m a Rock Star, was released just a month ago and it’s already entered “van rotation.” Joanie has a voice that is very appealing to adults.
According to her publicist, “Joanie’s soulful, “rock solid” voice – plus a remarkable ability to connect with kids through her songwriting – won her a 2008 Parents’ Choice Award for her debut children’s album, City Kid. Parents’ Choice reviewer Lynne Heffley praised Joanie’s “vivacious soprano and gentle rock ‘n roll approach.” Joanie’s music dances across a constellation of musical genres, ranging from indie & classic rock to hip-hop, from folk to jazz, from R & B to cartoon.”
“I’m a Rock Star” has catchy lyrics and songs that are short enough to keep even my 2 year old interested until the end. Joanie’s voice is awesome – not what many people expect from a children’s performer.
Win it! Comment here before noon on Friday, May 7, 2010 to be entered to win a copy.
Parents’ Choice® Gold winning kids’ musician Roger Day’s “brainy” new CD, Why Does Gray Matter? … And Other Brainy Songs for Kids! is one of the newest albums in what we lovingly refer to as “van rotation” right now. If a CD leaves the kids’ rooms and makes it to the van, it’s good. It’s about the wonders and mysteries of the human brain, and is geared to kids ages 5 – 11.
As I’ve mentioned many times, I am not a music reviewer and don’t consider myself necessarily very good at it, but I am certainly opinionated, as are my children. I feel qualified to tell you that this is a great CD that my kids love. The music PR people in my virtual life are much better at actually writing about the tunes. So let’s let them do it, right?
In the spirit of Schoolhouse Rock and Bill Nye, the Science Guy, Why Does Gray Matter? includes “Brain Food – Eat it Up!” which uses omega 3, lypocene and green tea in a B-52s inspired rocker about the best foods for brain health. The “Left Brain/Right Brain” song illustrates the different functions of each side of the brain: the left brain is a Bach-inspired baroque string quartet and the right brain – naturally – is a bad British punk rock band. Roger Day co-wrote “The Brain Train” with Dr. John Paul Bouffard, Chief Neuropathologist at Overlook Hospital in New Jersey; the song takes a peek inside Ringo Starr’s brain during that nanosecond from Ringo’s first thought about playing the drums to showtime at Shea Stadium. Roger says, “I’m confident this is the first – and probably last — children’s song that uses words like ‘corpus callosum’ and ‘deep basal ganglia’ in the lyrics.”
There wasn’t a song on this CD that I didn’t like. My son has actually learned a lot about the brain by listening to it and it’s spurred some awesome discussions & teachable moments. My daughter just boogies along as we chat because the music is as good as the content. It’s good stuff – particularly if you’re a science buff.
Win it! Comment here before noon on Friday, May 7, 2010 to be entered to win a copy.
It’s music week again here at T.O.P. and each day we’ll be featuring a new CD we’ve been sent to review that has made it into regular rotation in our homes and vehicles. Each one will be accompanied by the usual giveaway, with all of them closing at noon mst on Friday.
Rockabye Baby is a record label that has released a line of CDs which turn popular rock bands into lullaby music for babies and parents. They have lullaby renditions of 25 artists including The Beatles, Nirvana and a new release of Lullaby Renditions of Aerosmith which features liner notes by Steven Tyler. Most recently they’re launched a Journey album, which is just as awesome as every Journey album is, but totally safe for the nursery. They also have a new download card available which is a super cool baby gift for someone whose musical tastes you’re unsure of.
You can hear clips, find more info and purchase at Rockabye Baby
Save 20% until 5/9/10 with the code MOMDAY2010
Win it! Want to win a download card? Comment on this post before noon mst on April 26, 2010.
I barely did. Soldier of Love is only the sixth studio album the band Sade have released during their 25 year career, and the first since Lovers Rock in 2000. For Sade herself, as the lynchpin of the group’s songwriting effort, it’s a simple matter of integrity and authenticity. “I only make records when I feel I have something to say. I’m not interested in releasing music just for the sake of selling something. Sade is not a brand.”
Soldier of Love was released last week, just in time for Valentine’s Day. It contains ten tracks that all flow together seamlessly. It’s beautiful music through and though, carrying the theme that love can and does conquer all. You can listen to a couple of tracks that are streaming at inmusic.ca.
NYC-based singer/songwriter Bari Koral’s new CD, Rock and Roll Garden gets top ratings from my children. It’s taken top spot in our musical rotation since it’s arrival and the kids have even been taking it to their dayhome for their dance parties.
My husband and I have been heard calling to each other with “Hey duckies!” and replying “Hey, What?”
Get the CD and you’ll start too – you won’t be able to help it.
Dubbed the “Sheryl Crow for kids” by the NY Post, Bari Koral is just the perfect mix of kiddie & folksy that makes everyone want to sing along. For days and days after they last hear the CD.
This CD’s getting played so much here that I’m going to rip it to my iTunes before it gets wrecked – if that happens there will be two very unhappy campers.
Win it! Comment here before noon mst on Feb. 8/10 to enter to win a copy of this super CD!
Joe Rothstein, a speech-language pathologist trained in early childhood education, has recently released his groundbreaking CD Power Tunes. Normally we’re excited to tell you about CD’s that are perfect for the whole family, but this CD is definitely just for the kids. Power Tunes meets children’s most simple language needs with ten upbeat, original tracks.
Tracks include School Song, Train Song, Food Song and Red Light, Green Light pick kids up and get their bodies and brainwaves moving together while empowering them with important language tools. They’re educational and address many language learning skills but are so fun that kids will never realize they’re learning. That’s my goal as an early childhood educator – to make learning so fun and engaging that kids don’t realize what’s happening. I have several students with speech issues in my room this year and was thrilled with the results of playing this CD for my class. Whether your children have speech concerns or not, it’s a great CD for all children and is particularly great for toddlers who are in the early stages of developing language.
I give it a ten out of ten – even if I wouldn’t listen to it without my kids around.
When I had my first baby five years ago, I was at a loss for music choices. Somehow the hard rock I was accustomed to listening to seemed a little hard for baby and me.
Since then we have experimented with many different combinations to the classics like the Beetles, to new artists that cater to the young. The Good Ms. Padgett by Anna Padgett is totally a CD a would have loved to have five years ago. The songs are cute and fun to sing along to with a baby. My 5 year old wasn’t really into it, but the CD is not intented for her age group. Whereas my toddler gladly bopped along to the silly, fun songs.
Part of the turn off for my 5 year old was the song about cats. She is a huge cat lover and was turned off that the baby would mistreat the cat, that the cat would not like the baby and that someone would sing about it. She did not catch the humour in it. Since we have had animals with children all along I have to agree with her, that babies are to be taught that cat’s do not like certain things and to be gentle.
Granted the song about poop was a hit with all my kids.
The tunes on the album, The Good Ms. Padgett by Anna Padgett are sweet, soothing, sound great and for a mom are fun to sing along with. You can check out The Good Ms. Padgett on MySpace at www.myspace.com/thegoodmspadgett- by Chelle
Win it!Three T.O.P. readers will be randomly selected from comments left before noon mst on January 2, 2010.
The Hipwaders new Christmas album, A Kindie Christmas, is a treat like no other. With ten all original songs, none of which are what I expected, it’s a family friendly calorie-free dish for the holidays!
You can get some free downloads here. Add them to your iTunes and get those kids dancin’!
Win it! FIVE winners will get a signed copy! Comment here before noon mst on December 30, 2009 to be entered, and don’t forget to get yourself some extra entries too.
Our newest CD “Rock Paper Scissors” just oozes heart and soul. It entered our van CD player a couple of weeks ago and hasn’t left. And it’s December, and it’s not a Christmas album – so that’s sayin’ something. It’s the latest album from Dean Jones, member of the awesome Dog On Fleas.
Rock Paper Scissors features Dean playing a bunch of instruments, including the car-horn o-phone, which honestly? Is freaking awesome.
SUCH a great CD. Get it.
Track Listing:
1 Hail! Hail! the Gang’s All Here!
2 Rock Paper Scissors
3 Butterfingers
4 Sing Like a Sparrow
5 Mama Said No
6 Surprise
7 Roncando (w/ Uncle Rock)
8 Throw on the Charm
9 Poison Ivy
10 Isthmus be the Pirate Waltz
11 Lucky (w/ Amy Poux)
12 Flat Tire
13 Frenzy
14 Miss Mary Jane
15 Baby in My Pocket
16 Lefty Loosey/Righty Tighty
17 Tomorrow
18 The Littlest Song
I recently received a copy of the new Milkshake CD, Great Day. I have loved everything I’ve ever listened to from Milkshake in the past, so was excited to listen to this one.
Here’s what the band has to say about this fabulous disc:
In keeping with the Milkshake belief that one never stops evolving/growing, we present Great Day.
This is the first Milkshake album that is actually Milkshake the Band. It’s not just Lisa and Mikel and a bunch of studio musicians. Play! featured the guys singing, but we still used outside musicians, and we all played our parts at different times. On Great Day, it’s the band playing in one big room at the same time, except for vocal and guitar overdubs. And we have a few special guests — our friends Grammy-Award winners Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer and Rodney Henry of the Glenmont Popes.
We tracked Great Day in six twelve-hour days, and it was a lot of fun. Lots of different musical styles here, as on past albums, but the subjects are a little deeper, the guys are singing a little sweeter and everyone was trying new things, thanks in part to Tor Hyams’ intense, encouraging production style, and in part to everyone really being…well…a band, which is a lot like a family. Enjoy…and have a great day!
Here’s what my kids have to say about it:
“Let’s put Milkshake in again, Mommy!”
Play that one again, Mommy! Let’s Shake It Up!”
Don’t forget to bring Milkshake in the van!”
And because, in the usual Milkshake style, it’s actually really good music that’s easily enjoyed by kids and parents alike, I always oblige.
Win it! One commenter will win a copy of Great Day. To enter, comment before noon mst on September 28th.
Let’s just say that we’re HUGE music fans around here. Whether that means me trying to play “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” on the piano with four little hands banging on the keys, or whether it means listening to a new CD…whatever it is, if it’s music we’ll most likely love it! Our most recent find is the Dreyer Family Band CD. The story behind this CD is great – twin brothers with their wives and kids having a dream and coming up with a fabulous kid-friendly and family friendly set of songs. All the songs are original and are composed by the family themselves. And of course they are all sung and accompanied by the moms, dads, or kids. Family time is so important so what a great way smack together two of the most important things – family and music! Although the style of music wasn’t exactly my favorite…my kids still loved it though! However, I loved all the lyrics and the fact that the songs were so fun and so family oriented. That outweighs the style of music for me by far. And there’s no doubt about it that the Dreyer Family Band knows how to have fun (just check out the photos on their website).The Dreyer Family Band’s first CD – Family Photograph is great for a road trip or for listening to at home. Check it out here. – by Andrea
Win it! We’re giving away a copy to one randomly selected reader. Just comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, September 11, 2009 and you’re entered.
Another newcomer to the fabulous Putumayo Kids Playground series, European Playground is a collection of 15 songs that takes the listener on a musical tour through Europe. With the rich cultural variety of this expansive continent, (almost 50 countries, each with its own unique culture, history, traditions, food and music), the range of music on this CD is not-surprisingly pretty awesome. The songs are multi-genre and multilingual songs, easy to sing and dance along to, and just a whole lot of fun.
From Putumayo: “The song themes speak to children’s interests and spark their imaginations. The Swiss tune by Roland Zoss is about a magical land where teddy bears come to life. Sås & Kopp sing in Swedish about jumping on a trampoline with friends in the backyard, and German favorite Alex Schmeisser celebrates the friendship between a big cow and a little mouse. Alain Le Lait highlights the French love of good food while London-based Herbie Treehead explores a universal theme in a fresh new way with his “Change Song,” noting, “We all have to change sometimes!””
Nothing less than what I’ve come to expect from Putumayo & Putumayo Kids.
Win it! Want it? Leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, August 14, 2009. All giveaways held during this “TOP Music Week” will end on Friday at noon.
We love every CD from Putumayo that we’ve ever heard, whether for kids or not, but the kids Playground series is extra super awesome for children.
Picnic Playground “provides a veritable feast of international songs about food, cooking and healthy eating in a global gumbo of musical styles and languages.” The first track, “Eat Like a Rainbow” introduces the same idea we reinforce at our house – eat every colour and a variey of flavours every day – and it’s followed by a selection of fun & upbeat & utterly danceable songs from Cuba, Denmark, Oz, France, Germany, Trinidad and even Canada! “The artists sing so joyously about delicious food that you can almost taste it.” Whether you’re craving a “Bowl of Cherries,” “Ice Cream” , or cookies (“Let’s Bake Cookies”), there’s something on this album for every palate. (quotes all from Putumayo)
Win it! Want it? Leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, August 14, 2009. All giveaways held during this “TOP Music Week” will end on Friday at noon.
When the CD Robot Dance from Mr. Leebot showed up in my mailbox to review, all I could think of was Styx for weeks every time I walked by the CD sitting in my entryway awaiting it’s turn in the stereo. (Seriously, if you were a child of the 80′s, you must click.)
Anyhoo…once Mr. Leebot‘s ROBOT DANCE (currently out of stock at Amazon) but available from CD Baby) finally made it into a player, I forgot all about that awesome decade and…started dancing like a robot. Yes, you read that right. I looked like an idiot, but I couldn’t stop. Soon both of my kids were doing makeshift robotics alongside me and we were all cracking up. It’s just as you’d imagine it would be – electro-pop with an undeniable 80′s flair. It’s completely different than anything else we own. Perhaps the missing genre of kids music?
So thank you very much (English translation of “domo arigato”), Mr. Leebot, for a very enjoyable CD!
Win it! Want it? Leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, August 14, 2009. All giveaways held during this “TOP Music Week” will end on Friday at noon.
That’s how Hullabaloo describes themselves, and it’s perfect. I’d just add the word “Cowboy” in there somewhere. Their new CD, High Roller, is one of my kids’ new favourites. It’s a brand new release and doesn’t seem to be available for purchase quite yet, but you can get a listen here at watch for it at CD Baby or Amazon if you like what you hear. It’s so new that I couldn’t even track down a picture. For shame!
The music on High Roller is definitely folky, which I love, but a little too twangy country for my taste…however, my kids love it and all of my country loving friends love it too and convinced me to share it with you. They drew inspiration from Woody Guthrie and Johnny Cash, but don’t let that turn you off. Even my country music hating self was dancing right along with the kids by the third track. With classics like “Oh, Susanna!” and “This Land is Your Land” as well as some awesome originals like the title track “High Roller,” if you’re a country music fan this CD is one that you’ll find yourself pulling out of the case and actually suggesting to your kids. Unlike the Wiggles one.
Win it! Want it? Leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, August 14, 2009. All giveaways held during this “TOP Music Week” will end on Friday at noon.
On July 7, San Diego based singer-songwriter Tracey Singer (a work at home dad of four!) released his debut children’s CD entitles Sweets ‘n’ Treats ($15).
The song styles range from oldies rock n’ roll to close harmony vocals, and Tracey’s sense of humour shines through in all of them. He speaks incredibly clear – so much so that my two children were able to repear the lyrics properly after only one listen. It’s a pretty hilarious CD, so listening to my own cuties repeat it was pretty hilarious too. It’s a very “real life” CD which teaches kids that life, no matter how crappy or annoying at times, is really funny if you have the right attitude. I also love the song “Stinky Smoke” which tells kids that smoking is repulsive and stupid. (My words.)
A highly recommended CD to add to your collection, and we’d like to offer Tracey our congrats on his first album. We have no idea how he did it while staying home with four kids!
Win it! Want it? Leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, August 14, 2009. All giveaways held during this “TOP Music Week” will end on Friday at noon.
When I’m sent CD’s to review, I always feel horrible because they take me forever. No matter how much my kids and/or I love the music, I just don’t feel like writing about music very often and I don’t feel that it’s exactly my forte. However, I just couldn’t wait to tell you about The Boogers. When their front man, Crusty Booger, emailed me about their debut CD Road to Rock, there was no way I was turning him down. I mean, Crusty Booger and his buddies Greenie Booger and Sticky Booger? Wouldn’t you want to invite them into your home?
Crusty Booger is actually developmental psychologist and musician Paul Crowe, who was a “real” punk musician for more than a decade before becoming a husband and father and adapting his style to mesh the two.
The Boogers have been described as “The Ramones meet Mother Goose” and after reading that, I couldn’t come up with anything better. That’s absolutely & totally what they sound like, and I LOVE the Ramones. Check out their version of The Wheels On The Bus (and a few more tunes) on their music page. There’s nothing like it. It’s freaking awesome.
Win it! To enter to win one of the FIVE copies of this CD we’re giving away, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on July 1, 2009.
I recently received a CD by a 13 year old artist named Casey Jame. Having been told that Casey’s music is very positive and very safe for kids, I figured it would be the usual kids’ CD.
Let me tell you, it’s not. It’s wonderful, and really is positive and safe, but it’s also really, really good. I put it on while I was working & the kids were playing, and I actually forgot it was playing because it sounds like, well, real music! There are only five tracks, but that’s five more than 99.9% of thirteen year old have got.
Show your support for a teenager living out her dream. Check out Casey’s MySpace page and buy her stuff from CD Baby
Win it! We’ve got 5 copies of Casey’s CD to give away. To enter, just leave a comment on this post before noon mst on June 29, 2009.
“…a wonderful mix of lullabies that transports children to far away magical places…”
To celebrate the 2nd birthday of her album, Julia Norton is offering it for just $10 on her website http://www.lullabyisland.com until the end of June.
Our children are so fortunate to be exposed to many cultures and languages. Mister Felipe is a fun, bilingual children’s musician who sings songs in both English and Spanish. His new album, Cruzando El Border is so fun to listen to. My kids started dancing as soon as I put the CD on. Being a teacher, Philip Handmaker, aka Mister Felipe places the perfect combination of Spanish and English so the kids understand and soak it all in.
We are constantly listening to the CD in the car now, displacing other favourites. My youngest taps his toes to the music and my five year old recognizes some of the Spanish words. Each song focuses on a specific topic, ranging from counting to colours. Including children in the songs, singing along is always an added bonus. Our favourites (so far) are “I Like Animals (Me Gustan Los Animales) and “Let’s Go Outside (Vamos Afuera)”.
The CD is so cool that each song is a different style of music, like rock, reggae and Mambo, to mention a few. The variety really fits together well, leaving even parents grooving to the music.
You can find Mister Felipe’s Cruzando El Border online at CD Baby and iTunes. Be sure to check out Mister Felipe’s website at www.MisterFelipe.com where you will find. colouring pages and tons of educational resources. – by Chelle
Win it! We’re giving a copy of this CD to one lucky T.O.P. reader. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post before noon mst on June 10, 2009.
My kids love music of all kinds, from jump and dance music to mellow and sweet music. When we popped in our new CD Music Box from Maine based artist, educator & mom Mary Kaye, we were instantly grooving and chilling out. Mary Kaye’s voice is hypnotic and the lyrics are fun and fresh. Every time we hear “Hot Chocolate Fairy” the kid’s eyes light up with imagination.
When the kids get wild and crazy in the car, I put in our Music Box CD and they instantly stop to listen. I like that the music instantly captures them and that the songs are easy to learn and sing a long with.
The Music Box CD has now found a permanent home in my son’s CD player. He loves to listen to Mary Kaye’s sweet voice as he relaxes before supper and before he goes to sleep. With songs like “Sleepy Land” and “Under the Moon” soothing him, he quickly releases his tension and sings along to the music.
This is Mary Kaye’s fourth album and it will be officially released July 2, 2009. Be sure to check out her website at marykayemusic.com. - by Chelle
Win it! We’re giving away 5 copies of Music Box (to be shipped after the July 2 release date). To enter, simply comment on this post before noon mst on June 9, 2009. Extra karma points if you share your favourite quick & easy healthy recipe for busy families. It’s just karma though, so don’t stress about it.
Debi Derryberry, a successful voiceover artist and children’s entertainer, has released her third CD this month. Debi’s new CD, BABY BANANA is so similar to her previous two that my son recognized her voice immediately. (We reviewed Debi’s previous two CD’s in 2007 and 2008.) The inspiration for the CD and the newly launched Baby Banana “brand” comes from a bedtime story about a unique and loving family — Baby Banana, Momma Duck and Daddy Gorilla — which was originally created for Debi’s young son. The CD contains a reading of her first ever childrens’ book, Baby Banana and the Licorice Tree which is as entertaining to the little people as her music. There’s something about Debi’s childlike voice that makes the kids love her and, though it’s a little high for me, I actually enjoy her music too, which is really nice since they made me play through the CD three times today.
Track Listing:
1. Baby Banana
2. I Wish You Could Fly with Me
3. Scoops of Ice Cream
4. Happiest Day
5. Oodle the Orangutan
6. I’m a Chameleon
7. Freckle Face Freddie
8. Tropical Fruit
9. Slumberland
10. Baby Banana and the Licorice Tree (The Storybook)
Win it! We’re giving away TWO copies of Debi’s new CD to randomly selected winners who comment before noon mst on May 27, 2009.
Putumayo World Music/Putumayo Kids is one of those companies who produces music that you just can’t go wrong with. We love exposing our family to the sounds of countries that they may never be able to visit. It would be nice to travel the world with them but unless we come into some cold, hard cash its not likely to happen. In this economy, we’re lucky to be able to drive an hour to go for a hike. Allow me to share with you what I think are the greatest new-ish releases from Putumayo. All of them can are available from Amazon.
Putumayo Presents: India, with mesmerizing voices and gentle beats, is one of my favourites for several reasons. First of all, I married into an Indian family so it’s important to me that my 1/4 Indian kids are exposed to at least a little bit of the culture. The food and the music can’t be beat. This cd showcases India’s rich musical variety, from traditional and acoustic music to Bollywood and electronica.
Putumayo Presents: Acoustic Arabia features the subtle, organic music of the Arabic world. Inspired by the region’s traditional music, it’s much more authentic, in my humble opinion, than the arabic pop & electronic commonly featured. A nice change from…everything we own!
Putumayo Presents: Acoustic France brings the romance and charm of Paris and the French countryside right to us in the not-so-charming-right-now snow covered western Canada. From the press release: “This collection features contemporary chanson and acoustic pop by established stars and up-andcoming artists from today’s thriving French music scene. Inspired by the classic styles of an earlier generation, young artists are borrowing from old-school lyric-driven composition, folk and Gypsy jazz to create an appealing modern sound. The music captures the ambiance of strolling along the Seine or sipping wine in a Parisian café on a beautiful summer day. Included in the liner notes is a signature recipe from 3 star Michelin French chef Michel Troisgros of La Maison Troisgros. Sifflets De Sole À La Banane Et Citron Vert (Banana and Lime Sole) is well-paired with the flavorful melodies served on this collection.” That says it so much better than I could. Thoroughly enjoyable, thoroughly authentic – a great addition to your (hopefully growing) world music collection. Also cool? A portion of the proceeds from Acoustic France will be donated to La Chaîne de l’Espoir (The Chain of Hope), an organization that provides children from developing countries access to health care and quality education.
Putumayo Presents: African Reggae is a great collection “featuring selections by outstanding African musicians who have built upon Jamaica’s “golden age of reggae” in the 1960s and 1970s by weaving together traditional and modern sounds into a vibrant musical fabric.” If ever there were an homage to Bob Marley’s powerful impact on African music, this would be it. Totally worth a listen or several. It’ll get you and the kids all up dancing!
Win it! We’re giving away all four of these CD’s to one lucky winner. To enter, leave a comment on this post before Friday, May 1 at noon mst.
Mother of two Lauren Busch Singer of ASAP Productions has produced a great new CD with the help of her 10 year old son Jake.
(How cool is that? Jake has got to be the coolest kid in school.)
FUNKY KIDZ features 12 of New Orleans’ finest artists (Nevilles, The Radiators, George Porter Jr., Theresa Andersson and more) doing crazy funked up covers of classic kids songs we all know and love. Think Zip a Dee Doo Dah, Yellow Submarine and the funkiest rendition of the Hokey Pokey you’ve ever heard. It’s danceable, even for me. It’s funky, it’s complex and it’s totally not kiddie crap. It’s as good as what I’d listen to if the kids weren’t with me, and that’s the kind of CD I want my kids to love. And love it they do.
A portion of the proceeds from this album go toward fostering music education in New Orleans. Check them out at funkykidzmusic.com.
Win it! Comment by noon mst on Friday, May 1 to enter to win your own copy of Funky Kidz.
NAPPA and Parent Choice award-winning artist Jonathan Sprout’s latest release American Heroes #3 is, as one would presume, full of songs about American…um…heroes. Though I’m solidly Canadian, we actually learn a decent amount of American history up here. (In our igloo schools). The third in the American Heroes series, A.H.#3 is packed with fun & upbeat songs about some America’s finest. Like Pocahontas – I learned a lot listening to this CD. Music and a history lesson all rolled into one makes for kids who actually remember the content after the test. This would be great in a classroom! It’s not all serious though. Tunes like “Chocolate King” about Milton Hershey offer up some education and an equally large dose of entertainment. The songs all have great hooks that reel kids in & make the lyrics memorable. Think we can convince him to come north for a while and make one for us Canucks? Contrary to popular belief, we can actually be interesting!
Win it! We’ve got a copy to give away to one lucky reader who comments before noon mst on Friday, May 1, 2009.
We spent the better part of this weekend grooving in our living room to the tunes of Recess Monkey. Seattle based band members Jack Forman, Drew Holloway, and Daron Henry have recently released a new CD, Field Trip, and is just as fantastic as all those that came before it. For a band that pumps out the CD’s like these guys, it’s amazing that the quality just keeps getting better and better.
The songs kept us laughing, and listening to see what they were actually saying as we made up goofy lyrics to go along with each of the titles.
Track Listing:
1. Fort
2. Marshmallow Farm
3. Sack Lunch
4. Knocktopus
5. New Shoes
6. Haven’t Got a Pet Yet
7. Hot Chocolate
8. Ice Pack
9. Tiny Telephone
10. Little Insects Crawling Everywhere (L.I.C.E.)
11. Something Happens in the Teens
12. Secret Agent Watch
13. Bubble Factory
14. Centipede Pirate
15. Firefly Lullaby
16. Waiting For Vanderslice
One quick look at the song titles and it’s evident that these guys have a sense of humour. The only thing better than that on a CD is the awesome musical talent that goes along with it.
Win it! To enter to win a copy of Recess Monkey’s new CD, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on May 1, 2009.
It’s music week at T.O.P. and each day we’ll be featuring a new CD we’ve been sent to review that has made it into regular rotation in our homes and vehicles. Each one will be accompanied by the usual giveaway, with all of them closing at noon mst on Friday.
We are always on the lookout for quality and entertaining music to listen to with our children. While the classics are great, it is nice to have a variety. As soon as our copy of Randy Kaplan’s CD Five Cent Piece, arrived we popped it into the player to check it out.
Randy Kaplan’s voice and the music are sweet and mellow. Perfect for unwinding and chilling out to. Randy Kaplan introduces us to some new songs like Grape Juice Hesitation Blues and The Motorcycle Song, as well as some classics such as You are My Sunshine , Over the Rainbow and You Can’t Always Get What You Want (with a twist).
I really like the idea of introducing well known songs to my children while enjoying a safe children’s collection. Besides it gives us something we can all sing-a-long to right from the start.
We have thoroughly enjoyed Randy Kaplan’s Five Cent Piece, so much in fact it is now our son’s drift off to sleep music so we listen to it every night. -by Chelle
Win it! To enter to win your own copy, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, April 10, 2009.
My daughter is at the stage where her imagination is running wild. She is constantly coming up with stories, songs, games, and situations to reenact. Imagine her surprise when I introduced her to a CD with songs that are chock full of the same kind of wild imagery and ideas that she loves so dearly!
A Pink Whale and a Very Tall Tree is a CD that combines two of my daughter’s favorite things in the world, music and storytelling. Instead of irrelevant lyrics with no cohesive story, Shāna Barry has authored beautiful, weaving tales about an imaginary island inhabited by a family of fōfers (rhymes with gophers).
In case you were wondering (and how could you not?), a fōfer is a multi-colored furry creature that likes to ride bikes, explore the island, and climb trees.
Written and preformed by Shāna Barry, the musical stories of A Pink Whale and a Very Tall Tree inspired many conversations between my daughter and me. We sat at the computer, looking up pictures of the various animals that she mentioned, we talked about where those animals lived, and we learned what they liked to eat. And recently, she has incorporated those animals and concepts into her imaginary play!
While I would categorize this along the lines of folk music, it is by no means traditional. Reminiscent of acoustic Jewel, the soft guitar is all that is needed to provide a musical foundation for Barry to tell her creative stories. Barry’s hushed voice lends a peacefulness to the mix, while drawing in the attention of listeners. Listen to a sample track, A Pink Whale, here.
My daughter really enjoyed this CD. Her favorite track was Around the Island, which she now calls “The Animal Song.” And I must admit, the last track, The Peaceballs, is an incredibly relaxing instrumental number that I could easily use to melt tension on a high stress day! - by Christy
Win it! We’ve got a copy of A Pink Whale and a Very Tall Tree to give away. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on April 8, 2009.
This set features guest artists Lisa Loeb and Wilco’s John Stirratt & Pat Sansone. Written by Ohio native illustrator/songwriter Morgan Taylor, Mellow Fever contains more adventures of Gustafer Yellowgold – a yellow dude who hails from the sun. Yes, the sun. Each song on the DVD is “accompanied by a series of hand-drawn, minimally animated illustrations set to melodic and catchy tunes ranging from mellow acoustic to crackling-pop.” I’m being totally honest when I say this Gustafer guy is a trip. Like the Cheshire cat, it seems unreasonable that someone who was not on drugs could have dreamed up such a character (sorry, Morgan!) but every kid who has seen it on at our place absolutely loves it.
It will officially be released on March 17th and is now available for preorder from Amazon.
Win it! To enter to win a copy of Mellow Fever, leave a comment on this post by noon mst on March 20, 2009.
Just yesterday, a new CD arrived in our mailbox. Luckily we had a couple of spare hours in the afternoon for a dance party because it would have been a shame if this awesome CD had been stuck in the “to listen” basket for a few months like many of them do. Come On, Get Happy, the new CD from Daddy A Go Go is a party in a box. My children and several of their friends and I danced for at least a solid hour and kept the CD on replay for at least an hour more while we danced and snacked intermittently. The CD begins with the title track, Come On, Get Happy, which it’s nearly impossible to sit through without at least some toe tapping if not full-on bootie shaking. The kids had no idea how I could possible know all of the words to sing along (feel old much?) but thoroughly enjoyed watching me make a fool of myself through it and the rest of the CD. It’s full of familiar tunes all remastered with a kid-friendly rock-ish sound.
Track Listing:
1. Come On, Get Happy (Remastered)
2. Birthday Song (Remastered)
3. Brush Your Teeth (Remastered)
4. A Dog Named Boomer (Remastered)
5. Scooby Doo, Where Are You? (Remastered)
6. I Caught My Daddy Watching Cartoons (Remastered)
7. Nana-Nana Boo-Boo (Remastered)
8. I Can Swing By Myself (Remastered)
9. Do the Chores (Remastered)
10. The ABC Song (Remastered)
11. Pink Floyd Saves Hugh Manatee (Remastered)
12. I Think I Might Be A Dog (Remastered)
13. Best Friend (Courtship of Eddie’s Father theme) (Remastered)
14. Daddy’s Diaper Blues (Remastered)
15. It’s a Kids’ World (Remastered)
Yummy English Snack‘s “Cool Songs Collection & Times Table Fun” is a completely nontraditional set written by teacher William Avery. Inspired by his years teaching ESL in Taiwan, William wrote catchy learning poems and then set them to music. He makes learning delicious enough that my two year old sings his multiplication tables though he obviously has no idea what multiplication is. Listen to song samples here and buy it at CD Baby.
Win it! To enter to win your own copy, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on January 19, 2009.
“When a saxophone-playing tadpole sets out to jam with the big frogs, he finds that making friends can be harder than making music.” “One Night in Frogtown” combines a colourfully illustrated book with a lively read-and-sing-along CD. Both the book and the CD are equally enjoyable on their own. Narrated by blues artist Curtis Salgado, it tells the story of Tad, a young tadpole saxophone player traveling the pond to venues such as the Toadstool Tavern and the Lily Pad Club in his quest to find his place in the musical world. Through his travels he learns to appreciate classical, jazz, R & B,,and hip-hop styles – a great metaphor for the value of cultural diversity. It sells for only $19.99 (autographed first edition!) from the Frogtown Central shop.
Win it! To enter to win your own copy, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on January 19, 2009.
Gunnar Madsen is more than just a kids’ musician. He’s a screenwriter, playwright, and more. He originally made it big as the founder of the a capella group The Bobs (which earned him a Grammy nomination) but his kids music is evidence that he’s doing what he should be doing. It’s sometimes goofy, sometimes tender, and all the time fun. Cutest Little Guy is my son’s fave (I think he things they’re talking about him!) but I really liked Always on the Bottom for the way it pokes fun (gently) at type A parenting & reminds us to be happy when our kids are happily average.
Music for a Green Planet is the brainchild of Hayes Greenfield, a producer, composer, saxophonist, filmmaker, bandleader, and educator who has been active on the New York City jazz scene since the late ‘70s. The mission of his newest CD is one of the greatest I’ve seen. (How many CD’s actually have a mission aside from getting people to listen?)
* To celebrate, and raise awareness about green renewable energy.
* To create a consciousness of waste reduction.
* To inspire protectiveness of our world’s natural resources.
* To bolster resolve to decrease our carbon footprints, by committing to a mindset of reduce, re-use and recycle.
* To embrace the knowledge and responsibility that the Green revolution is to our time and future generations, what the industrial revolution has been for the last 150 years.
“We’ll Be a Part of the Solution,” sung to the tune of “She’ll Be Coming Around The Mountain,” is an anthem around our home now.
We’ll be cruising in our hybrids when she comes
We’ll be getting better mileage when she comes
We’ll be a part of the solution
Cause we’re making less pollution
We’ll be cruising in our hybrids when she comes
This is an awesome CD that is a joy to listen to and a great teaching tool for young and old.
Sesame Street Playground from Putumayo Kids is a CD/DVD set featuring songs and music videos from Sesame Street productions around the world. It’s a new release representing a shared mission of Putumayo Kids and Sesame Workshop: “to reach children worldwide and help children learn about and respect other cultures.” The package includes a music CD with 13 songs featuring all of our favourite Muppets and characters developed to reflect the unique cultural and social development needs of children in each host country. You’ll hear familiar tunes as well as original songs from international Sesame Street shows in a variety of languages. The DVD features 5 music videos that visit distant locales such as Russia, South Africa and Mexico.
My two year old loves this CD (and has never seen Sesame Street or Sesame Workshop) and I love the memories that it brings back from my own Sesame filled childhood.
Randy Kaplan Junior‘s second children’s CD, Loquat Rooftop, has a sound like nothing I’ve heard in the kids’ tunes realm to date. It’s a combination of blues & folk with a little bluegrass tossed in for good measure. Randy has a unique ability to create awesome music out of everyday topics like laundry & fire engines, and his songs are definitely not just for kids. This was definitely one of my top ten albums of 2008.
Will Thomas is the Spanglish Wrangler and a father of two. His CD, Spanglish Sing-Along!, is a great mix of bluesy performance & silly songwriting that appeals to the whole family. The songs are all very playful and the CD is full lof surprises like “Desayuno Boogie” which is a celebration of breakfast and “Broccoli” in which a girl’s love of the green tree leaves her begging for more. Spanglish Sing-Along is available from CD Baby. With so many families intermixing two languages, the Spanglish Wrangler is a welcome addition to the kids music scene.
Win it! To enter to win your own copy, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on January 19, 2009.
It’s time again to share with you some of my favourites of the tunes that have been filling the air around here of late. As always, if we don’t like it you won’t hear about it here. At least one of the reviews each day this week will be a music review, and all music giveaways that are part of this week will end at noon next Monday.
Mama Doni is the stage name for New Jersey-based Doni Zasloff Thomas, a super hip (& Jewish) mom of two young kids. While I’ve never been and never will be Jewish, I am fascinated by all thing Jewish and was just as fascinated while listening to her CD “I LOVE HERRING (& Other Fish Shticks for Kids).” Whether you’re Jewish or not, there’s no way you won’t dig this CD. With tunes like Funky Gold Menorah, Jewperheroes & Fahklempt, it’ll have your whole family bopping right along. If your children are Jewish they, in particular, would likely love learning about their religion & culture from such a hip & modern chick.
About a year and a half ago, we reviewed an awesome CD from Milkshake so when I received the pitch about previewing their upcoming DVD release, ScreenPlay, I was all over it. If you have kids between 1 and 10, you’re going to want to pick it up as soon as you can – trust me.
Just because my kids aren’t allowed to watch much TV doesn’t mean I don’t need an electronic babysitter once in a while. This DVD has taken up permanent residence in my laptop of late because my son goes crazy for it. Many days it’s the reason I get to shower. He’s so busy singing and dancing along that he doesn’t even know I’ve left the room.
It’s similar to a music DVD you’d buy as an adult with videos and interviews, but does everything just right to rope in the preschooler. And apparently their parent – I’ve been singing “Mom is pitching, Dad is catching, my friends are in the out fieeeeeld…” all day long. And I don’t even mind!
Win it! We’ve got two copies of Screenplay to give away. To enter, leave a comment on this post before 5 pm mst on October 22, 2008.
Rock Daddy Rock‘s CD Silly Short Songs for Silly Short People is not allowed in my van. Not because it’s not fantastic, but because my son insists that it lives in the CD player in his room and nobody else is allowed to use it. Now that’s a first.
These tracks are good enough that I actually go into his room and hang out just to listen – and laugh – with him. They’re hilarious to the whole family, and manage to teach some great manners and life lessons through the laughter. With songs about snot, burps, farts, diapers, hitting, biting, spitting and more, I can’t think of any age of child or adult that wouldn’t find this CD awesome – even if they don’t want to admit it in public.
Track Listing: Boogers
Don’t Hit Don’t Spit
Wart
When You Grow Up
Biter
The Lecture
Where Is The Bathroom?
Don’t Pass The Gas
Dirty Nails, Diaper
Do The Burp
Green
Tears Of Joy
Time For Bed
Gun (Peace Sign)
Turn It Off.
Win it! We’ve got a copy of this fart-a-licious CD for one lucky reader. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post before 11:59 mst on October 2, 2008.
It’s music week here at TOP, where I’m sharing with you the best of the CD’s we’ve added to our collection over the past few months. Not only will I spare you the ones we didn’t enjoy but you’ll have a chance to win the good ones!
I’m not much of a music critic – just a mama whose children love to boogie and who is easily annoyed. I tend to put CD’s that arrive for review in my van or stereo CD changer and listen to them on rotation for months before I remember to write anything about them. Because I find them difficult to write about, CD’s don’t fall into my review schedule like other reviewed items do. It can take me hours to write just a paragraph when it comes to music. I never intended this site to feature any music (it just didn’t occur to me), but I’m really enjoying it and hope you get some ideas to freshen your collection from the ones I decide to share with you. Even if it takes me a while to do so.
Justin Roberts’ new release Pop Fly ($15 from his shop) had been and will continue to be a regular around here. I love that it’s real music – not dumbed down or simplified – and the lyrics are easily enjoyed by kids and parents alike. The target age is 3-8 but my two year old and my ten year old niece both love this CD. It’s terrific from start to finish, and comes highly recommended by my little baseball star who is constantly singing while he plays with his pitching machine in the back yard…
‘Cause it’s a
pop p-p-p-p-p-p
pop p-p-p-p-p-p pop fly, pop fly
Watch the video for Pop Fly here and see how long it takes for the kids to come running.
Track Listing
1. Pop Fly
2. She’s a Yellow Reflector
3. Big Field Trip
4. Henrietta’s Hair
5. The Backyard Super Kid
6. From Scratch
7. Stay-at-Home Dad
8. She Sits
9. Giant-Sized Butterflies
10. Kickboard, Baby, Yeah
11. Fruit Jar
(By request, I’ll start including the track listing in CD reviews.)
Win it! Enter to win a copy of this CD by leaving a comment on this post before 11:59 mst on October 1/08.
Two Flowers, the debut CD from Danielle Sansone, started out as a simple recording of a few songs she had written for her two children and turned into what producer Will Robertson calls a “14-track ode to childhood wonder.” A totally indie mix of bluegrass and symphonic sounds characterize the strange but welcome combination of sweet vocals, fiddle, banjo, cello & violin on this CD.
Many of the songs are directly or indirectly about sleep, proving that a mother did, indeed, write them. Too Much Coffee (for mama today…), (Sleep) Like an Angel, Sleep so Sweetly, The Sleepy Mile…and the list goes on. Just typing those titles brings me back to the sweet days of rocking babies that didn’t rip my glasses off and pull my hair when they should be sleeping.
Honestly, the first time I listened to Two Flowers, I thought it was too ‘country’ for me. However, as my son requested “More Two-Fowers” it grew on me and is now a fave we like to sing along to (in our “inside voices”) before nap time. It’s not really country – it’s just a little more rural than suburban.
Thank you all so much for your emails and comments. Losing my Dad sucks butt, but we’re doing okay and I hear it gets easier with time, though I’m sure we won’t miss him any less. He left us with years of memories to talk and laugh about, and we’re doing lots of that.
Thanks, also, for hanging in there while I was away and unable to write or edit posts. I’m back!
We took a little road trip recently and used the opportunity to listen to a bunch of new kid-tunes. Each day this week will bring a review and giveaway of one of the CD’s that both the kids and my husband and I enjoyed on the trip. If we didn’t enjoy it, we’ll spare you. You’re welcome.
The first CD we popped in was the newest release by Krista “Funky Mama” Eyler. The CD Moo Juice is full of rockin’ tunes that made us dance in our seats. And made our two year old son demand that we continue to dance in our seats until the CD was over, at which time he demanded “Again!”
My Dad Rocks was a shoo in for my husband’s favourite song, obviously, and I had a hard time picking a fave. Down Down Baby and Multi-Taskin’ Mama are definitely right up there.
Check out Krista performing Moo Juice on KCTV news last year. Isn’t she just an itty bitty thing with a hugely soulful voice?
Makes you want to groove, no?
Win it! Your own copy of mommy-van dancing goodness is up for grabs. To enter, leave a comment on this post before 11:59 mst September 29/08.
Music for Little People recently sent us a couple of discs to check out, and they made the cut for sharing here with you.
When I had my first baby five years ago, I was at a loss for music choices. Somehow the hard rock I was accustomed to listening to seemed a little hard for baby and me.
.
, with mesmerizing voices and gentle beats, is one of my favourites for several reasons. First of all, I married into an Indian family so it’s important to me that my 1/4 Indian kids are exposed to at least a little bit of the culture. The food and the music can’t be beat. This cd showcases India’s rich musical variety, from traditional and acoustic music to Bollywood and electronica.
features the subtle, organic music of the Arabic world. Inspired by the region’s traditional music, it’s much more authentic, in my humble opinion, than the arabic pop & electronic commonly featured. A nice change from…everything we own!
brings the romance and charm of Paris and the French countryside right to us in the not-so-charming-right-now snow covered western Canada. From the press release: “This collection features contemporary chanson and acoustic pop by established stars and up-andcoming artists from today’s thriving French music scene. Inspired by the classic styles of an earlier generation, young artists are borrowing from old-school lyric-driven composition, folk and Gypsy jazz to create an appealing modern sound. The music captures the ambiance of strolling along the Seine or sipping wine in a Parisian café on a beautiful summer day. Included in the liner notes is a signature recipe from 3 star Michelin French chef Michel Troisgros of La Maison Troisgros. Sifflets De Sole À La Banane Et Citron Vert (Banana and Lime Sole) is well-paired with the flavorful melodies served on this collection.” That says it so much better than I could. Thoroughly enjoyable, thoroughly authentic – a great addition to your (hopefully growing) world music collection. Also cool? A portion of the proceeds from 
is a great collection “featuring selections by outstanding African musicians who have built upon Jamaica’s “golden age of reggae” in the 1960s and 1970s by weaving together traditional and modern sounds into a vibrant musical fabric.” If ever there were an homage to Bob Marley’s powerful impact on African music, this would be it. Totally worth a listen or several. It’ll get you and the kids all up dancing!
