Yes, that is what Max wore to his birthday party last Saturday in the park here in town. What's wrong with this picture? It was about 56 degrees F. What's right with this picture is that he's wearing his favorite pants - his "rock star" pants in a lovely snakeskin stretch velour. Nice, eh?
He and Annie have finally found some songs that they won't insist be turned off. We're singing together to MY music again.
...ahhh summer!
So, how much to we love Bill Callahan? I've got "A River Ain't Too Much To Love" from back in his days as Smog, but his Woke on a Whaleheart record from this year makes me really happy. And we all sang Footprints over and over and over in the car on the way home from family camp. The "dog walkin' dog" part has got to capture any little. Diamond Dancer is a good one too. Max actually listens to the whole record. Did you know Bill Callahan and Joanna Newsome are two? You probably did, but I didn't. For the doctors office magazine readers among us....
We've been listening to this one for ages. It's (sadly) my only Cafe Tacuba record, and the littles ask for "the Spanish song" all the time. It's hyper and fun - a folk song about coffee and berries and other delishes raining down in the fields. Cafe Tacuba does a suped up version in a beautiful huapango (I think?) Mariachi style. Oh, how I love them and this song. It's off their old-oldie-old-old Avalancha de Exitos record of cover songs from 1996. I don't guess most of us Norte Americanos living more than 100 miles from the border know the originals, so you'll probably dig this, even though they're covers. And if you do know the originals, these are still super rad, rocking versions, so check it anyway.
And last, but not least, summer without the Jacksons? Never. A boy at camp kicked it at the talent show to this one. Oh yeah, was max inspired! Can you see the dancing? We tried to explain pre-wacko Jacko to Max. We're going to have to go to video. There's no talking about it. But here's another song that just get's us all going. I'm sure you all know it, but it never hurts to hear it again! Originally from Destiny, this is from The Essential Jacksons. Essential, indeed.
My daughter woke up before dawn calling out my name. It's been a long time since she's done that. Mostly she doesn't call out because she's getting older and doesn't need to anymore. But also it's because when she does need something these days, she calls out for her father. I view this with an alternate mix of wistful joy, exhausted relief and complete jealousy. Turns out this time she awoke because she'd had a nightmare that I was gone. I went in her room, hugged her tightly and she went back to sleep like that. And me, sadly I found some joy in her frightening dream. Her wide eyes that softened with relief when she saw me, and that tight-tight hug, well I've been in a great mood all day.
I haven't written here in so long. I can't believe people still come by, but I know they do. I get stats, I get emails. I wish I still had the push inside of me that made me want to reach out most days and write and post songs. I still have great songs, still hear new ones all the time that I think, "Oh, I should post that" but then I don't. So much going on, too much on my mind. Like for instance, my daughter's school, the one some of you probably read about on this very blog, that I agonized over whether to send her to, it abruptly and unexpectedly closed a few weeks ago. Weeks before school was officially over for the year. But that's a long and involved story and I suspect much good will come out of it in the end.
Or maybe I've just been lazy. But I'm thinking of posting a few mixes that I've shared with my friends over the last few years. So many of you are my friends, or pretty darn close, so I'm gonna share them with you too-- next week, maybe? They're mostly from the first few months of this here blog. But now onto my latest batch of random songs:
Got this from Heather's great blog I believe. You can't go wrong with the classics. Hold Steady are big baseball fans. I'm a big Hold Steady fan. Ergo...
Get your dance groove on. It's just silly, mindless and totally dance-able. I don't have a ton of tolerance for too much of this stuff, but c'mon, this is fun for the kids. They can totally do air drumming and weird robot dancing to this. Little fishies in my ice cream?
Another classic. Got this from who killed the mixtape? They did a great mixtape that featured another one of my selections here, the last one. I had forgotten what a great tune this is for the kiddles. I didn't have it in mp3 form, only a 7 inch. I need to record some of my 7 inches. Whose doing this these days? How? Mine always sound so distant when I do it with Audio Hijack and cord connecting computer to receiver.
The latest Shrek soundtrack was a bit disappointing. But this song is great. The Eels never fail to bring the love to the ogre flicks. The level is a bit low on this, don't know why.
We've played this CD over and over and over at our house since we got it on the day it came out. This is the song that stuck out to Tuesday. She sings along, pointing out that Jeff Tweedy switches it up in the chorus from what light to white light to one light. It's got a nice sentiment too, this song, about being yourself so I think it's glorious that she's taken a liking to this one. Sky Blue Sky is lovely and I know, I don't think Wilco can do anything wrong, but it's just fantastic for the impending lazy days.
Whoo-eee. This is one of those songs that I can't get enough of. I played it when I DJ'd my husband and his partner's AIGA event and someone came up and frantically asked me what it was. They thought it was old. Nope, brand new.
I remember listening to this over and over on my pink Panasonic cassette deck with the mint green buttons. We heard it on one of the kid movies we've seen lately and then I saw it on blog. Tuesday immediately took to it. Of course she did. She's my daughter.
And then this: it's been everywhere but in case you haven't seen it, here it is again. Tuesday loves this video and our friend says his 3-year old daughter has watched it so many times that she can do all the dance moves along with Feist and her colorful accompanists. So much better than the Wiggles, no?
I don't often write about videos here. Mostly because the focus has always been music and also because we don't watch a lot of videos. Although we recently instituted Saturday Movie Night at our house complete with big-screen feature attraction and popcorn. So far the big hits have been the old Pink Panther movies. It's crazy how well the physical comedy of Peter Sellers translates to a 5 year old. And the sexy stuff goes right over her head.
But recently we have another hit — a little Scholastic video that isn't a movie at all. We have this favorite book in our house, it's called Arnie the Doughnut, by Laurie Keller. If you haven't read it you're missing out. She also wrote Scrambled States of America and the Open Wide book that is probably very dog-eared at your dentists' office. Her books are brilliant -- she illustrates them and fills the pictures with tons of hilariously wry little asides. They make Tuesday laugh out loud and frankly us too.
One of the hard working PR people that sends me tons of emails that I usually ignore sent me one telling me that they had turned Arnie, the story of a doughnut who doesn't want to be eaten, into one of those Scholastic Video Series DVDs. In case you're not familiar with them, they are fairly low-fi vids that take popular books and sort of animate them... sort of. I mean, this is not the kind of animation the kids today are used to, it's more in line with what we watched as kids. They move the eyes a bit, maybe make the mouth move along to the spoken words. And that's why I LOVE them. I mean, they are quaint. And this story is fantastic. Lenny or Squiggy narrates, I get them mixed up. Coupled with five other books that are sort of animated, it makes for about a 40 minute video (Tuesday's other favorite? "The New Animal.") Perfect for a Saturday Movie Night, low-fi style.
And yes, here it is, the last day of school for my big boy. We've finished all the homework. The talent show and end of the year barbeque have passed. We're packing for family camp in the Sierras next week. And my kids have decided they hate (no, not dislike) all of my music. Even when I put the CDs in their room to choose for themselves. They will only choose things these days that are specifically recorded with them in mind.
But, as they are marketed, there are a few of these things that I really, truly am finding myself liking as well as my kids. I know it's goofy and cliched, but I am seriously listening to a couple of these things on my own time, sans littles. They really do fit the ((sm))all ages spirit here, so I'm putting them up today and will return to our regular programming next time. I'm hoping my kids will come around to be a in a little better mood next time, too.
First off is one that the littles dig a bit more than I do, but it's hippity and cool and we all dig. And, as Clea says, his publicist is nice and I like her and she asked nicely. So, here you get a spankin' new Mr. David song from his upcoming record. He's a Bay Area guy, so that works in his favor here, too. Gotta show the local love. And if you are one of the first lucky 3000 to sign on to his mailing list, you'll get a signed copy of his single! Hop-to, folks!
I'm returning to Renee & Jeremy's It's a Big World over and over again. My littles sing along so sweetly. They act so big and cool sometimes, but they are such lumps of honey. And the title track just laces its way into my heart and soul and stays with me. I hum and sing and think about my babies playing together so nicely - laughing and getting along for the few minutes when the world just all seems lovely. Both Max and Annie seem to go along their own way, paying no mind to what anyone thinks, fiddling in their own style. My greatest wish for them is that they can somehow keep that quality as they get older and more aware. I do love this song. And I listen on my own. Check it. Buy this record. It's really, really, really beautiful.
The DeedleDeedleDees just make me happy. I listen to them in the car by myself. I listen to them when I'm working by myself. When my the littles are around and Major Deegan comes on, they RUN, RUN, RUN to me and say - MOMMY! it's your favorite song! They can can kick some serious rockin' butt and they are the smartest and handsomest and super-nicest band east of the Mississippi. AND, if you happen to be anywhere in the vicinity of Florence, MA you and your family MUST attend one of the shows they are playing there this weekend. They KILL live.
And very, very last, but not least - my buddy Enzo, the smartest, handsomest, super-nicest musician WEST of the Mississippi, is giving away a free download on his myspacepage in honor of Dairy Month. Oh, yeah! He loves his milk. It's a fun blues song, so go grab it before June ends.
enjoy! --debinsf
and thank you to emutree for the use of his photo.
Today's animal inspired post is ripped completely off of my kind friend and constant song-sparker, DJ Schmeejay, who plays the world's greatest music from 9-noon on Tuesdays on KUSF here in San Francisco. Always a mix of the old and the new, the pleasant and the challenging, the witty and the odd, the completely wacked and the sweetly touching. Anyway, at the end of the show today came a set that made me smile and twirl want to share. Listen to his show on iTunes (Radio-Alternative) or stream from their website sometime. He always spins a rad mix of music.
First was Gruff Rhys's Candylion. When I was putting this together, I remembered that Clea shared this song a long time back, but hey, we can hear it again, no? Someone compared parts of this song to "Tracks of My Tears". Can you hear it?!
Then was Animal Collective's Winter's Love off their Sung Tongs record. This song is super danceable. Very twirly. Annie has announced that she doesn't like this song, but I think when Max hears it tomorrow, he'll break out some moves. And I know Annie will come around, shortly. Listen past the intro...
And last, Panda Bear. Oh, Panda Bear. He didn't play Panda Bear (which is why he played Animal Collective), because the disc was missing. Sad, so sad. But I like this song from Person Pitch. I like the lyrics to that other song better but this one makes me go a little dancey. Nice retro sound. This is Bros.
Yeah it's been forever and ever. In part it's due to being busy with so many other things but I have to say it's also because my daughter has been stuck on pretty much one CD.
We went to Kokua Fest on Oahu and in anticipation of seeing Jack Johnson that's all she wanted to hear and since seeing him, that's all she wants to hear. To say she loved it would be an understatement. She beamed, she rocked out, she shook her body, she pressed herself far beyond the limits of your average five year old and stayed up way, way too late but slept in the next day -- a first for us! Seriously, she doesn't understand the concept of going to bed late / sleeping in, but she finally got it on vacation this year.
And don't tell me that I dictate the taste of my five year old because I don't. I think the Jack is nice sure, pleasant yes, but what I listen to? Nope, never actually. Ditto for my husband. But hey, she can sing along, she understands a lot of the lyrics, they're mild and gentile, so hey, I cannot complain.
But with her not even willing to listen to new songs, it's hard to write a new post. So I've been focusing my limited blogging attentions to my Getting Over The Dork blog, which is a blog of break-up songs of all sorts, that I readied in anticipation of the February 2008 release of my tenth book, 30 Days To Getting Over the Dork You Used To Call Your Boyfriend (Delacorte). Not exactly the most compatible blog with this one, but still, fun and music-filled.
So a few things have happened since I wrote last that I should definitely mention:
Play, the compilation CD, is claiming to be the first cool CD of cool music for kids. Well, we know that isn't true, they aren't the first. But it is pretty darn cool, mostly. Featuring songs from bands like the Young Fresh Fellow, Supersuckers, Mudhoney, Mary Timony, Mirah and Visqueen (and other bands I wasn't familiar with like The Cassettes and Georgie Fame.) Some are covers or re-interpretations, some are originals. I'm especially fond of the song by the band Soccer Team, which turns out is two people who work at Dischord. Their song, "I'll Never Fear Ghosts Again" is my hands-down fave from the CD. Um, let's see other thoughts-- I don't think "Nellie the Elephant" should have been covered-- it's a weak version and the original is so darn awesome for kids and adults alike. I got Tuesday to listen to this CD once and she dug the Mudhoney song, "I Like To Make Noise" for it's plaintive sentiment. Overall, it is worth the price of admission and if you buy it from Pokey Pup they will donate some proceeds to Cal Robbins, the young son of J. Robbins who was in Jawbox and here on this CD in the band the Channels. Cal Robbins was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Good CD, good cause.
*** Because of my laziness and non-blogging I missed out telling you about the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls Online Auction which ends, um, today! But that doesn't mean I can't tell you that they are currently accepting apps for summer camp. It's happening in Brooklyn in August and here is their little PR spiel: The camp is a non-profit educational summer arts program serving girls ages 8-18 in New York City. At Rock Camp, girls learn to play musical instruments, form bands, write songs, rock out, and perform. Camp also offers a variety of workshops, from sound engineering and songwriting to self-defense and band art. Campers sign up for drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals, or DJ/turntables. No musical experience necessary. Instruments provided. All genres of music welcome. Sliding scale tuition.
Putumayo Kids, the people who bring us world beat albums for our children, are spearheading an "Animal Playground" Tour and it starts in my hometown, at our world-famous zoo. The artist is a Trinidad gentleman who goes by Asheba and while I know nothing about him, we will check this out and see what's it's like. May 18th he's at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and May 19th he's at the SD Zoo. For more dates, hit Putumayo's website here.
***
They Might Be Giants are out and about touring and are making it to SD in a few weeks, but with their "adult" show (not to imply they have burlesque dancers or anything, but you know, they are playing bars, not all ages shows.) Got me thinking I really don't write about them too much considering how much we do listen to the TMBG machine. So here is one to hear, and don't forget them when you're purchasing music for your kids, your friends kids, etc. and etc. This one is educational and catchy.
The XM Kids Traveling Road Show has embarked. This has been going on for a week now and has a couple more weeks. Bus + radio show + live bands + Children's Miracle Network hospitals. Small Ages faves Lunch Money will participate May 12th in Charlotte, NC. It's a great idea, raising money, awareness and spirits at the kids' hospitals, although I would have preferred a different sponsor than Wal-Mart (not a fan) but hey, whatever works. Check out the dates and see if they are coming to your town.
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Anything else? How about this song about the innocent joys of a bicycle (which by the by, the aformentioned Lunch Money has a great song about too!) This one is by the Jellydots, which are an Austin, Texas band who switch up their styles a bit from song to song (which is weird to me, but okay) and they make music for kids that isn't too kid-like (which is not weird to me and definitely okay.) Oh just see for yourself.
Tim bugged me. He saved me a space. He reminded me. And yet, I failed to deliver. I'm talking about his Contrast Podcast #51 Cool Choones for Children. No matter, he didn't need my contribution-- it's wildly cool without me. There are few bands/tunes we've featured here, like the Innocence Mission, Dan Zanes, Medeski, Martin & Wood and The Real Tuesday Weld, but there are also some great suggestions that I've yet to mention or even, dare I say, think of! So head on over and check it out and grab your kiddles and pull 'em close to the computer and they can listen old-school to the "radio" with you.
Tim has listed the contents of the Podcast on his site, so you can search out the tunes you like, and the blogs they came from, afterward. Go and listen and leave him a comment that you heard it from me so he doesn't think I'm a total loser.
Daylight savings time really did a number on me. I am one hyper, happy girl. The extra sunshine is doing me good. And Central Services is working with me through it. This is some sunny pop that just makes me hap, hap, happy. They are a great Seattle group that's been making lovely music together since at least 2004. Those of you who follow the music blogs are sure familliar with them. They say their songwriting influences range "from Wilco to Steely Dan, Ben Folds to Paul McCartney, Aimee Mann to The Shins, and Elliott Smith to early Genesis." Yep. That pretty much sizes it up for me. Here are a couple of tunes off their self-titled LP. Buy it! It's fab. Sha-la-la-la...
and BONUS! One of the guys - Lead singer and drummer Kevin Emerson is an author of kid novels (Clea!). So, they also have an alter-ego - Central Services Board of Education doing super smart and fun songs directly for the littles. And, if you live in the Bay Area, they're coming down here for some shows - both CS and CSkids! Yahoo! I can't wait.
When I yearn for a pretty voice, and sometimes I do, there is one in particular that always hits the right place for me: Karen Perris of the Innocence Mission. It has an other-worldly tinge to it that doesn't distract from the sheer beauty of it one bit. I suppose it's her accent, but no matter. I feel it in my gut somewhere, the ache in her voice translates to one in my body.
There is a new CD from the Innocence Mission, out this week, entitled We Walk in Song. I can't say I've heard much off of it, only two songs (haven't made it out to our local store yet this week) but what I have heard is more of the same glorious, gorgeous stuff that would make for the most ideal soothing lullaby for children of any age. This isn't a children's CD, like their 04 CD Now the Day is Over, but really, that just means the subject matter isn't all candy and slumber.
Here is one of the songs I've heard. It has the sound of early morning indeed. I love love love the background boy ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba's.
Here's the latest round-up of what we're listening to. Course, my daughter's still obsessed with listening to "Walk Like An Egyptian," the theme to Mystic Force Power Rangers (over and over and over) and REM, particularly "We Walk." The Pipettes are still big in our house, as are the Beatles, but they should always be present, no? Now what's new to us?
Despite the adorable cover (at top) and the sweetums title, this new CD from Super Furry Animals' frontman Gruff Rhys, was not intended for the kiddles. And that's usually how I like my music. The tinkling sounds and weird little musical dippin dots make it especially fun for the kids (that, and he keeps repeating the word "candy.") I've heard a few off of this CD and I like 'em all.
My daughter thought this song only "okay." But she didn't yell for it to be removed from the playlist so who knows, perhaps it will grow on her. I still don't know anything about a Luscious Jackson kid record but bassist Jill Cuniff's latest solo project features this uplifting, girl-positive dance-a-thon. It's not innovative or brilliant, but it's fun and super for a slumber party shake-up.
This is the latest song to take my daughter's ears by storm, courtesy of the band The Chalets. She loves the girl's voice and the catchy sing-along bits. And she loves the guitar. Oh and the beat. Seeing as it's called "Red High Heels" it may not be lyrically appropriate but I can't tell, I can't make out much more than "uh-oh, uh-oh." And neither can she.
This song just keeps growing on me. From the Little Monster label, Gustafer Yellowgold is a whole multimedia thing, but you know, you can strip it of the visual hoopla and it's still delightful and lovely music. It's a nice summer's day, a picnic of a song. Their publicist would like me to tell you that the whole CD Wide Wild World, is coming out at the end of March. She's nice, and I like this tune, so I'm gonna.
That's it for the new recordings, now on to some tracks from days gone by. Rainy Day, the album and I guess sort of "the band," came out back in 1984 on Rough Trade. I got the record a few years later and then a few years after that found the CD in a bargain bin for $4. They obviously didn't know what it was! Susannah Hoffs (the Bangles), Kendra Smith (Dream Syndicate; Opal), David Roback and Will Glenn (Rain Parade; Opal; Mazzy Star) and Michael Quercio (Three O'Clock; Game Theory), and a few others, got together and recorded this nine-song LP of covers - they do a beautiful version of "I'll Be Your Mirror." But it's this Dylan-penned song that I most yearn for -- it is gorgeous, just a beauty of a song and features Susannah on vocals. My daughter loves it, you can just see her posture melt into a pool of relaxation and comfort, she inevitably comes and hugs me -- and ain't that what the song is about? A must for any new-parent lullaby mix CDs you may make in the future.
Fun from the Five By Five EP, circa 1994. All the Pizzicato 5 rings true in our house. It's just fun dance music and my daughter loves to pretend she can speak Japanese.
Lastly, I bring you a taste of exotica. I must have heard this on the Re/Search comp "Incredibly Strange Music, Vol. 1." It's also on one of the Ultra Lounge comps, I think the Space Capades one. Someone referred to the shuffling toots in this recording as "synthesized farts." Kids love fart noises! A fun instrumental. Till next time...
I've posted about Paul Kelly before, back in October. He is among my most favorite singers of all time, and one of those rare artists who can do no wrong in my book.
There are very few of his songs that I would not let my kids hear right now, mostly because of intense lyrical content and the occasional profanity.
Anyway, the reason I'm repeating myself is because Kelly just posted a brilliant new song, performed live in his living room, to YouTube. It's about a famous Australian cricket player named Shane Warne. The guy may be the greatest leg-spin bowler in cricket history (whatever that means), but he sounds like kind of a jerk in his personal life.
Leave it to Paul Kelly, though, to create an earworm that will be stuck in my head for the next few days. It's a lovely, simple sound, and I hope he records an entire CD with the two musicians on this track. One warning... There's a short line about Warne having "quite a lot of sex." Don't know about you, but I'm not ready to have The Talk with my kids just yet, so they won't be hearing this song for awhile.
Here's the video... Enjoy:
The man does love his cricket. Here's his classic song about the greatest batsman of all time, Sir Donald Bradman.
We've had a great week. Kindergarten went to the San Diego Symphony and saw a terrific program: the orchestra played soundtrack hits from Harry Potter, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars. They did this bit, too, where they invited a movie composer, whose name I have forgotten, on stage. He showed a clip from a Christian Slater film with no music on the big screen. And then the orchestra played two different pieces of music live to the film clip. The first was all upbeat and the second sort of sinister, the idea being that the music played can change how you feel about a character or the scene or whatever is happening on screen. I thought it'd be over their heads (they were the youngest in a crowd that went up to 5th grade) but when we got home, my daughter explained it to my husband pretty accurately, so hey. Very cool. Then this past weekend, my daughter tried skiing for the first time. And she did pretty well, or so I am told, I missed the whole damn thing.
I know many of you have really dug the Soft Lightes that we've played here. You should know, the new CD "Say No to Being Cool , Say Yes to Being Happy " will be released today, February 13th on Modular records. Buy it! It is gonna be fabulous for the whole family and they are nice people, too.
And since I haven't posted in awhile, here are just some random yet magically delicious songs that you may like. The Billy Bragg / Wilco track is one of our most favorites from the Mermaid Avenue CD (the first one) of Woody Guthrie words. I found the Hanky and Panky on some Swedish blog, it's very weird, but silly. And Aretha needs no intro.
I have posted MP3s for sampling purposes. Many are old school and not available on CD. But some aren't. Some are current. Support the bands you like by buying their CDs, seeing them live, wearing their tees. I'm gonna leave songs up for about a week or so. Then, poof. If you own the song and object to it's placement here, by all means, let me know. I'm happy to remove.
