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.

Gruff Rhys, "Candylion"

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.

Jill Cuniff, "Happy Warriors"

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.

The Chalets, "Red High Heels"

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.

Gustafer Yellowgold, "I'm From The Sun"

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.

Rainy Day, "I'll Keep It With Mine"

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.

Pizzicato Five, "Twiggy Twiggy / Twiggy Vs. James Bond"

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...

Dean Elliot & His Big Band, "Lonesome Road"

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.

Paul Kelly - "Bradman"

This one you can play for the kids.

- Phil

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.

Star Wars Opening Theme
Star Wars, Imperial Walk Theme

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.

SoftLightes, "Heart Made of Sound"

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.

Aretha Franklin, "Mockingbird"
Hanky and Panky, "Ha Ha Ha Ha!"
Billy Bragg and Wilco, "Hoo Doo Voo Doo"

I've never pretended to be one of those hip indie dads who reject anything smacking of commercialism as not worth even a listen. I simply like the music that I like, and my kids are the same way. They don't care what label the singer is signed to, or how many t-shirts they sell, or even if "some producer with computers fixes all the *!$%#* tracks."

So when my kids tell me they like a certain song or singer, I don't argue with them about it. Even when I think it might be something I would personally dislike.

Lately my daughter has taken a liking to.... Barbie music.

Yes, songs from those surprisingly well-done animated movies, like Fairytopia, 12 Dancing Princesses, and The Magic of Pegasus. She LOVES those movies, and she asked if I could find the music from them.

And to be completely honest, I find myself enjoying this music almost as much as she does. It is what it is... Pretty melodies, simple upbeat lyrics, soaring voices...

This is what she wants to hear. And I'm as surprised as anyone that I kinda sorta like to hear it too. Definitely shaping up to be one of my guilty pleasures.

Music from the Barbie Movies:

"Theme from The 12 Dancing Princesses"
"Written In Your Heart"
"Shine"
"Wings"


Click here to find The Barbie Princess Movie Song Collection at Amazon.com.

- Phil