Fascinating Creatures

Bill over at Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child sent me the Frances England song "Charlie Parker" a long time ago. He loves this album and I understand why. Now. See, I didn't love the Parker song and so I dismissed it as a rare fluke where Bill and I don't see eye to eye. Then Frances herself wrote me and offered up the CD. I took it, kind of hoping that maybe I just didn't like the one song and the rest would be delightful. And that's pretty much what happened.

Frances England comes to us by way of San Francisco and this CD is meant for children with its tunes about bicycles and trains and pancakes and kid books. And you know, I'm not a lover of the genre "kids music." But this one is sweet and a little sassy and purty and smart. And I do applaud musicians who like connecting with children and families who are trying to do something other than what is expected (i.e., either cartoonish, sappy-gross or Kidz Bop-esque.) And I think when my daughter gets off her rock kick (perhaps the same one Aiden, son of Zak, my guest poster later on the week is on) she is going to really like this gal's voice and this CD. But I can't tell you what she thinks of it currently, because she just wants to listen to Blur and the rocking-est Ben Folds songs right now. I still don't feel the love for the Charlie Parker song. Sorry! But the Daddy song is tops as are the lover-ly two I have posted here today. So, end result is that if you actually have children, even young children, and aren't just here for curiosity sake, I recommend this one to you as a cool down, back porch, rainy day kind of CD. She got a lovely write up too, in the hipster parenting magazine, Cookie. That was nice to see, I hope it spikes her CD sales, I think she deserves it.

Unrelated side note: When I was in the hospital, my hubby brought over my iPod. I couldn't listen to it. I tried once, but it was too much. When you're raw like that music can be wonderful and soothing or help you express feelings that you aren't otherwise able, but for me, it just made the floodgates open and I was not ready for that. So I put it, and my music, away. Until this past weekend.

We got the Golden Smog CD, Another Fine Day on Friday. If you read this with any regularity, you know, I kind of think Jeff Tweedy is a genius. And Golden Smog does claim as a member Jeff Tweedy. And he's great here, for sure. But the combination of Gary Louris (another one of my most favorite voices, ever) and Kraig Jarrett Johnson and Dan Murphy and Tweedy singing is just well, it really does I think physically, warm my heart. I think this CD is just phenomenal, fun exuberance in musical form. I highly recommend it. My favorite two tracks right now are "Corvette," a retro rocker that is to me, unexpected and the title track, which I present to you here because, it's how I feel most of the time these days. At once completely lost and oddly thankful. I love how Gary (lead) and Tweedy (back-up) seem to almost be singing the chorus through gritted teeth (or maybe that's just how I'm singing along.) And the drums, well those are provided by Jody Stephens (Big Star!) A gem from the swirl of the start to the bombastic chorus to the fuzzed out end.


Frances England, "Sometimes"
Frances England, "Where Do They Go?"

Bonus Not-Exactly-For-The-Kids Song:
Golden Smog, "Another Fine Day"

Just a friendly reminder: If you like these songs, purchase the CDs.

More about: Frances England, Golden Smog

Colours Are Brighter

While I was out, Heather of Fuel sent me a link to the NME article about the children's CD Belle & Sebastian are curating. Comes out in October and is called "The Colours Are Brighter" with proceeds of the disc going to Save The Children.

Here is the tracklisting:

* Four Tet featuring Princess Watermelon - ‘Go Go Ninja Dinosaur’
* Rasputina - ‘A Skeleton Bang’
* Franz Ferdinand - ‘Jackie Jackson’
* Snow Patrol - ‘I Am An Astronaut’
* The Divine Comedy- ‘Three Cheers For Pooh, Cottleston Pie, Piglet Ho’
* The Kooks - ‘The King & I’
* Half Man Half Biscuit - ‘David Wainwright’s Feet’
* The Barcelona Pavilion- ‘Tidy Up Tidy Up’
* Jonathan Richman - ‘Out Dog Is Getting Older Now’
* Ivor Cutler Trio - ‘Mud’
* The Flaming Lips - ‘The Big Ol’ Bug Is The New Baby Now’
* Belle & Sebastian - ‘The Monkeys are Breaking Out Of The Zoo’
* Kathryn Williams - ‘Night Baking’

Looks intriguing, no?

The Franz Ferdinand song, "Jackie Jackson" has made its way on to a few blogs and so I bring it to you. It's a novelty for sure, but darn it's catchy and fun. Dare I say, I love it (for what it is.)

Here's a hilarious bit of it: Snow Patrol (or, rather I think Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol) is covering a song by Ricky Wilde who is brother to Kim, who wrote "Kids in America", who recorded this bit of goofy crack in 1972 when he was a wee lad in the UK and here it is in all its glory. No, not the Snow Patrol / Gary Lightbody version. I have the original. Better? Or worse? Um, yeah.

Threw in Belle & Sebastian "We Are the Sleepyheads" from last CD, The Life Pursuit. No, this isn't the track they will have on the children's CD, that will be a new one. But this one is dandy.

Franz Ferdinand, "Jackie Jackson"
Ricky Wilde, "I Am An Astronaut"
Belle & Sebastian, "We Are the Sleepyheads"

More about: Franz Ferdinand, Ricky Wilde, Belle & Sebastian

I'll be back on Monday with some of the new CDs I've been getting while I was out. Thanks for all your lovely thoughts and messages. It all makes my heart pitter patter.

If I had a dollar for every post...

I'd have a hundred dollars.

Where have I been, you may be wondering. If you don't care and just want music, skip down to the bottom.

Here's the quick version: As I had mentioned, I had been sick. I landed in the hospital two weekends ago. Fast forward two + weeks, several days in the hospital, 4 catscans and one biopsy and I have been diagnosed with a weird rare "disease" wherein the thing that creates your immune system when you're a fetus is supposed to disapear by your teens but instead, well, mine grew. And now it's a tumor like mass in my chest. And it has to come out. Bummer. Please don't send me any freaky or weird or horror stories about such things. I can't take any more.

But I'm actually in good spirits because it could have been so freaking much worse, so let's all say a big halleluah and a few hossanas and move on. I'm back, for now. I will be out for a long time again, so if anyone wants to do guest posts (if anyone is still even checking in on this blog) then email me. I'd love to have some posts when I'm out of sorts.

So I'm gonna ease back in with just a couple of tunes. The first is an old NRBQ song that PBS Kids has set to their old promo from a few years ago. Originally, the promo was set to Des'ree's (whoa, that's a lot of apostrophe's) song "You Gotta Be." It's so interesting how a song can change the mood of the visuals so drastically. Anyway, the new version is played against NRBQ's tune "Only You."

Also included here is Michael Brook's "RockPaperScissors." It's a bit new age-y for my tastes and yet the chorus is sort of cool. Brook did the soundtrack to Al Gore's "Inconvenient Truth." And I think to the "Who Killed the Electric Car?" movie that I wanna see, too. This song sounds like a soundtrack to something. Anyway, that's Paul Buchanan on vocals.

Lastly, Phil over at A Family Runs Through It sent me a dance tune from Oh No! Oh My! that his kids like. I like it too.

NRBQ, "Only You"
Michael Brook, "Rockpaperscissors"
Oh No! Oh My!, "I Love You All The Time"

More info: NRBQ, Michael Brook, Oh No! Oh My!

** PS - To all you wonderful bands and musicians who have sent me CDs recently, I will be covering those next week so a big ol' thank you, they've been enjoyed, and sorry for the delay.**

random songs mostly from morning becomes eclectic this morning

In San Diego I can get LA station KCRW in my car about 50% of the time. It comes in and out as I drive through various neighborhoods and this morning, as I sleepily drove my daughter to camp, it was doing just that. But miraculously, it was coming in during the songs and out when Nic Harcourt spoke. I like Morning Becomes Eclectic and I like Nic Harcourt (I even once had a vaguely libidinous dream about him, but that is neither here nor there.) I have a few friends who think he's over-rated (too much singer-songwriter, the complain). They're crazy. Of course he's not gonna please all the people all the time, but he really does turn me on to music regularly that I don't even hear about on the 37 blogs I check regularly. Plus, hello? It's just mighty fine car radio, as good as it gets.

So today as I was driving back from camp he played a handful of songs that I thought worked for this blog. I got a few of those here. Plus, since there was a mild disagreement last week over good Bright Eyes songs and the tune Conor Oberst apparently wrote as a kids' song, I thought I'd post that one too. Judge for yourself.

You know, I don't even know what the Julieta Venegas song is about (save for being titled, "Song of Love") but it's so fun and peppy and I can't wait to add it to the soundtrack of my daughter's birthday party. Plus, the opening sounds just like "99 Luft Balloons." Tally Hall are just silly, but you know, my kid and me both dig the tempo changes and well-orchestrated pop. Plus, they did have one of these songs on the O.C. Tee hee. Dengue Fever is one of those bands I want to see live. I bet they are awesome. Anyway, this song also could be about terrible things for all I know (probably is, I'm sure some reader will inform me), but I love the gal's voice (although not featured prominently in this tune) and I think it would play well next to any of the great Bollywood tunes Heather posted the other day. And Rosie Thomas is a young purty thing and this is a lullaby. She's on Sub Pop.

Got to go, I'm hurting. Here are the tunes:

Tally Hall, "Ruler of Everything"
Tally Hall, "Good Day"
Dengue Fever, "Tip My Canoe"
Rosie Thomas, "Two Dollar Shoes"
Julieta Venegas, "Canciones de Amor"
Bright Eyes, "True Blue"

More about: Tally Hall, Dengue Fever, Rosie Thomas, Julieta Venegas (en espanol), Bright Eyes

Lollapalooza: MMJ >> Husky Rescue >> Oh No! Oh My! >> Wilco

Oh my gawd. My flu turned into a lovely respiratory infection so I've been truly down 'n' out in the worst way. But on this, the end of day two of my antibiotic run, I'm feeling well enough to post from the comfort of my bed. I thought I'd stick to my most recent theme, it's been easy enough after all. Bands playing Lollapalooza. I've got a few new-to-small-ages tunes and then I'm gonna re-share a couple of Wilco tunes, although I know I haven't posted one of these tunes before.

So here goes: My Morning Jacket is one of those bands that I think just sound lovely in the background, the kind of band that kids aren't offended by, but generally don't call their own (I'd say Built to Spill is in this category as well, at least from my limited experience with my own kid.) But then, in the middle of Z being on, I guess in the background, my daughter started singing, "Off the Record." She says she really likes it, so here you go.

I know nothing about Oh No! Oh My! and got this track from I Guess I'm Floating. But hey, it's a great one for the kids, ain't it? They're opening for the Flaming Lips on some dates, they are playing here in San Diego in August, playing with Jeremy Enigk. This song is so sweet and lovely and poppy. The other song I have by them is all electronic, although honestly, it's kind of good for kids too.

I've posted a Husky Rescue song before, the one that was on the Canadian kid's LP. I didn't realize how much I liked them till my friend Keith told me to give the Helsinki band another listen. Yeah, it's super pretty, loverly, delightful even. This song, while not my favorite from Country Falls (that would be "Summertime Cowboy"), is good for sleepytimes. Oh, and that's them in the picture, above.

Wilco, still my favorite band. They become more favorite with each release, if that's possible. My kid truly does love this band, she can pick out Jeff Tweedy's voice effortlessly when she hears them in a store or on the radio. I think I've posted two of these tracks before, they are two of her favorites. But I didn't post the final track, "Just a Kid" from the Spongebob Squarepants soundtrack before. Not their best tune (it's just a classic pop song essentially, no tricks) it's still a fun one, perfect for the kids in every way and it purportedly features Spencer Tweedy, Jeff Tweedy's son, on drums. Remember, his own band, The Blisters, are also playing Lollapalooza.

My Morning Jacket, "Off the Record"
Oh No! Oh My!, "Walk in the Park"
Husky Rescue, "Sleep Tight Tiger"
Wilco, "Magazine Called Sunset"
Wilco, "I'm A Wheel"
Wilco, "Just a Kid"

Hopefully I'll be good to go now that the meds are kicking in and I'll post the rest of the week. I have a few golden oldies (from my college days) to share.

More about: Oh No! Oh My!; Husky Rescue; My Morning Jacket; Wilco

Oh and look, my book got a write up on the Cool Mom Picks blog. Checkity check it.

Guest Post: The Two Mirrors, Pt. 1

** I fixed the Bright Eyes link **

Greetings folks. Zak over at The Two Mirrors has graciously accepted my offer to guest post for the next two days. Yay for me! Don't forget to check out his blog. (And marvel at the beauty of his children, at right.) And now, in his own words—

Hello to all you (sm)all ages readers. We over at the The Two Mirrors are huge fans of this site. My kids musical lives have greatly improved since I stumbled upon this site. I offered to guest blog over here to share my kiddies favorite tunes. I have a two part post to share with you. The first part is a summary of 3 songs written for adults that my kids love. The second part will be 3 songs written for kids that my kids love. Hope you enjoy!

Part One

So my kids have great taste in music. Aiden just turned three in July and Anna is just a wee 15 months. The both grew up with music always on in the house. For some reason both of them loved the Arcade Fire and Modest Mouse early on. However these three songs are ones that they are into right now.

Bright Eyes—Gold Mine Gutted
This song comes from Conor’s electronic album released last January. I may be the only one in the world who thinks this, but personally I liked Digital Ash better than I’m Wide Awake, but I digress. Sunday night at our house is record night. We listen to music as a family and the music reflects what my wife, the kiddies, and myself have been listening to through the week. It has been a great way for my family to spend time together away from work, school, tv, and friends. Anyway, every week record night begins when we play this song. My kids absolutely love it. Some of the content is not exactly kid friendly, but still we love it. Conor sets the tone for record night with this line “speakers on the tv stand, just a turntable to watch.”

Starlight Mints—Popsickle
This is becoming one of their new favorites. However, as you may expect, they both want a popsickle when the song is over. This track comes from the Starlight Mints debut album released in 2000. It’s just a fun little song with great melodies and an easy sing along chorus (the making of a kid friendly song).

Mates of State—Think Long
We love the Mates of State. They are so kid friendly and they actually had a kid rather recently. This record’s lyrical content reflects this new addition to their family, but their music has always been a very fun and poppy listen. And they do it with just keyboards and drums. The best part about this song is that at the end when they are singing “Think Long” over and over again, Aiden swears to me that they are saying Big Bird. Taken a listen and see what you think. Side note—they put on a fun live show too! Anyway if you are a parent you should own their new record Bring it Back.

Bonus track for the parents:

You want to shed a little tear? Listen to this track from The Mates new album. It was written after they had a car wreck with their baby in the car.

Mates of State—Nature and the Wreck

A feel-good CD, in every way

So I guess I should be posting something patriotic and wholly American today but you know, I'm not that sort of girl. Not that my daughter doesn't love a little USA call-out, she does, she definitely feels an affinity for her country and honestly, I'm unsure where this came from (pre-school?) Of course during the World Cup she loudly and proudly exclaimed she wanted USA to win, and when they failed fairly miserably, she quickly turned her attention to Italy because Daddy worked there when she was little and plus, she loves to go to Little Italy here in San Diego and eat gelato.

I'm gonna take another route and talk about something that I think is pretty patriotic in its own way: Down by The Riverside, a CD benefiting the Reuben Lindh Family Services. A CD the lovely Heather from I Am Fuel, You Are Friends pointed me to.

This Minneapolis-based non-profit fuels several pre-schools, parenting programs and therapy programs for children facing all sorts of barriers from the physical to the emotional (since 1969!) They in fact do a lot of "music therapy" classes there as well. And they have friends in many Minneapolis musicians.

The Jayhawks have a song, Mason Jennings has two (including "Mockinbird," with Amy Jennings, heard on the great radio show, Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child) and Semisonic have several in different formations (one as a band; a solo by Dan Wilson, another two with John Munson.) Chan Poling (of the old band the Suburbs and the new band the New Standards) is here, Adam Levy is here as is Robert Skoro (whose CD came out at the end of last year and I never picked it up, but it was nice, what I heard of it and I do dig his version of "Michael Row Your Boat Ashore.")

This CD is full of classic kid tunes, played close to the heart and simply, but without the plasticized layer of sugar that is most often found on children's comps. I'm not posting the other Mason Jennings tune or the Jawhawks song (even though I love it) because I want you to buy this one folks. And if you've got one of those active Paypal accounts from all that eBay-ing you do, it's a cinch and takes a minute and a few days later, bam, you have a nice CD in your box.


Mason Jennings, "Oh Susannah"
Robert Skoro, "Michael Row Your Boat Ashore"


Buy this here CD.

reubenlindh.org // newartistdirect.com

The Enchanted One, That's Me

So I've been down with the flu.

In July. In 90 degree weather.

So I'm gonna ease back into this with a post that I've wanted to do, but couldn't because the CD wasn't in its case (a re-occurring problem in our household.) Carole King did this children's record back in the 70s, when I was a wee one, based on stories by the wonderful Maurice Sendak ("Where the Wild Things Are.") At the time I was listening to my mom's Rolling Stones, Jackson Browne and Beatles records. But she got me this record and despite thinking I was too old for kid stuff, I was eight, I thought it was great. It helped that there was a book and a TV special too, to drill the stuff into my brain, but really I remember genuinely liking it. My favorite song was a short one, called "Screaming and Yelling." At the end of each segment, Carole King, as the kid Rosie, refers to herself as "The Enchanted One." That is the exact place where I envisioned myself as Super Clea. My family did a lot of yelling.

The whole thing is about shining as the star you are, self-esteem and all that jazz, and its presented in such a truly lovely manner. I threw in a few songs (including the classic Sendak story "Pierre") although honestly, I like 90% of this CD. It's so very worth buying but I did hear that Sony is possibly re-releasing it re-mastered? I don't know, I don't know that your kids are gonna know the diff.

Carole King, "Screaming and Yelling"
Carole King, "Pierre"
Carole King, "Really Rosie"

Buy: Really Rosie