My first pick for album of the year 2009

Neko Case's new Middle Cyclone is a hauntingly wonderful album from the prolific Neko Case - she performs with The New Pornographers, records as Jenny Lewis and does just fine on her own as well. Take her whole canon of work together and you have an edgier 2009 version of Natalie Merchant. A bit of tuneful 10,000 maniacs with NP, solid solo work as Neko Case, and her more folk work as JL.

I'll give you all a track by track listing soon - but suffice to say, its capivating and hard to resist.

This month's picks

Happy Memorial Day! At the club today, I learned I had fans, or at least, a fan - that's you David R. - if you forgot, get Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips, it's their best work IMHO, and if you and Dad are feeling adventurous, try Skylarking and Oranges & Lemons by XTC.

Now for the rest of you - what's been going on in kindie rock land? Well the giant of all kids artists Ralph's World just released his lastest "The Rhyming Circus." I have not heard it, but I trust Zooglobble's review http://www.zooglobble.com/archives/2008/05/review_the_rhyming_circus_ralphs_wo.html and know it's on my short list.

I've also posted about them before, but The Jimmies continue to grow on me. It's such a great meld of power pop, kindie rock, and a touch of someone I cannot recall from the 80s that I love it. More importantly, the kids love it too. A & S each love different tracks proving (a) they are a band that appeals to all and (b) my twins are two different people. Hear more here: http://www.gimmejimmies.com/

As for you adults out there (and you David R.), I just got wind of the Foxboro Hottubs (the pseudonym of Green Day) which is one fun hot LP. I think I love it because it moves fast and dirty, just like Accelerate by R.E.M. Both are must have CDs or downloads for your summer roadtrips. And if you are downloading, spend the extra $1.98 and get the R.E.M. b-sides (or really splurge another $3.96 and get the live versions of 4 songs) from Accelerate which harken back to the days of Reckoning and Chronic Town. Redhead Walking and Airline are vintage R.E.M. which could have fallen through a worm hole in 1982 and ended up here and brand new. The whole CD is solid work, and those 2 tracks are icing on the cake. It's been well worth the wait. From there, I expect to shortly get into early dbs, X, Stooges, Television, and the Minutemen - all of which inspired these 2 fine releases.

If the late ska / reggae influenced music is more your thing, get Vampire Weekend. It had a huge deal of hype (i guess because they are Columbia grads with an indie-EP) but I think it lives up to it. It reminds me (and every other reviewer) of early Talking Heads, Police, Clash, and English Beat. Their self titled debute major release is worth the $9.99 to hear it all summer long.

Lastly, yes, I voted for David Cook. I'm thrilled he won. I downloaded Dream Big. It's a great cheesy driving song. Enjoy.

Peter Himmelman - My Green Kite

I just discovered the refreshing release from that other son of Bob, Peter Himmelman, called My Green Kite. If only Jakob Dylan would continue to write and record so well.

My Green Kite is Himmelman's latest kids album and its a gem. Himmelman has a long and prolific eclectice career ranging from the power jangle of Alex Chilton like pop, to new and traditional Jewish music, to some modern folk to the occasional kids collection. Pulling together the tunefulness, playfulness, and best elements of XTC to TMBG (They Might Be Giants) Himmelman puts together a thoroughly enjoyable set of tunes for all to enjoy. If the subject matter wasn't so endearingly simple and funny, he'd have a great release for us adults.

Fortunately for us, and our kids, Himmelman kept it for the kids. The title track, "My Green Kite", its simply great. The catchy chorus and cute air traffic control voice overs from the radio tower observing the kite of the song make it so much fun. Just as much fun on this album is "Feet" which as the title of most kids songs, suggests, is pretty easy to understand what the subject is.

My kids like it too. "A" says that the song about feet makes her laugh. She likes her feet and likes the shmendrick voice. "S" likes the green kite song because she likes green. and blue. and orange. and if the wind blows too hard she'll need bricks to keep her feet down on the ground.

Simple subject matters aside (afterall it is music for kids, not Radiohead) the voices, the tunes, the melody, and mood all make for enjoyable downloading for all. Available on itunes and amazon for download tonight.

New songs for vacation Pt. 1 - kids music

Just in time for winter travel, bountiful new music is available to share with my kids. My philosophy has always been "If I have to listen to it, I might as well enjoy it and create the playlist."

Just downloaded (as seen on my list to the left) are the three great songs from the soundtrack to Enchanted. Written by the great Disney team of Alan Menken (Little Mermaid & Beauty and the Beast) and Steven Schwartz of Wicked, these 3 songs are classic Disney princess songs which my two princesses immediately adored. The movie is pasable, but the songs are a heck of a lot of fun.

That's How You Know recalls the same calypso / reggae feel pioneered in Little Mermaid and True Love's Kiss is classic Beast.

Kudos to itunes as well for making the desireable songs downloadable individually as opposed to album only (which quite often happens with itunes). Three songs for 99 cents each - you cannot go wrong.

Next post - new Peter Himmelman. The son of Bob Dylan pens some great stuff for kids.