The 2008 Birthday CD

Well friends, this is the annual CD that started it all and led to the blog. The annual mix cd that we give out at the twins' birthday party. It's a hot item and people long to collect them. It's whole premise has always been to provide music that isn't the same old tripe that's been put out for kids for years, nor is it music that is older than them.

This is true "kindie rock".

The songs have been vetted by my kids and they give them the thumbs up or down of approval. This year has expecially been put together by A&S - so yes some of the songs may be a bit naseating for some adults, but all in all, they represent the great movement that has exploded in kids music, fortunately around the same time our kids were born.

This year has a bare theme of pirates - we have 3 songs about pirates on the cd. The girls wanted a pirate party and for about 6 months we were geared up to something ridiculous at home. Fortunately, the pirate ship at Ultimate Play Zone did the trick.

So, without further ado (and a hearty welcome to you first time readers - explore the blog, you'll get some great music tips for you and your kids) - behind the CD 2008. Post your comments, tell me what you liked!

1. Pirates - Milkshake (from the album Play!) Milkshake also coincided with our own discovery of Kindie Rock. Lisa & Michael from Milkshake have been putting together great kids music for years now and I make it point to include their work on my cd. We're all big fans and whatever we can do to promote them is great. Go to milkshakemusic.com to hear and see more video.

2. My Green Kite – Peter Himmelman (from the album My Green Kite). As I previously wrote, in December 2007, the other son of Bob has put together a wonderful album full of funny songs that you can easily sing along to and that are smarter than the average bear. My Green Kite was even nominated for a grammy this year. It's solid. Check out www.peterhimmelman.com/kids.html for more as well as a link to free podcast of Peter playing some songs for the Land of Nod.

3. That’s How You Know – Amy Adams (from Enchanted OST). This song comes on from Disney's very funny Enchanted movie and the whole family starts singing. The steel drum and calypso sounds make this a perfect Disney song, even if the movie has its tounge firmly planted in cheek. Read my review from December 2007 as well, and go rent the movie.


4. What’s On Your Shirt? - The Jimmies (from Make Your Own Someday). Sounding a lot like early 80s alternapunk on some tracks, and sweet sing-a-long on others, The Jimmies come from NYC and deliver a great CD for the family. This track is the first my kids heard from it and they love it, especially the stains on the shirt. Look up http://www.gimmejimmies.com/ or their myspace page for more. The Jimmies are going to be hot - you heard it hear first.


5. Energy – The Apples In Stereo (from New Magnetic Wonder). Not a kids song, but my kids adore it. Its simple, catchy, Polyphonic Spree meets TMBG meets Schoolhouse Rock. If you like the weird brilliance of The Flaming Lips, then this is my present to you. http://www.applesinstereo.com/


6. High Five! – They Might Be Giants (from Here Come The 123's). Certainly this year's most hyped product, the band that many of us grew up with from the '80s has finally refined its kids product for our kids and manages to put together a canon of songs that fits neatly with much of their work. Sure, some of it is absurd, some of it drives my wife nuts, but the twins adore the cd. It's a new Schoolhouse Rock for a new century. Read my review http://finestworksongs.blogspot.com/2008/02/here-come-123s-they-might-be-giants.html and enjoy this hip disco single. View the video here


7. Let’s Go Everywhere – Medeski, Martin & Wood (from Let's Go Everywhere). Let's just start by saying that I have loved this jazz funk trio for 15 years since I saw them at CBGB's (yes I am dropping names). The fact they came up with a jazz funk disc, for kids, makes them awesomer. This modern update of the Johnny Cash classic (see track 18) is a hoot. Read the review http://finestworksongs.blogspot.com/2008/03/mmws-letmusic-for-kids-and-you-as-well.html and enjoy the music!


8. Smile Smile Smile – Dan Zanes & Friends (from Night Time!). I didn't "get" the Dan Zanes phenomenon when I first started listening 5 years ago. Maybe I wasn't ready for it, maybe it was the hype. Night Time! brought me around - this a great CD for your kids. This lead single, which gets lots of play on Disney, is a treat. It's just right for this age group and its sweet and safe. Musically, its real sharp.


9. Spanimals – The Jimmies. What makes this track standout is the cool latin salsa beat, the smart use of spanish to teach animals, and the excellent video that is way too cool for kids. Available on youtube, at their website http://www.gimmejimmies.com/spanimals.html, or here

10. Don’t Let Us Bug Ya – Andy Partridge (from The Best of The Land of Nod Store Music, Vol. 2). Here's a hard to find track, from the hard to find genius behind the great 80s band XTC. Partridge apparrently put together a proposed soundtrack to a kids movie that got scrapped. The songs however, are fine XTC work aimed at kids, and their parents.

11. Birthday - Milkshake (unreleased). Milkshake did a set of songs for Discovery's Todd's World, Noggin's Jack's Big Music Show, and PBS. This was one of them, and its perfect for the Cd. Thanks Lisa!

12. Feet – Peter Himmelman "Shmendick loves his feet" and so do my kids.

13. Pirate Girls Nine – They Might Be Giants Admittedly, this may be the song that has you question my choices - but its catchy, its quirky, it has twins, and its about pirates, so it had to make the cd.

14. Beadhead – The Jimmies I see all these kids (especially the boys) come into school with beadhead and I thought this was a perfect song for them. Its also a bit more punk like than the other Jimmies tracks.

15. If You Ever See An Owl … - The Terrible Twos (from If You Ever See An Owl). This is a cool cd that came out last year. The band does double time as The New Amsterdams and they have a great accoustic sound. It's really an enjoyable chill out cd for kids that satisfies throughout. Sort of like Ralph's World (absent from this CD but due for new material in May) without the weirdness. if you like it, sample the rest at their myspace page http://www.myspace.com/theterribletwosband

16. Happy Working Song – Amy Adams Proving that this movie had a sense of humor, this track parodies the classic Disney clean up songs. If you've seen the movie, you'll laugh. Listen close to the words.

17. Down By The Riverside – Dan Zanes & Friends

18. I’ve Been Everywhere – Webb Wilder & The Blue Sea (from Lightning McQueen's Fast Tracks). Johnny Cash did it first, and this cover by country music legend Webb Wilder kicks some butt here. Between track 7 and this one, you'll have been everywhere.

19. 7 Days Of The Week (I Never Go To Work) - TMBG

20. The Na Na Song – Dan Nichols & Ei8hteen (from Be Strong). Isaac, the guitar wielding pied piper from the kids school plays this song all the time. What kid doesn't like to go "na na na"? http://www.jewishrock.com/index2.asp

21. Lady Bug – The Terrible Twos

22. Hello Happiness - Milkshake (unreleased). Lisa and Milkshake demoed some songs for Club Med this year. Our local favorites have become their soundtrack. You can download the two chosen for Club Med here http://miniclubmedsong.fullsix.com/. But with apologies to those who voted, and with thanks to Lisa, this track which is included just for you is the best one. Hope it sees the light of day one day.

23. Pay Me My Money Down – Dan Zanes & Friends I wanted to include the longer Springsteen version from Live In Dublin, but it was too long for the disc. The kids love this one anyway.

24. Pirates Don’t Take Baths – Medeski, Martin & Wood A second great fun song from MMW and of course is pirate themed.

The Bonus Track 25. Mr. Rabbit - Paul Westerberg (from Stereo). Paul Westerberg is one of the great songwriter singers of the last 25 years. Between his groundbreaking early 80s post punk with The Replacements and his solo accoustic work, I always enjoy Westerberg. I figured since last year's bonus track was Birthday Gal, an unreleased 'Mats song, you all deserve some more Westerberg. This one came from a 2002 solo release and stuck in my head. It's kid friendly enough.

See you next year!

What my ipod liked in 2007

2007 came to a close, and like everyone else, I feel the obligatory need to share my top listens of the year. I decided the best way to determine what made the top of the list, was to let my ipod tell me - what songs were from 2007 and most played? Admitedly, the songs which were uploaded to the ipod earlier in the year got more play than more recent additions.

Here's who made the cut.

Most played song: Ruby by Kaiser Chiefs (from Yours Truly, Angry Mob). Ruby is a great song and it surprised me, and pleased me, that it made the top of the list. Kaiser Chiefs is the latest in a hot string of the newest wave out of England. Ruby has a sharp guitar riff with some some la-la's in the beginning followed by a deep crooning Morrissey-like voice that reminds me more of The Smiths than much of his own recent work, especially with lyrics like "Due to lack of interest, tomorrow is cancelled." Then that chorus of "Ruby ruby ruby ruby" kicks in and it's so much fun. Right behind Ruby, ironically, is Dashboard by Modest Mouse (from We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank) with Johnny Marr, formerly of The Smiths on guitar. Maybe I just miss The Smiths?

Rounding out the top plays for 2007:

Weapon Of Choice - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (Baby 81). Catchy, fun, and I played it all summer.
Radio Nowhere - Bruce Springsteen (Magic). Certainly not Bruce's best, but a great throwback to some '80s Jersey rock (did I mention that I am from exit 9?)
Running Away - Polyphonic Spree (The Fragile Army). See post below, I love it, my kids love it.

Keep The Car Running - Arcade Fire (Neon Bible). In the next post, I'll tell you why I think this is one of my two favorite albums of the year, and the best band I've heard in years. This song was top of my play list for so long and proved that The Arcade Fire still had the ability to awe and inspire with their sophomore release.

Stop Me - Mark Ronson featuring Daniel Merriweather (Version). With so much hype about Amy Winehouse, the overlooked hero was her album's producer (her Phil Spector if you will) English DJ and producer Mark Ronson. This cover (of a Smiths song no less) made my top 10 in downloads and has the same groove and the same horn section (Brooklyn's own The Dap Kings) that made Amy Winehouse a household name. If you liked the Winehouse, you'll love this.

Bodysnatchers - Radiohead (In Rainbows). Simply stunning. See the albums of the year post.

Young Folks - Peter Bjorn & John (Writer's Block)
(F)lannigan's Ball - Dropkick Murphys (The Meanest of Times)
Take Me to the Riot - Stars (In Our Bedroom After the War)
Please Read The Letter - Robert Plant & Alison Kraus (Raising Sand)
Atlantic City - Bruce Springsteen with The Seeger Sessions Band (Live In Dublin)
Toxic - Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra (Hits The Hits)

Next posts - my favorite albums from 2007 with some surprises, some overlooked gems, and some really great albums; my favorite tracks and albums for the whole family.

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.