Most months, I come up with some sort of theme for this column, even if it’s a bit of a stretch (“This month: all records released by artists with the letter ‘m’ in their names!”). This month, though, I looked at what I wanted to tell you about, and couldn’t come up with a single unifying idea, except that it’s all a lot of great new music. So let’s get right to it.
Renee & Jeremy: It’s a Big World! This record is flat-out gorgeous. At the time they recorded it, Renee (Stahl) was pregnant with her first child, and Jeremy (Toback) had a 1-year-old, and the music has that utter awe so common with early parents, never more obvious than on the lead-off track “Miracle.” And sometimes that simple and pure joy is what you want, especially in what is in most cases a low-key (and low-fi) lullaby album. Musically, their voices blend beautifully; both singers have rich and expressive voices that put me in mind of Dean & Britta (formerly of Luna). Often, I focus on the more rocking end of kids’ music, reflecting my grown-up tastes. But there are many times (no matter the age of your kids) when you need calm. Too much “calm” in kids’ music ends up sounding like what gets called smooth jazz or, worse, Air Supply-esque soft rock. Not so with Renee & Jeremy. Following the tradition of Elizabeth Mitchell, Renee & Jeremy have put together the most engaging and lovely calm kids’ CD so far this year. ReneeAndJeremyMusic.com
Roger Day: Dream Big! Tennessee-based Roger Day has somewhat quietly put together a series of consistent, catchy, poppy family records, and his third one, the new Dream Big!, is no exception. He’s certainly not following the Ryan Adams nearly monthly release schedule – Day’s first album came out nearly a decade ago – but what he’s lacking in quantity, he’s making up for with quality and inspired guest artists. On his second album, Ready to Fly, he had Nanci Griffith and the Indigo Girls providing soaring harmonies, and here, he has fellow kids’ artist Billy Jonas and the Crickets (of Buddy Holly fame) adding distinctive but compatible vibes. The record is clever, both musically and lyrically, and fits nicely on your shelf (or in your iTunes playlists) next to Steve Weeks’s folk-pop. Roger Day isn’t creating a new genre or breaking all the rules – instead, he’s put together a really consistent and fun album that will get you and your kids moving with strong songwriting, performances, and production values. (RogerDay.com)
Joe McDermott: Everybody Plays Air Guitar Like Roger Day, Joe McDermott has been playing music for families for quite a while. McDermott’s music is country-tinged (he’s based in Austin, Texas) but only a bit. What’s really central to his writing is storytelling and humor. McDermott is a former preschool teacher, and that one-to-one connection with kids comes through in his songs. Not everything works perfectly (in particular, “Sport Comes to the Rescue” draws my finger to the “skip” button most every time), but almost everything clicks. The title track, sort of an “Everybody Poops” for the potty-trained set, tells you what’s coming: silly and well-crafted songs that stand up to repeated listenings. That tone stays consistent throughout, with “Our Family Car Is a Helicopter,” “Ride, Ride, Ride,” and “Roller Coaster” in particular standing out. (JoeMcDermottMusic.com)
Hullabaloo: Hey, Everybody! This San Diego duo performs what they call “organic, free-range kid-folk.” If you like your granola rolled up in a big ball o’ laughs and rhythm, this one is for you. Like their last album, Sing Along with Sam, Hey, Everybody! is amusing but a little more complex as well, with the addition of more guest musicians introducing more depth. While there’s nothing earth-shatteringly new or radical here, Hullabaloo has goofy and sometimes sweet lyrics, with performances and production that give you that chill like you’re in the room with some very skilled musicians. It’s not flashy, but it manages to be compelling and foot-stomping at the same time. (HullabalooBand.com)
Other new-album picks: Monty Harper: Get a Clue! (witty reading-oriented songs, featuring ScribbleMonster on one song, MontyHarper.com); Little Nashville (new country for kids, but a lot better than that sounds, LittleNashvilleMusic.com); Robbi K: Music Makes Me Happy (world music with strong Ella Fitzgerald influences blending in classic jazz,
HiRobbi.com).
Bill Childs is a law professor in western Massachusetts, but still proudly answers, “Minnesota!” when asked where he’s from. He and his 8-year-old daughter produce a kids’ music radio show, “Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child,” weekly; check it out at SpareTheRock.com. Contact him at show@sparetherock.com and let him know about your favorite artists.
