Fids and Kamily 2007 Awards Are Announced

That's right -- now everybody knows about the best kids and family music of the year. Head over to the Fids and Kamily website for all the details, plus a nice essay from Cynical Dad. Amy and Bill and I discussed on this morning's Spare the Rock broadcast. For even more ramblings from the three of us, listen to the latest Jumping Monkeys podcast later today (thanks, y'all, for having us on!) I'll have my own list posted soon, I promise. Finally, big big thanks to Bill, Amy, and all 19 judges (including, well, me, so thanks, me!) and hearty congratulations to all the award-winning artists!

Even More Awards...

Not for me -- not even for music. If you're a fan of children's books (or, as those in the know call it, "kidlit") -- and I suspect many of you are -- the get yourself over to The Cybils, which does for children's literature what Fids and Kamily does for kids music -- picks the best of the year. Except you can help nominate the books -- until November 21, that is. So, go, go now and nominate. Winners will be announced on Valentine's Day 2008.

Dan Zanes, Grammy Winner

The 49th Annual Grammy Awards are tonight and while I missed the Police reunion (I'm sure there will be 14 versions available on YouTube tomorrow), I am very happy that Dan Zanes won the award for Best Musical Album for Children for Catch That Train! (review here). Wow, I've interviewed a Grammy winner. See a smiling Zanes and Father Goose during the ceremony here. Congratulations also to Bill Harley, who won the award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children for his album Blah Blah Blah: Stories About Clams, Swamp Monsters, Pirates & Dogs.

Not Satisfied With One Year-End Music Poll?

Well, how about this one? At the same time that Bill and Amy and I were putting together the Fids and Kamily awards, our Pazz and Jop-inspired poll focusing on kids and family music, the masterminds behind Idolator were planning their own poll. And despite the fact that I'm from Arizona, the state that spawned the New Times chain that took over the Village Voice, the New York newspaper that hosted Pazz & Jop for more than 30 years, then unceremoniously dumped Robert Christgau, who ran it all that time, I wangled myself an invitation to participate in the new poll. (See this NPR story for more info on the controversy.) You can see my album votes -- which are the same as my F&K votes -- here. (I though about reordering my votes in order to vote for albums more likely to get support from the rest of the poll, but thought better of it.) You can also see my Top 10 singles votes, which, since it was put together in about 3 minutes before deadline, probably needs some explaining. Not that those aren't great songs, but I think I need to put together a proper Top 20 list. Frankly, the most surprising thing about the poll? I wasn't the only person to vote for kids' music: -- Dan Zanes got two votes (though at the moment they're listed as Catch That Train! -- that would be my vote -- and Stop That Train!). -- Paul Westerberg also got two votes for his work on the Open Season soundtrack. -- Unsurprisingly, Bruce Springsteen placed high (#39) with his We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Session CD (Top 20 for me). -- Uncle Rock got a vote for Plays Well With Others. -- The Gothic Archies got a vote for The Tragic Treasury. -- Other votes came for High School Musical, Spongebob Squarepants, Aly & AJ, Jack Johnson, and Smoosh. You can also find some "kids music" listed in the Top Singles section. Next year, we're asking Robert Christgau and Chuck Sasha Frere-Jones to participate in Fids & Kamily.

The Best Kids Music of 2006

If you're looking for a list of the best kids and family music from the past year, look no further than the 2006 Fids and Kamily Awards. The website is chock-full of reviews and essays, including a downloadable songbook. You can reach all the cool content from this post. I'll be posting my list of the year's best albums soon, but in the meantime, here's my reviews of the top albums in the poll: 1. Meltdown! - Justin Roberts 2. You Are My Little Bird - Elizabeth Mitchell 2. Catch That Train! - Dan Zanes 4. Fascinating Creatures - Frances England 5. Animal Crackers - Wee Hairy Beasties 6. Electric Storyland - The Sippy Cups 7. Hey You Kids! - The Jellydots 8. Rock Your Socks Off - Charity and the JAMband 9. The Great Adventures of Mr. David - Mr. David 9. Celebrate the Difference - Terri Hendrix 11. Plays Well With Others - Uncle Rock 11. Colours Are Brighter - Various Artists 13. Macaroni Boy Eats at Chez Shooby Doo - Ginger Hendrix 14. Prelude to Mutiny - Captain Bogg & Salty (OK, I can't review everything...) 15. When I Get Little - Dog On Fleas 15. The Family Hootenanny - Various Artists