Listen To This: The Kingdom of Heaven Is Like This - Rain for Roots

Now, I realize that there is probably a not insubstantial portion of my readership with a distinctly secular/humanist/athiest worldview, and probably another insubstantial portion of the Jewish faith.  If you find yourself in either of those categories, you can probably move on, check out the site tomorrow.

But if you have a Christian faith background, and you're reading a kindie music site, then you should probably know about Rain for Roots, a Nashville-based quartet of women writing and performing thoughtful songs from that Christian faith background.  (It includes Katy Bowser from the still-wonderful, and secular, kids' jazz group Coal Train Railroad.)  Their first album Big Stories for Little Ones was everything their teaser sampler suggested, and their forthcoming album The Kingdom of Heaven Is Like This is another collection of lovingly-arranged folk-rock for the Sunday School set.  This is for fans of Justin Roberts' Why Not Sea Monsters? disks and Elizabeth Mitchell's more mystical/religious sounds.  Many of the songs, however, explicitly reference God and Jesus, so your taste in this music will be bound by your religious preference.

Listen To This: "Fireflies" - Laurie Berkner

Laurie Berkner Lullabies, the Kickstarter-funded lullaby album from Laurie Berkner, is set to be released on April 8, and we're finally getting to hear some of the music from the album.  It's the song "Fireflies," and if the rest of the album is as delightful as this one, we're in for a sleepy treat.  A simple a cappella melody just as sweet as "Moon Moon Moon," one of my all-time Berkner favorites.

Laurie Berkner - "Fireflies" [Soundcloud]

Listen To This: "Sing To Me" - Walter Martin feat. Karen O

Very geeked to hear the news that Walter Martin, the organist for the band The Walkmen (now on "extreme hiatus") is coming out with a new album of family-friendly music We're All Young Together.

When you hear the whole thing, I think you'll be geeked to hear the actual album, too.

But for the moment, you'll have to limit your excitement to enjoying this gentle lullaby from the album -- "Sing To Me" features the Yeah Yeah Yeah's Karen O.  If in fact you're allowed to be excited by a lullaby, seems to miss the point, right?

Anyway, besides Karen O, who appears on a couple tracks, there are a number of other guest stars -- Matt Beringer from the National, Kat Edmonson, and Alex Ounsworth from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.  We're All Young Together will be released on May 13.

Listen To This: Buy One Get One Flea Sampler - Dog on Fleas

It started as a trickle -- an offer of a free track, "Hinterlands," from the next Dog on Fleas album, punnily titled, Buy One Get One Flea.

And now, while I hesitate to call it a flood -- a stream, perhaps -- more music from the beloved New York everything-including-the-kitchen-sink band is making its way to the public's ears.

The sampler below not only features "Hinterlands" but three other tracks in the same jazzy, picnic blanket sound of some of the band's earlier work.  It also features the "Grand March" from Verdi's Aida, which you'll probably recognize once you hear the melody, though I feel confident in saying James Levine never conducted a version like this.

Buy One Get One Flea will be released February 2, 2014.

Dog on Fleas - Buy One Get One Flea Sampler [Bandcamp]

Listen To This: The Misty Cowboy and Other Songs to Dream By - Mr. & Mrs. Muffins

I talked with Mr. & Mrs. Muffins (aka Noah and Nanda Wilson) back in July on an episode of the Bake Sale podcast, and now, 5 months later not only do they have a brand new baby (literally), they have a brand new baby (musically).

That's right, The Misty Cowboy and Other Songs to Dream By is now available for listening (and purchasing in both electronic and vinyl formats).  It is, if you'll pardon the obvious adjective, a dreamy set of tracks, mostly instrumental, and lovely to listen to on a cold winter's day.  (It feels more Christmas-y to me than many holiday albums I've heard this year.)  Also: serious bonus points for including a cover of Mr. Rogers' "It's Such a Good Feeling" as the closing track.

Listen To This: Justin Roberts "Recess" Sampler

Yay, Justin Roberts' new album Recess  is out this week, and to further whet your appetite if you haven't already snagged your copy, Roberts has put a sampler featuring the first three tracks online.

Sadly, as the page notes, no pop-up robot included. 

Justin Roberts - Recess  sampler [Soundcloud]

The first three tracks from Justin Roberts Recess. Available now on Compact Disc. Includes a Pop Up Robot and special secret website access. Also available on iTunes. No Pop Up included.