What is in Seattle's water? Johnny Bregar, Recess Monkey, not to mention Eric Herman and Eric Ode... they're really approaching critical mass, kids-music-scene-wise.
And now there's Central Services Board of Education, an offshoot of the indie-pop band Central Services.
Go listen (and download, should you desire, and you likely will) their first four songs, which I'm going to describe as "Schoolhouse Rock!-meets-The-Shins." Or maybe "Ben-Folds-meets-Dr-Demento."
Or maybe "awesome."
With densely-packed wordplay and pop-cultural allusions, it's probably more for (or most appreciated by) kids ages 6 and older. My favorite track is "The Lonely Tomato," which somehow manages to be highly educational, metaphorical, and catchy all at the same time. All four tracks are worth checking out.
(And then go over to Central Services' myspace page while you're at it.)
Listen To This: "Juggle The Stars" - Charity and the JAMband
In time for Valentine's Day (mostly), San Francisco-based Charity and the JAMband have posted a new mp3 on their website, the lullaby "Juggle the Stars." It's a good song, but different stylistically from the funky jams Charity's best known for. (Makes me wonder what their upcoming album will sound like.)
If you're looking for a more uptempo Valentine's Day song, try their song "No Doubt About It."
Both songs are available at the band's Songs page.
Mr. David Frosty
I'll have more words on Christmas albums old and young later in the month, but for now, a brief note -- Mr. David has a new song up at his Myspace site -- "Frosty the Snowman." Available for download, it's a laid-back, slightly spacy take on the song made famous by Jimmy Durante. Sounds exactly what you'd think "Frosty the Snowman" sung by Mr. David would sound like. (And that's a good thing.)
New Ralph and Ralph Song Sounds Nothing Like Ralph's World
Remember the other day when I talked about Little Monster Records and wondered who the mysterious "Ralph & Ralph" were?
You don't? Really?
Oh, well, you're probably not getting enough sleep.
Anyway, I still don't know who they are, but maybe some of the eagle-eared readers out there can identify voices from the new Ralph & Ralph track posted on their "Sounds" page. "Ralph and Ralph's Song" is a slow, loping song that Randy Newman might write and includes the following couplet, which is either a 1) biting meta-commentary on the digital music distribution process or 2) feel-good life lesson.
"A record costs money / but a song is for free."
Indeed.
"Under Construction" = New Music
The new website for the Little Monster Records label isn't quite ready for prime time, with more "under construction" signs than Berlin in the 1990s. (Yes, I realize that Berlin wouldn't literally have "under construction" signs. Work with me here, folks -- I've never seen so many cranes in a city.)
But probably due to the low-key nature of this website, we don't really care as long as the content's good, and in this case, with mp3s from All Together Now (the recently-released Beatles tribute CD) and upcoming Little Monster releases from Robbert Bobbert, Gustafer Yellowgold, Soulville, and Medeski, Martin & Wood, the content's good. The Robbert Bobbert and Gustafer tracks can also be heard on their myspace pages, but the Soulville and MMW tracks are new to me. MMW's "Where's the Music?" is funky and amusing, and I like both Soulville tracks, too.
No, I have no idea who "Ralph & Ralph" are.
Huge In Australia
Before I get to the Purple Stripes, a quick story:
Shortly after the NPR interview, I got an e-mail from an Australian comic who was looking for a review I'd done of his CD here on the website. He'd apparently sold some of his albums at CDBaby from people who were referred there from here.
Here's the thing: I'd never even heard of him or the CD, let alone reviewed it.
I told him that if he got me a copy of the CD (which did sound like it'd be fairly amusing and even somewhat apropos for the site), I'd review it here, and then at least it would all make sense. Haven't heard a reply to the offer, though.
I bring this up as a way of saying I must be huge in Australia, because Karl Richter, with the new Australian label Bing!Bang!Bong!, is the first person to ask me to post a kids' music artist's mp3 here on Zooglobble. And since the song is from the new Australian kids' music duo The Purple Stripes, I said I'd be happy to oblige:
The Purple Stripes - The Circle Song (Too late!)
While my favorite song from their 2006 EP is "Bing! Bang! Bong!" (available at their Myspace page), I think "The Circle Song" is more indicative of their EP as a whole -- sweet female harmonizing in a folk-pop way, with just guitar and the bare minimum of percussion for accompaniment. Those looking for a kids' music equivalent of The White Stripes will be disappointed -- it's a little more of a blend of Laurie Berkner and Lunch Money.
Good stuff and a promising debut. Their EP will be on the iTunes Music Store soon.
