A new Mother's Day song from Ralph and Ralph, free for the asking. I'm guessing that the moms out there would probably prefer something more substantial than, you know, an mp3, but maybe the non-moms out there can play it while bringing in breakfast in bed. Not found on their debut Opposites, the band is, I believe, the first family musicians to work in the word "dissed" in a kids song. Go to the website and click on "Free Download."
Share: "Zudio" - Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem
A lot of Zooglobble readers probably already know about Many Hands: Family Music from Haiti, the compilation produced by Dean Jones and released on the newly-formed Spare the Rock Records label. It's got a crazy-good lineup -- Dan Zanes, Pete Seeger, Elizabeth Mitchell, They Might Be Giants, and tons more -- and will benefit the Haitian People's Support Project, which supports nutritional and educational programs in orphanages, schools, and temporary shelters throughout Haiti.
Almost all of the music is new, and if the rest is as good as the free track from Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem that they're offering, it's gonna be a splendid disk. Rani and her band turn in a swinging version of "Zudio." Some of you may recognize it as "Sodeo" from one of Raffi's early, classic disks. I really like his version, but I like this one from the front, from the back, and the side side side. Stream or download the mp3 here.Share: "In My Pocket" - Sugar Free Allstars
Their first album Dos Ninos was a sweet little disk, and now Oklahoma's Sugar Free Allstars have a new album on its way. It's called Funky Fresh and Sugar Free, and it hits April 30. I just pointed out the new video for "Rock Awesome," and now, courtesy of the band, I get to introduce you to a free download of one the new album's funky tracks. It's called "In My Pocket," and it has more strut and attitude than a whole horn section of roosters. Enjoy.
If you want to stream more tracks from the new album go here.
Photo credit: Candi Coffman-McKinneyShare: "There Is No Away" - Uncle Rock
I don't talk a lot about Earth Day here at Zooglobble, not because I hate the Earth ("dude, what a loser planet that is") but because much of the Earth Day-related music that crosses my desk is dull, tuneless, and/or unbearably preachy.
One of the exceptions is Uncle Rock's "There Is No Away," a graceful waltz about the permanence of trash featuring stringed accompaniment and Elizabeth Mitchell. I suppose Robert could sing the classifieds accompanied by strings and Elizabeth Mitchell and and I'd probably write about it here, but the gracefulness of the song helps keep it away from the "unbearably preachy" camp. (It fits well within the big picture of the latest Uncle Rock album, er, The Big Picture, which has a few more songs with an environmental awareness.)
Even better, for a limited time, you can download the mp3 for free from Uncle Rock's homepage. Mp3s are mostly waste-free after all (more so, I suppose, if you're solar-powered).Because I'm All About Kids Music Battles to the Death
Really, why stop with kids music videos?
You may remember last year, when Gustafer Yellowgold (AKA Morgan Taylor) faced off against the Flannery Brothers for supremacy in the 2008 edition of the John Lennon Songwriting Competition. (The Flannery Brothers took that round, and they really haven't stopped to breathe since.)
Well, the battle of the bands is back, this year featuring Australian Kate Rowe and her song "Space Rabbits of Brocklevoons" against Lanny Sherwin and his tune "A Cappella" from his 2009 album Meltdown!.
"Apples and oranges" is an appropriate phrase here, because Rowe's song is a silly story song while Sherwin's is a very meta (but effective) song about, well, singing a cappella. As for me, I vote Sherwin, but it's not an easy call. Should you care to make your voice heard, you can vote here once a day through April 27th. Vote early, vote often.
A couple other points worth mentioning while we're on the subject of songwriting competitions and this one in particular...
1) You could put together a nice little compilation of free mp3s from those available on the site -- besides last year's and this year's championship battles, you can find tracks from Princess Katie and Racer Steve, more from Gustafer Yellowgold, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Eric Herman ("The Elephant Song"!), Kristin Andreassen, and more.
2) The International Songwriting Competition also has a kids music competition -- oddly enough their list of finalists for the category doesn't include any crossover with the Lennon competition. There's music there from Jon Samson, Bill Harley, and Andrew Queen. (But when I say "music there," I don't really mean that. No mp3s. In this particular equation, John Lennon > International.)
Share: "Peanut Butter" - Jim "Mr. Stinky Feet" Cosgrove
Do you have any favorite sandwiches?
Typically, I like my peanut sandwiches without additions, but perhaps you'd like a PEANUT BUTTER AND FREE sandwich. Jim "Mr. Stinky Feet" Cosgrove is offering a download of his song "Peanut Butter" from Mr. Stinky Feet's Road Trip to celebrate "National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day." (Who knew?) Anyway, it's today, April 2, so I think the free download code for the groovy song (there on the page above) Jim's offering won't last for long...
