Here's a nice early Christmas (or late Hanukkah) present -- a free album from Lloyd Miller of New York's Deedle Deedle Dees. It's a bunch of recordings from Miller's community sing-a-longs in Brooklyn this November. They're chaotic, and I'm pretty sure that if he'd have done this in December (or January, or June) it would've sounded different. They're also lots of fun (who wouldn't to sing along with the version of "Wheels on the Bus"?), and I don't think that changes from month to month. Pick it up here for the price of an e-mail, or just stream it below.
Share: "K.I.D.S." - Luv Clowns
Trying to explain Luv Clowns is not the easiest thing to do. Or, rather, doing so makes the project sound really, really odd. Which it isn't. Quite.
So, simply put, Luv Clowns consists of four well-known Memphis musicians - Harlan T. Bobo, Doug Easley, Alex Greene, and Tim Prudhomme - whose album was released late last month on Goner Records. Oh, and they all dress up in clown costumes when performing. I'm not sure if it's a kids music album for adults, or an adult album (relatively) safe enough for kids, but I do know that the song below, "K.I.D.S.," is a bunch of fun. Stream or download it below, courtesy of Goner.
Luv Clowns - "K.I.D.S." [mp3]
Monday Morning Smile: "Tatooine" - Jeremy Messersmith
Ever since seeing him at SXSW this spring, I've been a big fan of Twin Cities musician Jeremy Messersmith, whose album The Reluctant Graveyard will end up near the top of my Top 10 list of non-kids-music related albums for 2010. And while I haven't had too many chances to mention him here on the site, this video for his song "Tatooine" definitely qualifies. At least, if your kid is at all a Star Wars fanatic. Eric Power sets Messersmith's lovely and lo-fi piano-accompanied Star Wars-inspired tune to the Star Wars Trilogy, illustrated via paper animation. The video justifiably went viral when it was released a couple months ago. Pay what you'd like for the track here (and you can do so for Messersmith's other albums), or simply watch it below.
Jeremy Messersmith - "Tatooine" [YouTube]
Christmas 2010 Family Music, Part 2
You know, I was going to just update my original Christmas music post, but it's clear that too much stuff is being released as singles or on YouTube -- it'd make that post unwieldy. So here's the second post. (It won't be the last, either -- more stuff is on its way.)
The Hipwaders' Kindie Christmas was one of last year's crop of excellent Christmas CDs. They've made the jangly "Wake Up" a free download for a limited time -- pick it up here. (Remember the video? Good stuff.)
This video from DidiPop is almost ridiculously cute. It's lo-fi animation but in all the right ways.
DidiPop - "Let's Make Santa Happy Tonight" [YouTube]
It's not a Christmas song, but as soon as I saw that Charity and JAMband was giving a song called "Loving Kindness" away as a free download this month, I thought it'd be perfect. It's based on a Buddhist practice, but I think it's totally appropriate for the season. Go here for the song and activities, or just grab the song below.
Putumayo Kids is offering a free download of "Jolly Old St. Nick" from the always interesting Brave Combo for the price of an e-mail address (here). It's from last year's A Family Christmas.
Finally, last week Brooklyn represented for Hanukkah -- this week, they turn their attention to Christmas. Dan Zanes turns in a very peaceful rendition of what he says is his favorite song of the season, "Silent Night." It's a very simple version (and video), but I like how Zanes retains my favorite part of the song when sung at a church service, and that's how the instrumental accompaniment virtually disappears on the last verse.
Dan Zanes - "Silent Night" [YouTube]
The Deedle Deedle Dees' Lloyd Miller also has put up some Christmas-related songs up on YouTube, including "Silent Night" (a little bit faster than Dan's) and "Jingle Bells". But I thought his version of "We Three Kings" on a very fuzzed-out bass was most unique. "Awesome," indeed.
Lloyd Miller - "We Three Kings of Orient Are" [YouTube]
The Hipwaders' Kindie Christmas was one of last year's crop of excellent Christmas CDs. They've made the jangly "Wake Up" a free download for a limited time -- pick it up here. (Remember the video? Good stuff.)
This video from DidiPop is almost ridiculously cute. It's lo-fi animation but in all the right ways.
DidiPop - "Let's Make Santa Happy Tonight" [YouTube]
It's not a Christmas song, but as soon as I saw that Charity and JAMband was giving a song called "Loving Kindness" away as a free download this month, I thought it'd be perfect. It's based on a Buddhist practice, but I think it's totally appropriate for the season. Go here for the song and activities, or just grab the song below.
Putumayo Kids is offering a free download of "Jolly Old St. Nick" from the always interesting Brave Combo for the price of an e-mail address (here). It's from last year's A Family Christmas.
Finally, last week Brooklyn represented for Hanukkah -- this week, they turn their attention to Christmas. Dan Zanes turns in a very peaceful rendition of what he says is his favorite song of the season, "Silent Night." It's a very simple version (and video), but I like how Zanes retains my favorite part of the song when sung at a church service, and that's how the instrumental accompaniment virtually disappears on the last verse.
Dan Zanes - "Silent Night" [YouTube]
The Deedle Deedle Dees' Lloyd Miller also has put up some Christmas-related songs up on YouTube, including "Silent Night" (a little bit faster than Dan's) and "Jingle Bells". But I thought his version of "We Three Kings" on a very fuzzed-out bass was most unique. "Awesome," indeed.
Lloyd Miller - "We Three Kings of Orient Are" [YouTube]
Share: Free Music from the Que Pastas
With everybody and their dentist starting up a family music side project these days, how can a new artist distinguish themselves? Well, I can think of two primary ways:
1) Write good music.
2) Give away music for free.
Enter The Que Pastas, a new kids music outfit from Denver, who are taking approach #2 and mostly hitting #1 while they're at it. While Colorado has a few kids musicians -- hi, Sue!, hi, Steve! -- Denver's been sort of bare. The only band I know of were the Hobo Nickels, and they're now defunct. So songwriter Gene Davis has stepped into the gap and along with some fellow musicians recorded a 4-track EP. A little bit alt-country, a little indie-pop, I personally most like "Common Denominator," which I think is probably is a poor base for actual math knowledge, but fun nonetheless. The whole thing is definitely promising.
Download the album for free here. They're accepting donations, so if your family grooves to the songs, drop 'em a buck or two.A Very Brooklyn Hanukkah
No sooner than I suggest that there wasn't much in the way of new Hanukkah music than I'm reminded of a couple YouTube videos and another song is released. Both releases, as it happens, come from Brooklyn and from folks who are, I'm pretty sure, not Jewish. But I think you'll like 'em regardless of whether you (or they) are lighting the menorah the week.
First up is Dan Zanes, who recorded a new track, "Ner Li" with collaborators Rob Friedman and Sonia De Los Santos. It's a Hanukkah song that Wikipedia reports as being popular in Israel. Zanes' version is characteristically lovely. Download it here.
Second up is Lloyd Miller from the Deedle Deedle Dees. He offers up another couple traditional tunes on his YouTube channel. Simple, but fun.
Lloyd Miller - "Oh Hanukkah!" [YouTube]
Lloyd's other video after the jump...
