Kepi For Kids - Kepi Ghoulie

Artist:  Kepi Ghoulie

Album: Kepi For Kids 

Age Range: 2 through 6

Description: Just like his Fun Fun Records bandmates Play Date, the first album from pop-punk rocker Kepi Ghoulie shouldn't scare anybody who thinks that punk rock isn't appropriate for preschoolers.  (That's not necessarily true all the time, but that's a separate discussion.)  There are some similarities with Caspar Babypants, and it's not just the bald head -- Kepi's album is a mostly acoustic poppier and goofier version of Mr. Ballew's preschool-aged tunes.  I prefer the CB stuff, but there are some really good tracks here, most notably the sweet "Moonbeam" and the lovey-dovey country-fried "Days That End In 'Y'," which deserves to be on some dopey romantic comedy (or kid-friendly comedy) soundtrack.  I'm pretty sure it'll give your kids (and you) at least a handful of smiles in its 30-minute run-time.  Recommended.

Note: I received a copy of this album for possible review.

Imagination - Play Date

Artist: Play Date 

Album: Imagination 

Age Range: 2 through 6

Description: Don't let the punk backgrounds of Greg Attonito (the Bouncing Souls) and Shanti Wintergate fool you -- the tunes here are, for the most part, very poppy.  As I noted in my NPR review of the album, there's a less aggressive sound than on a lot of punk records (and it takes a particularly mellow turn near the end), so if you're looking for a kindie mosh pit and outright rebellion, this might disappoint you.  But songs like "Rad" and "I Can Sing" feature a celebration of self-expression, and that's a pretty punk attitude to try to retain as kids grow up.  You can listen to the 35-minute album here.  Imagination is pop-punk catnip for the preschool set.  Recommended.