Could Come True - Timmy Abell

Could Come True cover

Artist: Timmy Abell

Album: Could Come True

Age Range:  5 to 10

Description:  It is neither praise nor criticism to suggest that this album could have been released thirty years ago.  It was more than a decade between the release of this album and its predecessor, 2005’s Little Red Wagon, (which I think is wonderful), and the touches that made that album distinctive -- the nifty instrumental work by Abell and his accompanying musicians, the gentleness -- are here as well.  (You can stream the album here.)  The North Carolina-based Abell embraces the folk sound that has taken a bit of a back seat in a new kindie world (though in its guitar work “Long Dark Shadow” sounds like Abell pilfered a Dire Straits song for his purposes).  This is an album that celebrates dreams literal (“Daydreams,” “The Garderner’s Dream,” “Nighttime Train”) and metaphorical (“Fellini”), and its sound will be a tonic for families looking for a respite from a busy world.  Recommended.

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

Wishin' Volume 1 - Liz, Holly & the Jolly Lollies

Artist: Liz, Holly & the Jolly Lollies

Album:  Wishin' Volume 1

Age Range: 2 through 5

Description: Based in the Charlotte area, Liz Seegers and Holly Lorette are early childhood music teachers, so it's little surprise that their debut EP stays safely in that preschool age range.  Songs about transportation ("I Wish I Were an Airplane"), feeling OK when things go bad ("We All Have Bad Days"), a "Freeze!" song ("Wiggle Freeze") -- these are familiar topics for albums for this age range.

But there's something about this album that elevates it above a lot of the music I hear for this age range.  Maybe it's the slightly handmade sound, so it's not overproduced.  Maybe it's Seegers' and Lorette's voices, which are sweet but slightly nasally and sound lovely in harmony.  Maybe it's the fact that they offer up "Storm," which is more tone poem than song.  Maybe -- probably -- it's all three of those things.  Whatever, it just works.

You can listen to clips and one full song from the 16-minute album (hey, I said it was an EP!) here.  The duo is currently raising money via Kickstarter for Volume 2.  Based on the evidence from Volume 1, I'm looking forward to hearing more.  Recommended.

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

Because I Said So! - Big Bang Boom

Artist: Big Bang Boom

Album: Because I Said So!

Age Range: Ages 3 through 8

Description: Filling the niche in your family's kindie CD collection for kindie jam-band music you didn't even know you needed filled, Chuck Folds' North Carolina trio successfully translates its energetic live act to disk with a surprisingly heartfelt set of songs.  "Make Me" is a rocking plea from the point of view of a kid who occasionally messes up and wants (gentle) parental guidance; it's one of my favorite tracks of the year.  Is the band making fun of the "Hippie Mom" or is it affecting teasing coming from a place of love?  (I think it's the latter.)  The band's got more of an attitude than a lot of kindie bands ("Are We There Yet" owes its debt to the Beastie Boys in more ways than one), which sometimes doesn't feel quite right on an album that features a counting song, but is right down the alley of older kids.  Listen to almost all of the 28-minute album on the widget below.  (Watch "Make Me" here.)

The band took a big step forward with the album, it's their best yet.  Recommended.