More! More! More! - Bunny Clogs

Artist: Bunny Clogs

Album: More! More! More!

Description: Oh, how I do like myself this here Bunny Clogs album.  The side project of the Honeydogs' Adam Levy, it's a deliciously odd mix of sounds, styles, and funkiness (would you expect anything else from Minnesota, home to both Prince and Garrison Keillor)?  "At its best, the album recalls the family-friendly community-celebrating vibe of Dan Zanes." (Read the full review.)

Source: Bandcamp

Swordfish Tango - Pointed Man Band

Artist: Pointed Man Band

Album: Swordfish Tango

Description: "A combination of Tom Waits and Shel Silverstein, the Beatles and Parisian cafes, the music smells of hardwood floors and flannel and wood construction blocks.  Let's put it this way - it's an album that besides featuring a song about an invisible duck and Western Washington witches, it includes a song about dancing without pants -- in French." (Read the rest of the brief review.)

Source: Bandcamp

Colour It - Helen Austin

Artist: Helen Austin

Album: Colour It

Description: Another album of kid-friendly pop from the Vancouver Island artist.  Like its predecessor, Always Be a Unicorn, there's a music-box quality to the songs, and a majority of the songs are essentially love songs that could be (or maybe even were) repurposed from an "adult" love song.  Bright and sunny, even in this, the darkest time of the year.

Source: Bandcamp

Be Alive - Johnny & Jason

Artist: Johnny & Jason

Album: Be Alive

Description: "Fuzzed-out" rock for your indie-loving preschooler from the Portland duo.  Also, for your Wiggles-loving preschooler.  (Review)

Source: Bandcamp

Color This Album - Chris Doud, Willy Tea Taylor, and more

Artist: Chris Doud, Willy Tea Taylor, and more (Heckabad Records)

Album: Color This Album

Description: The spiritual sequel to the classic Bloodshot Records kiddie compilation The Bottle Let Me Down, this collection of tracks from eastern Northern California features some of the finest Americana-for-kids you'll hear this year.  If you stream just one song, make it "Take You Into My Arms."  But don't stream just one song.  (Review)

Source:  Bandcamp

 

The Deep Woods - Red Yarn

Artist: Red Yarn

Album: The Deep Woods

Description: I liked the Portland musician/puppeteer's 21st century take on folk music that way predates the 21st century a whole bunch, so, yeah, I kinda think you and your family should give it a spin.

Source: Bandcamp

Marsh Mud Madness - Roger Day

Artist: Roger Day 

Album: Marsh Mud Madness 

Description: This album started out as a DVD -- OK, it actually started out as a glimmer in somebody's eye, then a live show, and then a DVD, but now it's an album.  They're songs inspired by a visit to the University of Georgia Marine Institute.  They're pretty educational in nature, and so I'm not sure there are going to be too many families spinning the entire album on repeat (except maybe those families headed by two marine biologists), but it'll do well in classroom settings and (for some songs) scattered through mixtapes.

Source: Bandcamp 

Can You Canoe? - The Okee Dokee Brothers

ArtistThe Okee Dokee Brothers

Album: Can You Canoe? 

Description: Grammy winner.  Winner of the Fids and Kamily Award for best kids music album of 2012.  Do you need further reasons to listen if you haven't already?  Really, just go. 

Source: Soundcloud