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Music to Their Ears
Time to add a few new titles to your kids' playlist. Let's face it, after a billion replays, some of their favorites are starting to make your brain hurt. Here are some of the latest from notable indie artists:
I Can Do It By Myself by AudraRox
This is about as punk as children's music gets. Clever lyrics speak directly to a kid's experience, with a wink to Mom and Dad, and just enough rebellion for everyone. Two tunes to turn way up: "Sugar High" and "Short Attention Span." |
Lullabies for Dads / Music for Moms
By Joe Milton / Debra Davis
When singer/songwriter Joe Milton became a dad, he found traditional lullabies just didn't resonate with his own experience. The result is soft acoustic guitar and sweet melodies that any dad can learn to croon along to. Moms will enjoy folk-rock artist Debra Davis' CD filled with uplifting songs about motherhood.
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Taxi: Music for Aardvarks and Other Mammals
by David Weinstone
This songwriter and dad's music is about kids and for kids (without an adult subtext). What started out as a class in a New York City restaurant basement has grown to include fans like Jon Stewart, John Leguizamo and Helen Hunt. Taxi, a collection of his 20 most popular songs, debuts next week.
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My Green Shoes by Miss Sheri
A saxophone-playing herbivore, a duo of singing giraffes, a bass playing ape and a cocker-spaniel drummer round out this musical mix. Hip-hoppy heart-warming songs will certainly make the family's feet move. |
Rockabye Baby! by Baby Rock Records
Soothing nursery tunes transform rock 'n roll classics into instrumental lullabies. The melodies are familiar but the presentation is all new – gentle instruments like the glockenspiel, vibraphone, mellotron, harp and bells create a soothing atmosphere of sound, letting baby drift away on waves of modern music. The series includes music from Radiohead, U2, The Cure, Metallica and others. |
Songs for Family, Friends & Frogs by Mr. S
This debut album from Ed Stankewick (aka "Mr. S") is full of guitar-driven rock 'n roll about superheroes, taking medicine and Frankie the French Fry. And Mr. S's chops are more than just musical – as a literacy expert and teacher, he knows how to get his audience rocking. |
Songs for Kids Like Us by Robbie Schaefer
This singer/songwriter for the critically acclaimed folk-pop band Eddie from Ohio presents his first album for kids. Clever, cheeky tunes include originals like "Carp in the Tub" (about a garbage-eating fish), and "Cowboy Bob" (who can only talk backwards). |
Spin Your Web by Mary Kaye
Maine native Mary Kaye writes lyrics that capture the essence of childhood with wit and warmth. With a rich voice (Natalie Merchant meets Carole King) and genre-spanning arrangements, her songs are equally pleasing to parents – from the boredom of being on an adult's timetable in "Waiting," to the irresistible, danceable silliness of "Let's Get Dressed." |
We Wanna Rock by Thaddeus Rex
The second release from Thaddeus Rex ("a rock star who reads") is a lively collection of original tunes that celebrate reading, imagination and kid concerns like moving to a new town ("I Don't Wanna Go"). Formerly a regular on the Emmy Award-winning PBS show "The Friday Zone," T-Rex is now touring full-time. |
World by Teacher and the Rockbots
For a generation raised on Schoolhouse Rock, what could make more sense than songs about math, science and history? Interactive "guess-the-answer" songs offer clues in the verses; kids try to guess the answers before they're revealed. This newest release is filled with facts about our planet (maps, continents, oceans, ecology) set to a cool modern rock beat. |
You are My Little Bird by Elizabeth Mitchell
A simple, homespun quality highlights Elizabeth Mitchell's extraordinary voice. Classic folk and pop songs, from America and around the world, are presented with a fresh and compelling style. Perfect for a quiet Sunday morning with the family. |
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