I love when musicians I enjoy listening to decide to join the indie kid music scene; their new music makes me feel like I haven’t completely lost my pre-kid self. First it was They Might Be Giants and then Caspar Babypants (formerly of the 90s Seattle band, The Presidents of the United States of America). Lucky for me, Chris Ballew decided to hang up his alt rock persona and adopt the playful moniker that represents his new sound, one that car pooling moms are thanking their lucky stars for. Caspar Babypants carries his easy-on-the-ears style over to his fifth CD, Hot Dog!, which drops this Tuesday, April 17. Among the toe-tappin’ numbers are “Crazy Blue Beetle” (a preschool anthem for the stop-and-let-me-look-at-this-bug crowd), “This Old Whale” (a modern take on a classic kids’ sing-along) and “Lonely Glove” (best lyrics: “It’s only fair/when you’re part of a pair”). Because we’re already looking ahead to warmer weather, we couldn’t get enough of “Summer Baby,” a road-trip ready that takes us to our favorite seasonal haunts, from the swimming hole to the country fair. We can’t wait to pack up the family wagon and get out of Dodge ourselves, with this CD in hand.
In a Nutshell: Hot Dog!
is one satisfying musical meal that will get you through that next round of preschool drop-offs, playdates and wherever the kiddies are headed.
