• new kids’ music Archive

    In our family, spring cleaning extends itself over to our family car, and that means swapping out our current CDs for some fresh new tunes. Just in time, The Little Rockers just dropped their third kids’ CD, Count Me In!, and it makes for a refreshing new sound. Chris & Jessie Apple are at it again with a medley of songs that are as diverse as its listening audience. Aimed at ages 2-6, Count Me In! contains plenty of catchy, sing-alongs that are easy on the ears and age-appropriate for the preschool crowd. From the opening title track, to “Wild, Wild West,” each track invites young listeners to use their imaginations and dream big. Whether they are greeting a new neighbor in “Hi, Hi, Hi,” [&hellip

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    When I first heard that Laurie Berkner was releasing her first-ever lullaby album, I practically ran to put on my PJs and jump into bed. Having spoken with her on the phone for an article in a local parenting magazine, I can instantly recall her soothing voice, one that would be ideal for assuring a good night’s sleep for any tired tyke. Sure enough, Laurie Berkner Lullabies offers up plenty of reasons to grab a blankie and settle down for the night. Among our favorites are  “Fireflies,” a nod to our favorite season and its magical creatures, and “Pillowland,” an imaginary place that invites listeners to play and dream. Astute listeners will pick up on two Berkner classics, “Under A Shady Tree” and “Five Days Old” [&hellip

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    I confess: I kinda like doing laundry. I find the chore of sorting colors and whites rather soothing and the sounds of a tumbling dryer, a familiar comfort. Because I wind up folding clothes during our nightly DVR catch-up, this mindless task comes full circle as my day wraps up. I wish all household tasks didn’t require me to expend that much energy (for instance, I loath loading/emptying the dishwasher)…as long as the batch of clothes I’m folding doesn’t reveal any mismatched socks. No matter how much my family tries to keep those pairs together, a lone sock somehow ends up without his mate, and that’s just no fun. Where does that illusive sock go, I sometimes wonder? Could he have taken on another persona, [&hellip

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    It takes a lot for a CD to earn its scratches. Well-worn records of my childhood meant they were played over and over so much, we knew the lyrics by heart. Bruised knees weren’t a sign of rough play, but having been pounded one too many times as we mimicked the drum beat of our favorite songs. Well, it may be time for my kids to rack up a few bumps of their own, thanks to the effervescent, contagious sounds of Josh & the Jamtones’ Bear Hunt! What starts out as ode to gospel with “Swing Low” quickly segues into a mix of storytelling and songs that make themselves known–in the best possible way. The title track takes attentive listeners on an imaginative journey that carries [&hellip

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    Who doesn’t remember the first Beatles song they ever heard? For me, it was “Octopus’s Garden.” While I don’t recall exactly how old I was, it was pre-MTV music videos and the visuals in my head stimulated my imagination much like a picture book might. For my daughters, both girls learned “Yellow Submarine” in their preschool days. A perfect singalong, this tune’s repetitious verse and rhythm is perfectly paced for the untrained listening ear whose just getting the hang of following instructions and paying attention. So naturally, we weren’t surprised when Caspar Babypants decided to pay tribute to these living legends with his own musical love letter. Baby Beatles marks the seventh album for this alt-rocker-turned-kid-rock-musician whose own experience as a Beatles worshipper dates back [&hellip

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    Don’t be freaked out by the title of this post. I realize I wrote about Halloween last time, and now it seems as if we’ve already fast-forwarded to November (heaven forbid!). Instead, we’re paying tribute to a quality with year-round appeal, one that never goes out of style, and that’s good manners. It’s a skill that (hopefully) our parents cultivate and that we continue to refine through adulthood (haven’t you appreciated when someone holds the door for you, or when another driver lets you out in front of him?). In our house, we’re “big” on saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ but generosity goes beyond those simple gestures. And that’s something wholeheartedly embraced by Recess Music‘s latest CD, Gratitude Attitude. Chock-full of a variety of musical [&hellip

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    I don’t know where I’d be without our public library these last few weeks. Given the unsettled weather as of late, we’ve been more book-bound than beach-bound, and that means taking advantage of the wealth of children’s programs. Today’s class was an unexpected treasure, as my girls were treated to a lively performance by a children’s musician I’d not yet stumbled upon. The aptly named Story Laurie was a sight for sore eyes…or perhaps it was the other way around? As she emerged from her tent and feigned surprise to her audience, we got our first taste of this silly, yet playful songwriter. What we liked best about Laurie is her down-to-earth way she relates to her young audience. Rather than just launching into song [&hellip

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    My daughter’s piano teacher recently enticed my 9-year-old with a new musical conquest: an introduction to classical music. Since the extent of my daughter’s experience in this genre boils down to the hold music on her father’s office phone, she’s about to enter into a whole new world of sound. Can’t say I’m a huge fan of Bach, Beethoven and the rest of the boys myself, so this should be a brand-new venture for the both of us. In the hopes of making this sound a little more accessible for our untrained ears, we’ve been listening to the just-released Young Avenue Kids’ Whatever I Want To Be. The genius of this CD is its clever adaptation, taking core classical melodies and putting a modern spin [&hellip

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    Still trying to come to the grips with yesterday’s tragedy in Boston, I had a hard time getting myself in writing mode this morning. But after dropping my daughter off at preschool and seeing all those happy, little faces, I found the motivation I was looking for. If reviewing kids’ products and working in the children’s industry isn’t a sign of hope and rejuvenation, I don’t know what is. It was precisely this morning that my 4-year-old and I discovered the just-released CD from Miss Nina. A follow-up to Singing & Dancing Together, Sha Doo Be Doop is a spirited release of toe-tapping tunes that can’t help give you a little bit of a lift. Miss Nina’s music teacher background is evident throughout this collection [&hellip

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    Musicians come and go, especially in the temperamental kid biz, but when a band has been around the block, we can effortlessly turn on their tunes and know we won’t be disappointed. One such kid rock band with staying power is Milkshake and the band’s latest concoction, Got a Minute?, is worth more than a listen. Like most seasoned musicians, Milkshake’s sound has matured over the years, but this release reflects a well-rounded sound to suit a myriad of different tastes. From the jammin’ “We Just Wanna Have Fun,” to the more mellow “Starry, Starry Night,” the band exudes a self- assurance that allows them to bounce back and forth between pop rock, to country, without missing a beat. With more than 30 tracks on [&hellip

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