Review in Brief: American History + Rock 'N' Roll = Deedle Deedle Dees

I think the world of Brooklyn's Deedle Deedle Dees for many reasons. Some of them are obvious -- catchy tunes, they RAWK -- and some are less so. One of those "less-so" reasons is that the band is so clearly following their muse, writing and playing songs that interest them.

I mean, I can't think of any other kids musician or band who would record a song about, say, Eleanor Roosevelt, as the Dees have done on their latest album American History + Rock 'N' Roll = Deedle Deedle Dees. But there it is, a dreamy song about Eleanor Roosevelt, getting advice about what to do as she was becoming First Lady -- it's a nice character sketch.

"Nice character sketch" is a good description for the Dees' history-based music -- rather than trying to sing about the big, important historical events, they're more apt to sing about the smaller historical moments or non-Presidents -- the saucy, horn-assisted strut of "Bring 'Em In" (a possibly true story about the pitcher Satchel Paige) or the party of "Tres Muralistas" (about the Mexican muralists Diego Rivera, Jose Orozco, and David Siqueiros). And when they do hit the people you're more likely to read about in a fifth grade history book, it's more about just trying to give the audience a little hook to remember the person by; in "Tub-Tub-Ma-Ma-Ga-Ga," it's remembering that Harriet Tubman led people by walking, rather than trying to explain (in song) what the Underground Railroad was.

Musically, the album moves from shuffling rock ("Little Red Airplane") to horn-aided Mexican-tinged folk ("Tres Muralistas") to punk ("Put on the Dress," based on a true story of -- and featuring on the record -- Bill Childs). The musicianship is solid throughout and I especially enjoyed some of instrumental flourishes (the guitar on "John Muir" or the piano on "Si Se Puede!")

Though the Dees have songs for younger kids (primarily from chief Dee songwriter Lloyd Miller/Ulysses Dee), this album is entirely history-based. As a result, while younger kids will probably enjoy dancing around to the music, kids ages 7 and up will most appreciate the songs and stories told here. You can hear some samples here and I highly recommend the song notes the band's been posting here.

These are not the catchy, big-picture pop tunes of Schoolhouse Rock; instead, this album is more interested in the nooks and crannies of history. I hope the Dees continue to follow their personal muses -- their music isn't necessarily for every listener, but it's vibrant. The fact that it's an excellent historical survey is just a bonus. Definitely recommended.

[Disclosure notice: The band provided a copy for possible review.]

Video Game Review: Lego Rock Band (Wii)

We are not "gamers" by any stretch of the imagination -- somehow, being the sole kid without an Atari 2600 on my block growing up did not lead me to overcompensate by buying every single gaming console ever made.

So when I was offered a copy of Lego Rock Band for Wii for possible review (it came out right around Thanksgiving), my first task was to, well, find a Wii. Which probably gives you a pretty good indication of my gaming experience. (Previous total Wii experience = about 1 hour.) But, having secured a Wii and assorted equipment for a couple hours and my friend Larry (along with his kid) to enjoy the game with, I dove right in.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the whole Rock Band concept, in brief it lets players "play" console instruments (e.g., guitar, bass, drums) and/or sing-along karaoke-style along with popular songs in front of animated singers. The more accurate your "playing" (i.e., press the correct colored button at the proper time) is on these fake, simplified instruments (or the closer your vocals are to actual notes), the higher your score. Basically, it's karaoke without the crowds and with points.

And, in this, the latest version of the Rock Band concept, animated Lego characters.
The funny thing is, after about five minutes, you no longer really think of the characters as Legos, but rather merely as rock stars who are pudgier and more fat-fingered than most. And while you might not think of that as a positive attribute, my friend Larry noted that he much preferred this version as a parent, mostly due to the less risque backgrounds compared to other Rock Band or Guitar Hero games.

As for the gameplay itself, Larry was surprised at how well the kids did with the guitar and drums and bass. (The game did work with Larry's Guitar Hero controllers.) His son (about 6 years old) and Miss Mary Mack (8) did pretty well -- drums I think were easiest to understand, with the guitar and bass probably equal in difficulty. Little Boy Blue (4) I think had more problems -- drums were passable (and who doesn't love randomly banging on the drums), but the rest, not so much.

As for vocals, I think that's pretty hard for kids, especially if you've never heard (most of) the songs. Heck, it was hard for me on the songs I hadn't heard. I mean, I've been hearing Elton John's "Crocodile Rock" for ages, so I didn't need the bar at the top to tell me how to sing "Laaaaaaaaaa la la la la laaaaa...." But some of the newer songs on the play list were an utter mystery to me, and my enjoyment singing those was much diminished. I imagine the kids felt the same; they rarely asked for a turn singing. But familiar (or easy) songs did capture some imaginations -- Larry reports his son was singing "We Will Rock You" for a week, which amused him greatly. There are 45 songs in the Wii version, so there are enough songs with enough variety to satisfy both your older classic-rock-listenin' sister as well as your 15-year-old nephew.

Here's a trailer for the game in French. This amuses me, because I've never really thought of the French as having a big gamer culture. Aren't they all doing parkour?

So, anyway, I think families who've enjoyed the Rock Band, etc. games but have wondered about their appropriateness for their younger kids will really like this version, though kids under the age of 6 will probably find little amusing except the animation. And folks who are new to the whole Rock Band experience will probably find this a good basis for deciding whether or not the series is for you. It's definitely got some allure for famliies -- it's no substitute for learning to play or sing the real thing, but it's an amusing enough diversion.

[Disclosure: I was provided a copy of the game by the game's publicists.]

A Sleigh-Load of Christmas/Holiday CD Reviews

There's so much holiday music in the kids music genre that just listening to it all this year was a daunting task. I've got eight albums that grabbed my attention in one way or another; one of them is bound to please your family (unless you're looking for a solstice, Kwanzaa, or Festivus album).

Let's start out with my 3 favorite albums of this particular season...

The most ambitious kids music holiday album of the year comes courtesy of The Hipwaders, whose A Kindie Christmas isn't so much an album of Christmas music as much as it is a Christmas concept album, covering the emotions and anticipation of the season. It's a collection of all-original tunes, done in the Hipwaders power-pop/rock style. "It's Wintertime" is a great dance tune, and "Santa's Train" sounds like an outtake to a Johnny Cash Christmas album, but my favorite track here, maybe of the season, is "There's Too Much Good," a very affirming sentiment at this time of year.

To say that the collaboration of Danny Adlerman, Kevin Kameraad, and Yosi finally bridges the divide between Christian and Jewish holiday traditions makes ...And a Happy New Year sound a lot duller than it really is. In reality, the three kids rockers mostly take turns in providing songs, alternately deeply sincere ("Starlight" and "Two Sets of Footprints") and goofy (the "12 Days of Christmas" reworking "A Pickle for my Christmas Tree" and a cover of Tom Lehrer's "I'm Spending Hanukkah in Santa Monica"). Featuring the season's hardest-rocking tune, the trio's cover of "Frosty the Snowman," it's an interfaith collection worth exploring regardless of whether you light menorah or advent candles.

Robert Burke Warren, AKA Uncle Rock, spent time in London's West End performing a Broadway show but also rocked in far earthier terms. On Express Your Elf, Warren taps into both of those performing personalities. On the one hand, he offers a crooning take on "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" and a peaceful "My Favorite Things" (a perfect holiday song, when you think about it). Those tracks share space with the rootsy original long-lost nugget "Santa's Coming in a Whirlybird" and a cover of "Feliz Navidad" that neatly weaves "La Bamba" into the mix. It's a tough (and close) call, but it's my favorite kids music holiday disk of the year.

There are others for your listening pleasure. Read on for more...
As opposed to the more "out there" aspects of the albums above, Putumayo's latest holiday album, A Family Christmas, sounds like it's been plucked from a random hour on your local "All Christmas All The Time" radio station. Except it's actually a good Christmas radio station. Johnny Bregar's take on "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" is excellent, and I have a particular affinity for Brave Combo's polka of "Jolly Old St. Nick." The rest is an appealing collection of secular Christmas tunes done in diverse styles which will help lots of folks settle in comfortably while drinking their hot chocolate and marshmallows.

You can play the Putumayo disk and never let anyone know it's a "family" disk, because it blends in perfectly. These next two disks, on the other hand, are definitely "kids music" disks.

Jeff DeSmedt, AKA Big Jeff, takes the all-original approach on his Warm For The Winter disk, with the exception of "Pachelbel's Jammin' in D," which you don't have to appreciate the title pun to appreciate (it's not quite a holiday tune, but Big Jeff's version does indeed jam, relatively speaking). It may be a bit heavy on the schmaltz, and there's no need, really for what feels like the token Hanukkah and Kwanzaa songs, but the middle of the disk, with "Small Flying Reindeer in the Sky," "Blue Sculpture of a Cow," and the aforementioned Pachelbel cut, is really quite good.

As with Big Jeff's disk, Jim Cosgrove's 2006 album Mr. Stinky Feet's Christmas is definitely geared toward the kids. More so than any other album in this list, it recognizes the religious nature of Christmas, with songs like "Prepare the Way," "Mary's Little Boy," and "Away in a Manger." Of course, it also includes "Hark! It's Harold the Angel!" and an interlude from Phlegmwick the Elf, so it's not an entirely somber and reflective affair. The production is a bit too children's Christmas pageant for my general taste, but appearances by the Kansas City Children's Chorus give some of the songs a distinctive sound. Fans of Cosgrove's genial good humor will enjoy the album, and other families looking for a mix of the serious and silly of the season could do much worse than exploring this.

Finally, I've already mentioned Hullabaloo's Holiday Hullabaloo album here and Todd McHatton's Christmas Songs EP here. I view these two albums as being on opposite ends of a musical spectrum, from Hullabaloo's folk-y covers of Christmas (and Hanukkah) classics to McHatton's psychedelic rock originals. I figure big fans of one won't appreciate the other, but they're both free and worth checking out for that reason alone, but they're also worthwhile beyond that.

Review: 76 Trombones - Dan Zanes and Friends

Let's stop for a moment to appreciate Dan Zanes' output over the past ten years -- 10 albums, 2 DVDs, a couple books, a ukulele, a Grammy, and the eternal gratitude of tens of thousands of families (not to mention dozens of musicians and reporters, who could always count on him for advice or a good quote). That's right -- in 1999, only a few folks around New York City had heard Zanes' "age-desegregated" music passed around on a home-recorded tape, but ten years later, his music's been heard Australia, the Middle East, off-Broadway, and, no doubt, a number of Starbucks locations.

Well, now with 76 Trombones, his tenth album for families, he's finally made it to Broadway, covering a wide variety of Broadway tunes owned by Sir Paul McCartney's music publishing company. He and his friends (both his regular band and a bunch of Broadway stars such as Carol Channing, Matthew Broderick, and Brian Stokes Mitchell) have given melodies from the Great White Way the house party treatment, sounding less like a formal musical and more like a local parade (a noun that Zanes himself uses to describe the album in the liner notes).

A key to any successful cover album is to find a kernel of truth in the song that the artist can then apply to their own style. Several songs here achieve that success -- the soulful rock of "I Won't Grow Up" from Annie Peter Pan, the parade of the title track (from The Music Man), or the jubilantly defiant "I Am What I Am" from La Cage aux Folles. And at other points, Zanes doesn't mess much with what's worked in the past, such as giving Frank Loesser's beautiful "The Inch Worm" a relatively untouched treatment.

It's all here, the elements from every other fine Dan Zanes album -- the guest stars in abundance, the song in Spanish (Zanes' and Sonia de los Santos' bilingual take on "Tomorrow" from Annie), the skit and duet with Father Goose. And, yet, the album didn't move me like Zanes' other albums have. I've been thinking about why for a long time, and I'm not sure I have a great answer. Some songs don't work great (the duet on "Tomorrow," Peter Pan's "I'm Flying"), and perhaps it's because although Zanes has some great singers with him, and while Zanes has many strengths as a performer, his vocals don't necessarily carry songs which were written to be sung by singers whose voices can be belted across a stage.

The best answer I could come up with relates to Zanes' own career and approach. When he released Sea Music and his Carl Sandburg cover album, those thematically and stylistically focused albums were interspersed between his five more standard "family" albums which culminated in the Grammy-winning Catch That Train!, which has to be on the short list for best kids music album of the decade. His concerts have been giant parties, melding cultures (musical and otherwise) and building communities. But his past three albums have been more narrowly focused -- a Spanish-language disk, a disk of ecunmenical religious tunes, and now this one. None of them have been bad, they're all worth just checking out. But it's been more than 3 1/2 years since the release of Catch That Train!, and I miss that potpourri.

Like with all Zanes disks, the idea of an age range is a little silly, but I think kids ages 5 and up will most appreciate the themes and lyrical sophistication here. You can hear the title track here or samples at all your favorite digital e-tailers.

I don't blame Dan Zanes for recording the album -- if Sir Paul McCartney's people asked me to narrate the phone book for an audiobook, it'd take me about 2 seconds before grabbing for the Yellow Pages. And I'm afraid that the tone of this review is more negative than the album merits, because it's filled with a number of really good songs, few duds, and is still better than 90% of the music being made for families today. I'm just used to Dan Zanes being better than 98% of the music being made for families today. 76 Trombones is recommended, though, and I expect Zanes' second decade recording music for families to be as joyful as the first.

Disclosure: Dan Zanes' Festival Five Records provided me with a copy of the album for possible review.

Itty-Bitty Review: Great Day - Milkshake

Although the Baltimore band Milkshake has always claimed to have a bit of an edge, I've never really heard it in their music. Maybe their music, shiny guitars and all, retained a bit of alternative rock, but their lyrics have been safe, safe, safe. Which is fine for some families, but I know others would find the band too sentimental for their tastes.

With that context, when I say that on their latest album Great Day the band roughs things up a bit, I mean that as a compliment. Some of the roughing up comes courtesy of the sound. It's still got a gleaming pop sound, but there's more depth this go-round. From the funky piano on "Statue of Me" to Cathy Fink guesting on banjo on "When I'm Old" (Marcy Marxer pops up on "Travel Far") to the "Day in the Life"-aping title track which ends the disk and everywhere in better, there's a bit of scruffiness to the sound and a little more stylistic diversity. Is that the doing of producer Tor Hyams? Who knows, but the band's got six members, and they're beginning to use that to their advantage.

More significantly, I think, the band's now tackling some more difficult territory. The album's best track, "Enemies," one of my favorite kids songs of the year, captures the weird feeling of occasionally getting really mad at your best friend while sounding a bit like a cover of some lost kids song from the Police. "Happy Place" talks about days that are anything but happy. There are still points where I think Milkshake retreats to safety lyrically ("Happy Place" includes the couplet "Reach out and hit somebody / But I can't cause that would be naughty") and your opinion (and that of your kids) will depend on whether you (and they) find comfort in that safety or dismiss it. But I'm glad that Lisa Mathews (who writes or co-writes every song here) is willing to explore emotions and situations that kids who might actually be in double-digits would find familiar.

The 37-minute album is most appropriate for kids ages 5 through 10. You can hear 5 of the songs (including "Happy Place" and "Enemies") here. Great Day has some of the band's strongest songwriting and the band sounds better than ever. While I think some families may still find the band too earnest, I think this album shrinks that population considerably. Recommended.