The Coloring Book is the New App

There are the high tech family music accoutrements (iPhone apps, videos) and then there are the low tech ones. Coloring books -- clearly the latter. Justin Roberts isn't the first to put together a coloring book -- I'm partial to John Upchurch and Mark Greenberg's coloring pages -- but he's released some fun pages.

My tendency would be to ask a child to use yellow for the Yellow Bus, but I know that's not right. Download the coloring book here.

Live Video: "Stay At Home Dad" - Justin Roberts

Justin Roberts played a show at Mississippi Studios in Portland, Oregon last weekend, and, against all odds, he and the Not Ready for Naptime Trio played "Stay At Home Dad." Wait, that's not unusual at all, seeing as he tours so much his motto may as well be "Hello, I Must Be Going."

... but seriously, folks, watch the video. Good rendition, and this post'll make a little more sense.

Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Trio - "Stay at Home Dad" (Live in Portland, Oregon) [YouTube]

P.S. - I love "Sussudio" and always have. There, I've said it publicly.

Video: "Trick or Treat" (Live at Kindiefest) - Justin Roberts

I know, I know, I've already showered praises upon the performance of Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players at this year's Kindiefest. But that original post only included a snippet of "Trick or Treat" and not the full song. Well, with Roberts' permission, here's the whole thing. Y'know, I probably could have spent most of the NPR review talking about this one song. It's perfect (almost too much so for purposes of this recording, as you can occasionally hear me lending vocal support), really it is. Only 3 1/2 months 'til Halloween, y'all...

Justin Roberts - "Trick or Treat" (Live at Kindiefest) [YouTube]

Review: "Jungle Gym" - Justin Roberts

I know already did a review of Jungle Gym, the latest album from Justin Roberts on NPR's All Things Considered. That is my review of the album and if you haven't heard it, I encourage you to do so. (It was written with the musical interludes in mind -- it's much better on the air than on the page.)

But.... with these NPR reviews, the time is limited and I can't go into as much detail as I would on the written page. So consider these the deleted scenes, perhaps. Just as good, just doesn't fit into 4 1/2 minutes.

-- The first three tracks are as strong an opening set of songs as you'll hear on any kids pop/rock record anywhere. They're also probably as strong an opening set of songs as you'll hear on any pop/rock record anywhere.
-- I can't quite express how much I love "Trick or Treat." I'm not the first person, but the ten or so seconds of music involved with the line "My brother stands on a chair 'cause he's shorter / Put every piece in alphabetical order" is so perfectly constructed that it is, without a doubt, my favorite musical bit this year.
-- While Roberts has written some classic slower songs, I don't think they're quite as strong here. "2 x 4" is a sweet little album closer about a treehouse, and "Never Getting Lost" has a dramatic arc for both the child and adult listener, but "Sign My Cast" doesn't do a lot. They're not bad songs, they just don't quite have the power of the uptempo tracks.
-- I would like Liam Davis to produce the next New Pornographers record. Thanks in advance, universe, for making this happen.
-- The album will appeal thematically the most to kids agest 5 through 9.
-- I go back and forth as to whether Jungle Gym or Meltdown! is my favorite Justin Roberts album. Which is sort of like trying to decide whether Exile on Main Street or Let It Bleed is your favorite Rolling Stones album. They're both classics...
-- Highly recommended.

Justin Roberts, Jungle Gym, NPR, and Me (Slight Return)

Heard the review of Jungle Gym, the latest album from Justin Roberts on NPR's All Things Considered last night? Yep, that was me. Welcome. Hope you stick around a bit and find even more music worth sharing.