Holiday Kids Music 2012 Roundup

You wouldn't know it by reading this space, but there's been some holiday kids music released this Christmas/Hanukkah/winter-holiday-of-your-choosing season.  Not as much as in years past, but enough stuff worth your time checking out (and my time writing up).

I'll be reviewing some albums in a subsequent post, but here are a few tracks to stuff in your kids' stockings.

Free Downloads

The Not-Its change gears and offer up a tender, acoustic... aw, who am I kidding?  There are loud guitars, natch.  It's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," not "Tip-Toein' Around the Christmas Tree." 

OK, for those of you who really did need a slower, wintry song, try Alex and the Kaleidoscope Band's "Snow Day."

Bari Koral offers up her take on the familiar gingerbread man tale with a zippy "Gingerbread Man."

Brady Rymer is spending his holiday season "Untanglin' the Christmas Lights," though the song seems way too happy for that frustration.  Available here for the price of an e-mail.

It's not quite a Christmas (or Hanukkah or even Halloween or Arbor Day) song, but it feels appropriate for the season.  SteveSongs gifts you "Our World" -- just click on this link to start the download process.

Streams

My favorite kindie Christmas song this year?  Groovy David's "Sorry Santa!" has a funky groove and horns.  Horns, people!  (Hanukkah 2013 is, like, only 11 months away, so save "The Great Dreidel Tournament" 'til then.)

Randy Kaplan delivers a nicely understated version of the classic "Frosty the Snowman."  With the harmonica, it's got a touch of Dylan.  (Again, Hannukah 2013 playlist early addition?  "Oh Hannukah")

Todd McHatton's Christmas Songs started out as a mini-EP, then over the years became a full EP, and now at 11 songs, I think it's graduated to full album status.  McHatton added another song this year, "I Think I'm a Christmas Bunny."  Download the whole thing for just $1.99, and as an extra stocking stuffer download "Ooh Shiny" (appropriate for a season of gifts and ornaments) for free.

Other Stuff

The great Gustafer Yellowgold (opening for The Polyphonic Spree's 10th Anniversary Holiday Extravaganza in six cities this holiday season) has been running videos from his Year in the Day DVD all year -- check out the ever-awesome "Fa and a La":

It's a little brief, but feel to check out the Spotify Holiday Kindie Playlist 2012 (or listen here in Spotify directly)

• The Laurie Berkner Band – Children Go Where I Send Thee
• Renee & Jeremy – Deck the Halls
• Mr Richard and the Pound Hounds – Up in My Christmas Tree
• The Jimmies – Mashamallow World
• Key Wilde & Mr Clarke – Angels We Have Heard on High

Finally, it was a one-time-only download last year, but you can always stream Kris Kindie, a fun collection of holiday music curated by me in a mad rush last December.

Happy holidays, y'all!

Please Release Me: January 2012 Edition

It's 2012, and time again for an updated list of new and upcoming releases, many of which were on last month's list. Additions to the list are noted with a "++"; changes to previously-mentioned items are indicated with italics.

As always, if I've listed you on here and gotten something wrong (or something not ready for primetime), let me know and I'll edit or delete it. And if you're not on here and think you should be, drop me a line, too, and I'll get you added for the next iteration.

++ Little Miss Ann: Walk With Me (Jan. 15)
++ Kidz Bop: Kidz Bop 21 (Jan. 17)
++ Two of a Kind: Sing Me Your Story (Jan. 24)
++ Tom's Fun Band: Macaroni and Cheese (Jan. 27)
Princess Katie and Racer Steve: Love, Cake & Monsters (January?)
Central Services Board of Education: Binary [tentative] (January?)
The Good Ms. Padgett: ... Tells The Little Red Hen and Other Stories (January?)
RhymeZwell: Robots on the Dance Floor (January?)
Big Don: Big Don's Brand New Beat (January?)
Riff Rockit: Riff Rockit (CD, DVD, Jan. 24)
Katherine Dines: Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta HITS (Jan. 31)
Ellis Paul: The Hero in You (January)
The Fresh Beat Band: Soundtrack (January)
++ Rockabye Baby: Lullaby Renditions of Depeche Mode (Feb. 7)
++ Farmer Jason: Nature Jams (Feb. 7)
The Bari Koral Family Rock Band: Anna And The Cupcakes (Feb. 14)
Putumayo Kids: Instrumental Dreamland (Feb. 28)
Tim and the Space Cadets: Anthems for Adventure (February)
Bill Harley: High Dives and Other Things That Could Have Happened (February)
Doctor Noize: Grammaropolis (March 4)
Recess Music: La Bella Stella (March 27)
Gustafer Yellowgold: Gustafer Yellowgold’s Year in The Day (April 3)
Mo Phillips: Title TBA (April 10)
Caspar Babypants: HOT DOG! (April 17)
++ Sukey Molloy: I Am Happy (April 24)
Orange Sherbet: Delicious (May 1)
Hope Harris: Picasso, That's Who (May 8)
Okee Dokee Brothers: Mississippi River CD/DVD (May)
Randy Kaplan: Mr. Diddie Wah Diddie (spring?)
The Funky Mamas and Friends: Pickin’ In The Garden (spring)
Elena Moon Park: Rabbit Days and Dumplings (spring)
++ The Pop Ups: Radio Jungle (spring)
++ Alison Faith Levy: World of Wonder (spring)
The Dirty Sock Funtime Band: Dirty Socks Come Clean (June 26)
Charity and the JAMband: Family Values (July 3)
++ Recess Music: Someone Else’s Shoes (September 25)
Andy Z: The Grand Scream of Things (Halloween 2012)

Other expected 2012 albums: Ah-Choo, Peter Apel, Ratboy, Jr., Sugar Free Allstars, Renee & Jeremy, The Bramble Jam, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo (Make Believers), Bobby Susser (Wo), Eric Herman (2 albums: one music, one comedy skits), Keith Munslow (2 albums: one solo, one with Bill Harley), Wayne Potash, Alex and the Kaleidoscope Band, Lori Henriques, Shine and the Moonbeams, Yumza! ++