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Onward into 2013, and time for a Spotify update for new music (see December playlist here). As always, it's limited in that if an artist hasn't chosen to post a song on Spotify, I can't put it on the list, nor can I feature songs from as-yet-unreleased albums. But next month's playlist is only, er, a month away.
Check out the list here or go right here if you're in Spotify.
**** New Music January 2013 (January Kindie Playlist) ****
Ratboy Jr. – High 5 Your Shadow Channing Banks – Rock My ABCs Papa Crow – All the Things That Fart Oh! Ogopogo! – Pirate Boy's Lament Breed Street Rookies – In This Together The Hipwaders – Just Not Me Rissi Palmer – Best Day Ever The Bramble Jam – A Dirty Kid's a Happy Kid Bruce Barnes – Humps, Hooves, and Horns
I don't know if this generation of kids are any more DIY than previous generations, but those kids with maker tendencies (or parents who want to encourage those tendencies) have never had as many opportunities to indulge them (not to mention temptations to ignore them).
I was listening to The Board of Education's fine new album Binary when it occurred to me that the song "I'm Not Here Right Now," about a kid not so keen on sitting in a classroom but very keen on getting out and constructing and exploring, could be an anthem for today's maker kids.
So here's a playlist to be inspired by the next time you and your kids are turning a cardboard box into a race car, learning basic electronic circuitry, or building your own cardboard drum set. I tried to stay pretty close to the maker concept (and avoiding music-making or cooking and the like), but strayed occasionally into maker-friendly songs that more generally celebrate imaginative use of found objects and creating one's own entertainment. (Also, despite the number of tracks covering the Woody Guthrie classic, this is nowhere near the number of versions of "Bling Blang" that are available.)
Yes, I understand the slight irony of listening to others' creative works while creating your own, but nobody's perfect. Go forth and create!
Billy Kelly – The Ballad of Johnny Box The Biscuit Brothers – I Did It Myself The Board of Education – Vasimr (to Mars!) The Board of Education – I'm Not Here Right Now The Board of Education – Know Your Inventors, Pt. II The Board of Education – Know Your Inventors, Part I The Board of Education – Lunchtime (Tin Foil Robots) Brady Rymer – Bling Blang Caspar Babypants – Googly Eyes Coal Train Railroad – With A Box Dan Zanes & Friends – Thrift Shop Dog On Fleas – Bling-blang Elizabeth Mitchell – Bling Blang Fox and Branch – Bling Blang Frances England – Bling Blang The Hipwaders – Art Car The Hipwaders – My New Camera Imagination Movers – Imagination Movers Theme The Jellydots – Adventure Quest! Johnny Bregar – Yes I Can Johnny Keener – Bling Blang Justin Roberts – Cardboard Box Keith Munslow – Cardboard Box Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band – Lemonade Stand Lunch Money – Come Over to My Dollhouse Matt Clark – Cardboard Box Metric – Everybody Has a Talent Monty Harper – My Video Camera The Pop Ups – Box of Crayons Ralph's World – Sunny Day Rainy Day Anytime Band Recess Monkey – Fort Recess Monkey – Science Fair Recess Monkey – Toolbox Recess Monkey – I Got A Toy, But I Played With the Box Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – Hot Lava Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – Brainstorm Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – Bored Is A Bad Word Sugar Free Allstars – Cardboard Box They Might Be Giants – Science Is Real They Might Be Giants – Put It to the Test They Might Be Giants – Computer Assisted Design They Might Be Giants – Where Do They Make Balloons? They Might Be Giants – The Edison Museum
When I was asked if I’d a write a little something about an album that influenced me as a musician my first thought went to Gary Busey. Yep, everybody’s favorite crazy uncle was probably the biggest influence on my musical future as he introduced me to the genius of Buddy Holly.
In 1978, I had been playing keyboards in a band for a few months with little progress. My bandmates and I would just literally pound out three chords in a never ending cacophony of sound.
One afternoon I went with my sister to see The Buddy Holly Story at the local movie theater. I knew and liked the few Buddy Holly songs I had heard on oldies radio stations but I didn’t own any of his albums. To say the movie was a revelation is an understatement. Gary Busey brought (whether accurately or not) a vibrant, exciting Buddy Holly to life. Before the end of the movie I was determined to chuck the keyboard and learn to play guitar. Who the heck wants to be trapped behind a keyboard when you can jump around the stage with a guitar!
My younger brother had been taking guitar lessons and I asked him to show me how the little box figures above the chords on sheet music corresponded with the guitar. I bought a Buddy Holly songbook and the only record of Buddy’s I could find: Buddy Holly’s 20 Golden Greats.
Geez, that album art stunk. Looking it up on Wikipedia reveals that the album was a rush release to take advantage of the movie. Despite the bad graphics, it’s the music that inspired me and continues to inspire me to this day.
Buddy Holly assimilated rockabilly, country & western, blues and New Orleans music into his sound. Just listening to the first three songs on the album reveal the diversity: from the rockabilly rave up of “That’ll Be the Day,” to “Peggy Sue” (which I still don’t know how to classify), to the ballad, “Words of Love.”
I’ve learned a lot from Buddy Holly. From production ideas - with credit to producer Norman Petty and under-rated drummer, Jerry Allison, who would use his lap or a cardboard box to lay down percussion - to his singing style and his guitar playing. Since 1979 to this day I always followed the 3 person line-up of Buddy Holly’s Crickets for my bands.
Perhaps the biggest influence Buddy Holly had on me was as a songwriter. Within a month of learning guitar I wrote my first song utilizing all five chords I could play. I found it easier to sing melodies over chord changes on the guitar rather than the piano. I also loved that Buddy Holly songs were mostly open chords as I had trouble playing barre chords with my weak hands. His songs were simple, melodic, involved few chords and exuded positive vibes full of hope. It took me many years of songwriting to realize how difficult it is to write a good, simple song and I’ve found very few people who do it well.
One of those people is Frances England. My band The Hipwaders’ latest release is a single featuring Frances’ song, “The Books I Like to Read.” I don’t know if Frances has listened to Buddy Holly much but she’s got that Buddy Holly songwriting style. “The Books I Like to Read” is primarily three chords (A-D-E in the key we play it…just like “Peggy Sue”!). You add Bm & F#m to the bridge and that’s the whole song. Brilliant. As the cover of 20 Golden Greats simply depicts, “Buddy Holly Lives.”
As a recent initiate into the world of dog-owner-dom, this song makes even more sense now than it did last summer when I first heard it. But even cat people will like it, I promise.
I'm proud to be world-premiering the new video for the song. The occasionally retro-styled video featuring assorted canine hijinks is from the fine folks at Planet Sunday. Make sure you stick around to the end of the video for, yes, the twist ending.
I think it's time to wrap up my Christmas/holiday song links for 2011 seeing as it's barely 48 hours until the celebrating starts. In case you missed any of it, here are links to:
Debbie and Friends also contributed a song to the compilation -- the new tune (and Spin Doctors-inspired) "Santa and Baby." No, she didn't create the video just for the compilation -- that would be a little much to ask for in just a week, but it's kinda cute anyway.
While "Itsy Bitsy Spider" isn't a Christmas or holiday song by any stretch of the imagination, Alison Faith Levy (of the Sippy Cups) has Phil Spector-ized the song and I must admit that it does sound very holiday-ish. (By the way, Levy's new album will be out in the spring.)
-- Finally, this is a year old, but the message still counts. Thao Nguyen has a "Gift Card" for you. I heartily suggest you use it. A bit dry for the kiddoes, but the adults will understand perfectly.
Merry Christmas or whatever holiday you're celebrating this time of the year!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at 7:27AM 
