Holiday Music Sampler

Artist: Various

Album: N/A

Description: Christmas is still more than a couple weeks away (as is Kwanzaa), but it's already the second night of Hanukkah, so I think it's officially safe to start with the winter-holiday-related posts.  I'll have a handful of posts throughout the season, but I'll start off simply, with a ten-pack of holiday tunes (Christmas, Hanukkah, and TV-Special) from a variety of artists, including Randy Kaplan, Brady Rymer, the Jimmies, and more, available to download for a limited time.

Source: Soundcloud

Rabbit Days and Dumplings Sampler - Elena Moon Park and Friends

Artist: Elena Moon Park and Friends

Album: Rabbit Days and Dumplings

Description: It's a five-song sampler, not the whole enchilada ("whole kimchi"? "whole spring roll"?), but if you're not sure that an album of Dan Zanes-influenced family-friendly songs from Asia is quite your thing (though I think for a number of you, the answer is "yes"), take a listen.  I especially like track #7 ("Poong Nyun Ga," a Korean harvest song, which is a rousing sing-along), but there's a lot of stylistic diversity on the tracks and it's worth your time.

Source: Rabbit Days website

Mommy Says No! - Asylum Street Spankers

Artist: Asylum Street Spankers

Album: Mommy Says No!

Description: As I said in my review of the album more than 5 years ago, "Some mommies will say "no" to Mommy Says No!. A sizeable minority of families won't like it all. But I think most people who are reading this review here will find it a hoot, energetic enough and tuned into kids' lives for the kids, while entertaining for their elders."  If you're just now stumbling onto this site, it's definitely worth a virtual spin to see if it's for you.

Source: Bandcamp

The Bestest and Horriblest Songs for Children - Fatcat & Fishface

Artist: Fatcat & Fishface

Album: The Bestest and Horriblest Songs for Children

Description: If only New Zealand's Fatcat & Fishface had had the success on this side of the globe (both vertically and horizontally) as their countrymates Split Enz.  Then this greatest hits collection would be filled with songs as familiar in Washington as in Wellington.  Oh well -- for those families who like their kids music on the odd and silly and even occasionally dark and/or tender side, this is well worth trying out.

Source: Bandcamp

European Playground - Various Artists (Putumayo)

Artist: Various Artists (Putumayo)

Album: European Playground (re-release)

Description: An August 28, 2012 re-release of a 2009 collection, with 3 new songs.

Source: Bandcamp