Image Credit: Pete Oswald / Minivan Productions
Young ears need young tunes and there is a plethora of music being produced every day that caters to those young ears. Aside from the music featured in children’s programming, there are artists that specifically produce music for children. The inherent problem with children’s music is that it is obviously created with the listening pleasures of the child in mind. That’s not a problem from the child’s point of view, but what about from the parent’s point of view? Shouldn’t you be able to enjoy listening to music with your child - music they like?
My parents took a different approach, instead of learning to like (or “put up with” as my father would say) the children’s music of the early 1980’s, my exposure to actual children’s music when I was a child was limited. My lullabies were Jethro Tull tunes and my wake-up music was the opening to the Pink Floyd track “Time.” So perhaps that might be one more reason why regular happy-go-lucky children’s music annoys me so much. Frankly, I find most of it obnoxious and goofy to the point of wondering how the artists themselves end their days. With a bottle of cheap booze or with heavy doses of anti-depressants?
So it’s refreshing when I come upon artists and musicians that create music that not only falls within the genre of children’s music, but is also something the parent can stand as well without chipping teeth from the grating. Here are three recent albums that I’ve discovered (thanks to the help of a more than generous public relations representative) that represent themselves as children’s music but are albums that the whole family can enjoy.
Earthworm Ensemble
Earthworm Ensemble toes the line between traditional children’s music with all the simplicities and rhymes that define that genre. What I found most interesting about the band however, was that the other side of that line is a folk band full of depth. They run the gambit of bluegrass, folk and some new age elements while reinforcing a very eco-friendly message. The eco-friendly message is very indirect in some parts, but quite clear in other parts such as the song “Bear and Dog” where they exclaim “we’ve come to help you save your little planet… we’re going to clean this planet up!” I especially like the old timey feel to some of the tracks, similar to the songs on the soundtrack from O Brother, Where Art Thou?
The band is a combination of several Californian artists, including I See Hawks In L.A., The Chapin Sisters and Mike Stinson. Even the Discovery Science Channel host and country rapper Zachariah shows up rapping about making a “Pizza Moon.” The song composition is heartfelt and earthy. Each track feels like the musicians put a great deal of effort and thought into the project, which is probably true since the project started out as a collection of songs for their own children. If you like folk music with a positive message and that doesn’t sound like a dysfunctional clown with a studio backing band, then you and your kids should enjoy this album. Go pick it up on Amazon.com.
Peter Himmelman
Peter Himmelman is no stranger to producing music aimed at children. Himmelman has been around for quite a while as an accomplished pop/rock artist, formerly the front man for the 1980’s band Sussman Lawrence. His latest release, My Trampoline is his fifth album aimed at family listening and not just adults. Frankly, when listening to the album, I didn’t find any tracks that specifically made me think that this was a children’s album. The first track, “Imagination” kicks off with a fast paced pop sound that really sets the pace for the album in it’s musical theme and creativity. There is subtle humor sprinkled throughout such as in the track “Are There Any Kids Named Steve Anymore?” where Himmelman goes through a slower guitar tune about names, dropping some jokes about the names Steve and Ellen being from the 1960’s. Kids won’t get it, but their parents will.
Himmelman has been compared to Elvis Costello in the past as far as his overall sound, I can hear it in his voice. He has just the right amount of scratch and age in his voice to speak to his life and experience but still move through the ranges needed to engage children in the vocals. There is a lot of story telling in the album, which further engages the children and holds the adults attention as well. This is an album that I can see myself listening to by myself, as I was upon this writing. It’s great for a lift and the upbeat tunes will keep your leg tapping, save for the obligatory lullaby at the end. For you stats geeks, take note of the spoken word track “Statistical Factoids,” in which Himmelman rattles off a fun list of statistics in the most serious voice possible, making them almost believable. Go check it out on Amazon.com, where it is available for mp3 download.
Captain Bogg & Salty
Captain Bogg & Salty’s newest release Emphatical Piratical is admittedly more of a children’s album than the previous two. However, when listening to their lighthearted piratical tales of drinking sea water and which side of the boat is the port side, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the They Might be Giants album Lincoln. It has that light whimsical tone with a bit of the ridiculous. There are a lot of life lessons taught in the music as well, such as to “Never Smile at a Crocodile.” The humor flows throughout the pop pirate rock album, plundering many puns along the way. Overall, it’s a fun album to listen to with your little ones because while focused on the silliness aspect of children’s music, it still provides a near ska-rock kick that most adults will enjoy.
The above albums prove that we, as parents, don’t have to grin and bear it when we are picking out music for the kids to enjoy. There is plenty of music out there that is good for the whole family, and when thinking about it - isn’t that better for our children anyhow? To spend time listening to music with the whole family rather than by themselves in their room or through headphones since you can’t stand the music? I’d like to think so.
So what music do you listen to with your kids that you don’t find as annoying as most children’s music?
I am also keenly aware of They Might be Giants’s series of children’s albums, and you can read the GeekDad review of their most recent release here.
