Dadnabbit

CD Review: The Boogers, “Road to Rock”

The Boogers – Road to Rock (2008, Spire) purchase this CD (Amazon) Putting together a kids’ version of a band whose music celebrated eternal adolescence might seem like a rather pointless thing to do, but don’t be so quick to write off the Boogers — as it turns out, making Ramones-inspired music for grade schoolers is a pretty good idea, and Road to Rock (patterned, from the cover on down, after Road to Ruin) is a lot of fun. Now, having said that, I... Read More

CD Review: John Carlin and the Kids Music Underground, “Welcome to the Kids Music Underground”

John Carlin & the Kids Music Underground – Welcome to the Kids Music Underground (2009, Firehorse) purchase this CD (Amazon) Way back in the dark, grungy days of 1993, when every label was looking for the next Nirvana, I received a package from RCA containing the self-titled debut from a band called 700 Miles. The record didn’t do anything on the charts, and I was pretty vehemently anti-grunge, but 700 Miles still stuck with me — particularly the songs... Read More

DVD Review: “Oliver and Company”

Oliver and Company (20th Anniversary Edition) (2009, Walt Disney) purchase this DVD (Amazon) We look back on The Little Mermaid as the movie that lifted Disney out of its long journey through the shadow of the valley of cheesy live-action features (like 1981′s Condorman) and subpar animated adventures (1985′s The Black Cauldron, natch), but the truth is that the process was really more gradual. Giving the fishtailed Ariel all the credit for the Disney revival leaves... Read More

CD Review: Dog on Fleas, “Beautiful World”

Beautiful World – Dog on Fleas (2008, Dog on Fleas) purchase this CD (Amazon) Until I listened to Beautiful World, I’d never heard of Dog on Fleas, but now that I’ve let the album play on repeat a few dozen times — and I know it’s the band’s fifth kids’ collection — I’m making it my mission to find out where they’ve been all my life. I have to be honest and tell you that Beautiful World failed the Sophie Test —... Read More

CD Review: Brady Rymer, “Here Comes Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could”

Brady Rymer – Here Comes Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could (2008, Bumblin’ Bee) purchase this album (Amazon) Kids’ music has come a long way from the says when its creators were expected to treat their listeners like tiny little mental patients, but even in this golden age of non-nauseating listening choices for parents, some of the old rules still apply. For instance, most kids’ album artwork is still done in bright colors, and filled with pictures... Read More