Dadnabbit

CD Review: “Coal Train Railroad”

The idea of “jazz for kids” might seem as condescending, and as fraught with cheeseball peril, as “science for kids” or VeggieTales or anything else that’s supposed to dumb down supposedly adult material for little brains. And honestly, unless you’re trying to teach your kids about harmolodics, you can pretty much play jazz for your kids without worrying that they won’t be able to appreciate it. Chances are you don’t know your major... Read More

DVD Review: “Gettin’ Funky with the Sugar Free Allstars”

Aside from Martin & Medeski or the Benevento-Russo Duo, there aren’t many acts a person can turn to if they’re hungry for some stripped down, funky Hammond organ-and-drums action — and in the kids’ music universe? Forget it. With the quasi-exception of Taj Mahal’s songs for children, funk and/or soul is in short supply in the kiddieverse, and if there are two things our children need more than fresh air, exercise, and to leave me alone while I’m... Read More

CD Review: The Bramble Jam, “Move Your Boots”

I could go on and on about this album, but everything you need to know about it is laid out for you before the first note graces your speakers. To wit: 1. The name of the band is the Bramble Jam, which is the coolest. Just the coolest. 2. The title of the album is Move Your Boots. See #1. 3. The band photo on the inside sleeve shows the members of Bramble Jam holding three acoustic guitars, a stand-up bass, and a pair of drumsticks. The only question you should have at this point... Read More

CD Review: Joanie Leeds, “I’m a Rock Star”

Do you remember listening to your favorite music as a kid, and imagining that you were the one singing those words in front of a screaming crowd? Joanie Leeds does — hence the title of her album I’m a Rock Star, which is not the presumptuous boast it may seem; in fact, it’s a wide-eyed look back at the musical excitement of youth, and it’s just the opening track of a solidly crafted, smartly arranged, wonderfully produced 13-track collection, all topped... Read More

CD Review: Birdie’s Playhouse, “The Wild World of Wildlife”

Cute, bouncy, and educational for animal-loving toddlers, The Wild World of Wildlife offers just under half an hour’s worth of world music for the knee-high set, from the congariffic “Iguana Wants to Baila” to the snaky “Shake Your Tail Feathers” and jazzy “Wombat Scat.” Birdie’s Playhouse, led by Birdie Mendoza, probably aims a little low for kids older than, say, five, but that much should be obvious from the cartoony CD artwork... Read More

CD Review: Bari Koral Family Rock Band, “Rock and Roll Garden”

With oversized flowers and a watercolor painting of puffy clouds, daisies, and a rubber duckie on the cover, you might expect Bari Koral’s full-length debut to be more than a little on the cutesy-poo side — and it is, ultimately, targeted mainly at the pre-K audience. But the record’s called Rock and Roll Garden for a reason: Koral and her Family Rock Band manage to tie together toddler-friendly themes (dinosaurs, colors, clapping) with arrangements that benefit... Read More

DVD Review: “The Penguins of Madagascar-Operation: DVD Premiere”

Who could have imagined that the Penguin characters from the two Madagascar film would spin off to their own animated series so successfully? In both films, the characters were essentially comic relief, thrown in as a “C” story that pretty much had nothing with the main plots until they show up at the end to rejoin the rest of the escaped zoo animals. Yet, in their own show, the penguins not only carry the show, but they are funny and enjoyable for parents and kids alike. The... Read More