Author Archives: Dan Walsh

About Dan Walsh

Milwaukee via Nebraska. Marquette Alum. Father. Music. Running. Beer. You can follow me on Twitter: @dwalsh76

Fids And Kamily 2013

Really, it’s that time of year already? Time flies and here I am in mid-October talking about the years best albums. For this year, the time frame was tweaked and our top 10 list was to include family music released between 11-1-12 and 9-30-13.

I am lucky enough to be included with 26 other judges that make up Fids & Kamily group. Follow the link, read the winners and then come back.

The winners for the 2013 Kids & Family music awards are………

Done looking at the list? Good, now go get some of those albums.

And this is where I scream WHY DIDN’T ANYBODY TELL ME THE WATSON TWINS RELEASED A FAMILY RECORD!!!!

For what it’s worth, here was the ballot I submitted:

1. Justin Roberts – Recess
2. Paul Spring – Home of Song
3. Alastair Moock – Singing our Way Through
4. Crosspulse Percussion Ensemble – I like everything about you (Yes I do)
5. The Not-Its! – KidQuake
6. Moona Luna – Vamos, Let’s Go!
7. Lloyd H. Miller – SS Brookyln
8. Lucky Diaz – Fantastico
9. Lori Henriques – The world is a curious place to live
10. Dan Zanes & Elizabeth Mitchell – Turn, Turn, Turn.

And honestly, I could have filled out this ballot 10 times and arrived to 10 different lists. Leaving Dean Jones off? That hurt. The Verve Pipe once bought me a steak dinner in Omaha. Don’t I owe them a spot on the Top 10?

Stayed tuned in December for my Jan 1- Dec 31st best of 2013 list as there will be some additions to this top 10 list that were released after October 1st. (I’m looking at you Josh & The Jamtones)

The Pop Ups – Miss Elephant’s Gerald app

The Pop Ups are busy in the studio putting the final touches on a new record.

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But not so busy that they aren’t giving us awesome new things.

Enter stage right, Miss Elephant’s Gerald app. It features the music from the band and the beautiful illustrations of Liz Starin. It is a part of the Mibblio Kids Music App.

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Now, I don’t have an iPad, so I can’t really give you a review. But based on the pictures alone, it makes we want to buy an iPad. Seriously.

Check out the teaser video below.

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DVD Review – Sofia The First: Ready To Be A Princess

I don’t fall in to the anti-princess view of things. Sitting around and pointing fingers at Disney is the lazy way out. Princess movies don’t set up girls for a life of disappointment, bad parents do. Same goes for video game violence. Violent video games don’t lead to people to go off on a killing spree. If you use it as an opportunity to teach your kids valuable lessons, there is little harm involved.

That said, Disney heard the complaints about the princesses and listened. And came back with another princess? They did and it’s well done. Sofia is voiced by Ariel Winter from ABC’s Modern Family and airs on Disney Junior, the channel aimed and the young child set.

The lessons learned by Sofia in these episodes provide a nice catalyst for conversation with your child. Such as, taking responsibility for your action, even when bad. Doing what’s right, even if it’s not what you want to do. Being friendly & respectful to those considered ‘outsiders’.

So, this is isn’t traditional princess fare. Sofia’s not sitting around waiting for a man to save her.

Sofia The First: Ready To Be A Princess is the second DVD to be released. The first, Once Upon a Princess DVD was released last year.

Episodes included on this DVD:
1. A Royal Mess
2. The Shy Princess
3. Blue Ribbon Bunny
4. The Princess Test
5. Two To Tangu (featuring Jasmine in classic Disney cross promotion)

Sofia the First: Ready to Be a Princess is available now.

Two clips from the show are below.