Author Archives: Jeff Giles

About Jeff Giles

Jeff Giles is the founder and editor-in-chief of Popdose and Dadnabbit, as well as an entertainment writer whose work can be seen at Rotten Tomatoes, Paste Magazine, and a number of other sites.

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

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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 is whether or not the music on the album is cool enough to live up to everything I’ve just described, and the answer is a resounding “yes.” Move Your Boots is one of the most effortlessly charming kids’ records I’ve heard in a really long time, with beautifully crisp production and perfectly stripped-down arrangements to go with the band’s rootsy instrumentation and songs about stuff you might remember from your own childhood — like splashing in puddles, dancing like a goofball, arguing with your siblings, wondering why Mom’s so upset about your messy room, Dad’s pancakes, and squishing bugs. None of these are particularly groundbreaking topics for a children’s album, but it isn’t often that they’re addressed with such a refreshing lack of artifice; quite often, Boots has the feel of a back porch jam that just sort of happened to wander into kindie territory. What else can I tell you that really matters? It’s wonderful, just wonderful.

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

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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 off with Leeds’ big, bright voice.

As you’d expect from an album credited to Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights, I’m a Rock Star will get the most mileage from younger listeners, but what sets Leeds apart from the pack is her way with a killer pop hook — songs like “Put a Smile on Your Face” are great for kids, but more importantly, they’re just plain catchy — as well as the sense of humor that makes silly cuts like “I Was an Elf” worth repeat listens. And then there’s “Give Me a Hug,” which is a bona fide pop jewel.

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Like a lot of kindie performers, Leeds tried her hand at adult pop before migrating youthward, but unlike many of her peers, she never comes across as condescending; you get the sense she’s just a songwriter who loves kids, and that — along with her relative restraint when it comes to sugar-frosting her uptempo numbers with unnecessary silliness — makes Rock Star worth a spin for the whole family.

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

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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 (if not the liner notes, where Birdie offers “mil gracias from the tip of my beak down to my knees” to friends and supporters) — and for children in Birdie’s target audience, Wildlife‘s simple beats, instantly memorable singalong refrains, and infectious sense of fun should prove irresistible. For parents, things might be a little dicier, although I’m warning you now: the “Elephant in the Congo” melody will wedge itself into your brain immediately, like a “Tom’s Diner” for the sippy cup crowd. Pick it up to go along with your little one’s subscription to Your Big Backyard and play it in between repeat viewings of The Jungle Book.