Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Doing It For Tha Kidz


Riot Grrl
Darling Daughter, 2004

Perhaps in some sort of attempt to redress the karmic balance thrown so out of whack by the X-Rated episode, Contrast Podcast this week has gone all child-friendly this week. On offer is a magic kingdom of tunes, suitable for kids of all ages. So put on your beanie hats, scootch up on the playrug, and either download the podcast here or subscribe using this RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/ContrastPodcast

Come raid the toychest:
(00:00) Kidditunes - Twistin’ again
Tim from The Face of Today
(02:04) Medeski, Martin & Wood - Where’s the music?
The Duke of Straw from The Late Greats
(05:55) The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi battles the pink robots (part one)
Crash from Pretending life is like a song
(10:52) The Dickies - Theme to Gigantor
Lyle from Mentok the Mindtaker
(13:41) Misty’s Big Adventure - Biscuit Tin
Shawn from Cold Citrus
(15:43) The Real Tuesday Weld - Bathtime in Clerkenwell
FiL from Pogoagogo
(20:27) John Lithgow - You gotta have skin
Marcy from Lost in your inbox
(23:11) Captain Bogg & Salty - Scurvy
Rick from Are you embarrassed easily?
(26:19) Blind Melon - Three is the magic number
Chris from Culturebully
(29:38) Harry Belafonte & Odetta - There’s a hole in my bucket
Deek from Pod of Funk
(34:36) Dan Zanes & John Doe - So long (It’s been good to know yuh)
Natalie from Mini-Obs
(39:14) The Go Team - Hold your terror close
Mike from Nothing but green lights
(41:34) The Innocence Mission - Moon River
Chad from Everybody cares, everybody understands
(44:37) Rasputina - This little piggy
Nuno from Undercover songs
(48:30) Boris Pickett & The Crypt Kickers - Monster mash
Mark from Cinema du Lyon
(52:04) Papa Noel - Democratie
SAS Radio
(59:16) Tom Waits - The train song
Fraser from BKYLN song of the day

I'm a lucky, lucky Daddy. You see, my Darling Daughter and Little Man (7 and 4, respectively) grew up with their Pa singing not "Mary Had A Little Lamb" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, but "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" and "A New England." And they seem to have taken very happily to it all. Yes, they get their fix of Dora the Explorer, Thomas the Tank Engine, and Wiggles muzak while they rot their brains in front of the TV. But it's The Real Tuesday Weld, Camera Obscura, and The Ramones (the latter favoured more by Little Man) that they ask for when riding in the car...

So, what else did I consider submitting this week? Well, Camera Obscura was up there, but I've rabbited on about their wonderfulness enough for the time being, methinks. And I wouldn't inflict The Wiggles on you, so rest easy...

Pianosaurus - Bubble Gum Music (buy here)
This whimsical trio released only one album of sweet indie rock played entirely on toy instruments. Drummer Steve Dansiger went on to play grown-up skins for a spell wth King Missile. Entirely G-rated, without being emetic.

Haysi Fantayzee - Shiny Shiny (buy here)
The first time I popped this on the stere-ere-ereo, the bairns launched into a manic interpretive dance. I proceeded to replay the song five more times, and they danced like wee goblins five more times. And let's not forget that the album this comes from is Battle Hymns for Children Singing.

The Ramones - I Don't Want To Grow Up (buy here)
A fine, fine cover of the Tom Waits oiginal. Had to get me some Ramones, if only for Little Man's sake. And as I type I'm watching Waits's superbly oddball concert film, Big Time, which I stumbled on accidentaly while channel surfing. So you can see why this all makes such perfect sense.

EDIT: Per Dearest, Dearest Brad's request, here's the astoundingly fab (and minorly creepy) video for "Bathtime in Clerkenwell." Beware the cukoos...

9 comments:

mjrc said...

fil, your intro was hilarious. do tell "child" that her contribution was spot-on, and that children 'round the blogosphere are in agreement with her take on all things musical!

i think i may have to burn this podcast into a cd to play in the car for my own wee one. the older two probably won't appreciate it quite as much!

Elizabeth said...

I'm still a little bit frightened by the idea of this podcast...but, I just have to say, your daughter is adorable. I am very fond of pink on pink jumpers as well, and her poise is just astouding.

Anonymous said...

i like the boots!

liz--i do hope you've got something for next week's 'cast, now that you've got your feet wet, so to speak. : )

Mentok said...

I think you're all over-looking something very important: that door under the stairs! That's probably her room, just like in Harry Potter, eh wot. That's what these British types are like, you know.

These monsters won't even buy the poor bairn proper footwear. They'll spend thousands on gleaming, beautiful, meticulously maintained hardwood floors, but not a penny on the poor child's shoes. Oh the horror!

And her knees! Bandages on both of them. No doubt they tried to hobble her (a la Stephen King's Misery) after she tried to escape, the poor thing.

It's no wonder they have tried to mask her identity with those stylin' sunglasses. ;-)

What's with the rest of you? Have you been sleeping through all those episodes of CSI? You people wouldn't last a minute in forensic science.

Anonymous said...

rotfl!!!!!!

Brad said...

FiL...Could you re-post the link to that cartoon of the violent swarm of cuckoos, buzzing about to that song you contributed to the Contract Podcast collection?

FiL said...

Dearest Marcy, I shall pass on your kind words. "Child" thoroughly enjoyed her podcast debut! Now only the dawg needs to take part in one to complete our nuclear family's participation. And I think I'll be burning this episode as well...

The footwear is nifty, isn't it?They're my desert hiking boots.

Dearest Liz, thank you, she is quite lovely, and indeed can muster gobs of poise. I'm pleased to say she still can fit into that nifty cardie. Now if only they made it in my size...

And Marcy's right, now that you've participated in one podcast, you have GOT to keep it up! The inhabitants of Blogtopia NEED you, Queen Liz of Tweegoth!!!

And Dearest, pranoid Mentok, I fear you've grasped the wrong end of the stick. Let me explain:

That door is actually full-sized; Darling Daughter is actually eight feet tall. Those boots were the only footwear we could find that even remotely fit.

Those scrapes on the knees? Got 'em playing professional basketball. Led the Teddington Thundercats to a 83-52 victory in the 204 finals against the Ludlow Lungfish.

The glasses? Her eyes fire random bursts of radioactive rays, so it's for everyone's protection.

And finally, the floor? Hardwood?? Hardly - classy Pergo laminate.

And that's the truth!!!

Dearest, Dearest Brad! Video duly reosted, as requested. It's a real corker, isn't it??

Anonymous said...

Oh no not the birds!

Good to see them again after we played it 20 times over up in FiL Towers.

And its raining here too.....

big kiss
T

coxon le woof said...

Fil, are you the coolest dad ever?

I think you may just be!!