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...