Servings from the Cereal Bowl

by Dave Loftin

We’re Not Kidding! A Tribute to Barry Louis Polisar

© 2009 Snail Sounds/Rainbow Morning Music

For this review, I won’t spend a lot space talking about Barry Louis Polisar, whom I interview on page 34. Instead, let’s talk about this massive tribute album—or two albums, really. This 60-song, two-disc tribute to one of the most prolific kids’ music songwriters is packed with some of the best talent you’ve probably never heard. The album kicks off with The Vespers singing what is now Polisar’s best- known song, “All I Want is You.”  The Purple Mums deliver a great doo-wop rendition of “My Brother Threw Up on My Stuffed Toy Bunny.” Along with the “grown-up” bands, there is a good representation of family bands your kids may recognize. Elizabeth Street delivers a sweet and soulful version of “I’ve Got a Dog and My Dog’s Name is Cat.” Also check out contributions from The Boogers and Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke. The highlight (for me, at least) is from The Radioactive Chicken Heads. They have two songs on the album, but the better of the two is “I Looked Into the Mirror (What Did the Mirror Say?).” This is an amazing collection of brilliant talent performing songs from one of the best songwriters around.

Milkshake

Great Day
© 2009 Milkshake Music, LLC

Milkshake has made quite a name for themselves in the world of family music, most notably on “Jack’s Big Music Show” on Nick Jr. But being on TV isn’t the main reason so people know and love their music. Started by Mikel Gehl and Lisa Matthews (originally of the ’90s alt band Love Riot), who, like many kids’ acts, decided to expand into the genre after becoming parents. On their fourth album, Great Day, the band once again proves they have the musical chops to stand above most of their peers in kids’ music. The album opens with the tune “Shake It Up,” guaranteed to get the tots hopping. Also, you don’t want to miss the song “You Did It!”—a great tune encouraging kids who’ve accomplished something they’d thought was impossible. (Oh yeah—it rocks, too.) Gehl, Matthews and the rest of Milkshake have a talent not just for writing and making great music, but for knowing how to talk to their listeners, no matter their age.

Hullabaloo

High Roller
© 2009 Hullabaloo Music

I’ll start this review with a quote straight from the Hullabaloo website: “Hullabaloo is farm-fresh, free-range, organic kid-folk in a genre filled with musical Twinkies and Ding-Dongs.” That may sound harsh, but any parent who’s searched high and low for good music for their kids knows the latter part of that sentence is true. On their fifth album, High Roller, Hullabaloo (Steve Denyes and Brendan Kremer) continue their classic folk-country sound. The title track starts off the album, taking you to a time when country was king. When I hear “Ants in My Pants,” I can picture a kid (for some reason I’m thinking about the younger kids on The Waltons) jumping around as red ants crawl up his jeans to retrieve the chocolate bar he left in his pocket. To those of you who don’t like country music: Set that thought aside. Hullabaloo produces, first and foremost, quality music for the whole family to enjoy. Take High Roller for a spin, and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. (Plus it has one of the coolest album covers of the year.)