Blogging Baby Music Review: See You on The Moon (Indie Rock for Kids)

by J.D. Griffioen (Subscribe to J.D. Griffioen's posts) Feb 25th 2006 5:45PM

Categories: Toddlers, Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Life & Style, Media, That's Entertainment

I know shamefully little about the kind of music that kids supposedly like, or rather the industry of crappy music that has sprung up to take advantage of parents who think that music for kids needs to be created by aging hippies with rudimentary guitar skills and bad hair. But I am taking serious the possibility of finding music for kids that won't annoy the crap out of me when driving around the suburbs in our Passat wagon someday in the distant future. With that in mind, I am going to start a regular feature here at Blogging Baby, reviewing Music for Kids that Doesn't Blow (or Suck).

For the last couple of days I have been listening to the compilation CD See You on the Moon, from Paper Bag Records, which is basically a bunch of original kids' songs recorded by some of indie rock's finest names. The website describes the record as, "Throwing condescension out the window and understanding the concept of fun without it being mindless or moronic - all the tracks will appeal to kids and grown ups alike." The record is worth the $14 (Canadian) just for the title track "See You on the Moon" by the Great Lakes Swimmers, a song about various jobs kids can have when they grow up. It's so catchy I would put it on a mix CD for my non-parent friends (who would probably then make fun of me, but that's okay). It sounds kind of like a Elephant Six/Apples in Stereo song (that's another great band for kids' music). Another highlight is Alan Sparhawk (of Low)'s "Be Nice to People with Lice," which I am totally ripping and sending to Melissa Summers as soon as she returns from the land of my forefathers. Rounding out the comp are tracks from Mark Kozelek (of Red House Painters fame), Broken Social Scene, Sufjan Stevens, Rosie Thomas, and others. You can buy the record here, and I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Miss Domestic for pointing me towards the CD.

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Comments (17)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ann adams 2-25-2006 @ 6:00PM

Okay, I'm a pariah. The girls grew up listening to the elderly hippies with no hair left.

Shame on me for teaching them all my bad habits.

jj 2-25-2006 @ 7:38PM

awesome. thanks for the tip! i just ordered it - it looks great!

Chag 2-25-2006 @ 9:39PM

Another CD you might want to check out is Saturday Morning Cartoon's Greatest Hits. While some of it might be a little too hard or fast for kids, it's nice to put this CD on and have your kids listen to cartoon theme songs that we were popular when we (or at least I) were kids. I love hearing my daughter run around singing the theme to Josie and The Pussycats.

katie e. 2-25-2006 @ 9:54PM

also be sure to check out "the bottle let me down," a kids compilation put out by bloodshot records, if you haven't already.

Missy 2-25-2006 @ 11:39PM

OH THANK YOU!!

My husband and I met at our college radio stations, where we were both DJs. We're both total music snobs now, so this is WONDERFUL.

Sufjan Stevens just seems so appropriate for kids. I mean, his albums are named after states. And who doesn't like the banjo, anyway? As for Kid Koala, that's hilarious. Rosie Thomas also seems really appropriate for kids, too. She's so sweet.

I know this doesn't help any of you who don't know anything about indie rock but I can't imagine you'd be let down by this music. These are all great artists!

Missy 2-25-2006 @ 11:48PM

Also, you probably knew this already but They Might Be Giants also has out an album for kids.

Then of course, there's this.

Those albums, which started with "Punk Rock Baby", are the brain "child", so to speak, of Ian Walker, a former manager at EMI records. Here's some info on his story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/features/story/0,11710,845503,00.html

For what it's worth, Anthony really, really likes Radiohead. Can't say I blame him.

Missy 2-25-2006 @ 11:49PM

(I meant to have a link to the albums: http://www.nippazwithattitude.com/music.html)

jj 2-26-2006 @ 12:08AM

I know Saint Etienne was supposed to be releasing a kid's album this fall, but it seems to have been delayed. The tracks I've heard from the teaser EP are pretty great, so I hope the full-length comes out sometime soon.

We also love Liz Mitchell's cds (from Ida) - see www.youaremyflower.org - as well as the Greasy Kid Stuff compilations.

As more and more indierockers have kids, hopefully that'll mean more and more quality kids music!

Bonnie 2-26-2006 @ 8:37AM

Yes, definitely check out The Might Be Giants' "Here Come the ABC's." They have another too, but we like this one much better. With songs like "C is for Conifer" and "Alphabet of Nations" it is just too funny. Note: we loved the CD so much I got the DVD too, but that totally sucked and I promtly resold it.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007MU1IW/sr=8-3/qid=1140960719/ref=pd_bbs_3/104-8836898-2887938?%5Fencoding=UTF8

Trout Fishing in America is fun kids music too - which I listened to in college way before kids!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000003JX7/ref=cm_lm_fullview_prodimg_1/104-8836898-2887938?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=5174
and
http://www.troutmusic.com/

Mir 2-26-2006 @ 9:43AM

If your kids are into Veggie Tales, check out the Veggie Rocks CD--it's versions of popular Veggie songs done by Christian rock bands, and some of them are quite good.

mar 2-26-2006 @ 10:00AM

Not as wild about the They Might Be Giants "Here Goes the ABC's" ... I really like the TMBG CD of "No!" much better!! Also, the soundtrack of "Curious George" by Jack Johnson - love that one too!

Good thing - since my 5 year old seems determined to burn it into my brain by playing it over, and over, and over ....

Also, speaking of being burned into your brain - the CD's that come with John Lithgow's books ... Like Marsupial Sue. Loved them the first 100 times ....but they do have a cute message - "Be happy with who you are. / Don't ever stray too far from you. / Get rid of that frown / And waltz up and down / beneath a marsupial star. / If you're a kangaroo through and through, / Just do what kangaroos do."

Jeremy 2-26-2006 @ 10:58AM

My happiest moment, musically speaking, was when my then 8-month-old son protested when I changed the radio station away from Green Day (to find something softer) and when I changed it back to KROQ, he began bopping his head. I thought "We're going to get along just fine!" My two boys love Sublime (cleaned up), Keane, Death Cab, Jack Johnson, Gorillaz, Hoobistank, etc..it's great.

Heather 2-26-2006 @ 12:26PM

"aging hippies with bad hair" Are you referring to Dan Zane? I'd never heard of him before, but I've seen a couple of his music spots on Noggin and I find him strangely appealing, bad hair and all. He's sexy somehow (I know, I know!). My son could care less. He likes anime soundtracks and the Wiggles.

Meredith 2-26-2006 @ 1:34PM

My husband did the absolute worst when I was out of town early in my child's life. He went to Toys R Us and bought a folk CD of children's nursery rhymes, which Vivienne quickly became totally attached to and wants all of the time (Mary Little Lamb? Fweese Snow? Please?)

These are great suggestions that I will be checking out! Thanks!

ann adams 2-26-2006 @ 6:40PM

I figured Dutch was referring to Peter, Paul, & Mary who are indeed aging hippies as am I. Peter & Paul haven't had hair for some time. Mary still has hers.

I have endured 3 generations plus my own of Puff the Magic Dragon. I've probably ruined my girls forever.

kim 2-26-2006 @ 8:03PM

I'd love to hear yours and other people's ideas of grown-up music that kids like.

Mrs. Davis 3-02-2006 @ 12:45PM

Great review...this sounds like something I would enjoy. Also, I love your idea of reviewing "music for kids that doesn't blow or suck. That's been part of my mission, although I also look for books, movies, and TV shows that don't blow or suck.