Tag Archives: Jeff Giles

CD Review: Ben Rudnick and Friends, “A Frog Named Sam”

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Ben Rudnick and Friends – A Frog Named Sam (2009, Bartlett Avenue)
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As kids’ entertainment characters go, “a frog named Sam” isn’t the most original concept in the world — and neither is the story at the heart of this album’s title track, about the titular amphibian and his journey from backwater pond to the big city and back again. Heck, even A Frog Named Sam‘s artwork is fairly amateurish, so a person could be forgiven for having low expectations for the album…expectations that will be exceeded within the first few moments of listening to the deadpan vocals, tribal jam band beat, and — of course — ribbiting of the leadoff track. What Ben Rudnick and Friends lack in conceptual originality, they more than make up for with a musical approach that can best be described as “Beausoleil for tots” — plenty of upbeat, danceable rhythms, tasty acoustic guitar fills, mandolin, harmonica, and accordion, all draped around an assortment of the usual kids’ subjects: talking animals, trains, family love, and friendship.

So no, A Frog Named Sam doesn’t break any new lyrical ground, but it’s still some of the most fun I’ve had with a kids’ album this year, and it’s a testament to Rudnick and Friends’ originals that songs like the wonderful “Drink It Up” (“it’s like a milkshake when I see your face/I want to drink it up and take it with me”) stand shoulder-to-shoulder with well-chosen covers like “Old Joe Clark,” “Erie Canal,” and my daughter’s personal favorite, a shifty, album-closing take on “Greensleeves” (her quote: “It tricks every part of your body. I thought, ‘What the heck, ‘Greensleeves’?

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You tricked me'”).

If your tastes run toward the Subdudes/Beausoleil/Beau Jocque end of the spectrum, A Frog Named Sam should provide hours of entertainment for you and your kids — you can dance to the instrumental jigs, laugh at the stories of Sam the frog and the three little fishes, and simply enjoy the positive, uplifting tone of the entire album. Though I found the band’s take on “Erie Canal” to be a bit lackluster, there really isn’t a bad song on the album.

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We’ll be listening to this one for a long time.

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CD/Book Review: Trout Fishing in America, “My Name Is Chicken Joe”

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Trout Fishing in America – My Name Is Chicken Joe (2009, Secret Mountain)
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Trout Fishing in America celebrates its 30th anniversary this year — and the fact that you most likely didn’t know that, but have never heard a lick of the roots duo’s music, explains why they won’t be commemorating the occasion with a lavish boxed set, sold-out arena tour, or all-star tribute record. They will, however, be taking a fond look back at some of the most popular songs from their multiple forays into kids’ music with My Name Is Chicken Joe, a beautifully made ersatz best-of that sets their song “Chicken Joe” alongside some eye-catching illustrations from artist Stéphane Jorisch to create a handsome, albeit plot-free, book to go along with the 11-track CD. And if that isn’t enough to make you whip out your wallet, there’s also a DVD containing a “Chicken Joe” music video of sorts.

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If you’re a member of the Dirty Linen crowd, you’re no doubt already very familiar with Trout Fishing in America, but if you aren’t yet among the enlightened, My Name Is Chicken Joe functions as a perfect gateway into their children’s music. Though it cherry-picks old favorites from the catalog, Joe feels as cohesive as a really well-made new album. The songs are all as wonderful as you’d expect from a band that’s earned four Grammy nominations, all grounded solidly in deceptively simple folk arrangements and topped off with gentle, positive messages about kindness, personal identity, friendship, and family.

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(There are a couple of detours into mildly negative territory with “Why I Pack My Lunch” and “Boiled Okra and Spinach,” but they’re about having to choke down the food your parents pick for you, and who can’t sympathize with that?

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)

A lot of kids’ records claim to contain music that parents can enjoy even when their children aren’t around, but My Name Is Chicken Joe really is that kind of album. Songs like “My Best Day,” “Something Sweet,” and “Count on Me” are worth having in your collection no matter how old you are. If you’re any kind of fan of roots music — and I’m talking stripped-down bluegrass stuff as well as AAA favorites like John Hiatt — or you know kids who might be, purchase this set without fear the next time a birthday or other special occasion rolls around.

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CD Review: The Hipwaders, “Goodie Bag”

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The Hipwaders – Goodie Bag (2009, Hip Kid)

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Anyone who listened to the Barenaked Ladies’ Snacktime! and was disappointed with the relative lack of old-school BNL energy should seek out Goodie Bag, the new EP (out in physical form on April 9; available now as a download) from Bay Area trio the Hipwaders. Although it’s eight songs long, Goodie Bag only lasts just over 16 minutes; most songs hover around the two-minute mark, with the longest cut, the EP-closing title track, coming in at 3:24. This will create plenty of opportunities for repeat (and repeat, and repeat) listens, which will probably drive you crazy eventually — but it’ll take awhile to get there, and in the meantime, these songs contain plenty of enjoyable moments for you and your little ones.

Boasting catchy, uptempo arrangements and pleasantly dry production, the Hipwaders’ songs cover lyrical ground that runs from the expected (having good manners, being afraid of the dark) to the unusual (rayguns, other dimensions, getting a new camera), which should help Goodie Bag win new fans among preschoolers and preteens alike. Not all tracks are created equal (“My New Camera” made my wife swear, which takes some real effort), but on the whole, this is an enjoyable collection from a talented band — and at six bucks, it’s available for the right price. Check out the video for “Field Trip”:

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