ORAN ETKIN “WAKE UP, CLARINET” The Sound: Upper crust jazz with the crusts cut off. In the Cafeteria, He Sits With: Coal Train Railroad, Hayes Greenfield Best Moments: The opening piano salvo in “High Low”, the album’s 1st musical cut, will have jazz aficionados salivating. It’s the initial sign that […]
ROY HANDY & THE MOONSHOT “(I’M GONNA BE) YOUR BEST FRIEND” The Sound: Raucous rockabilly and 44 exclamation points make for a fun romp through childhood. Best Moments: If there’s a bona fide “hit” song here, it’s the sparse rocker “Crayon Man!!!”, a cool tune perfectly suited for air-guitarists everywhere. […]
BILL HARLEY “THE BEST CANDY IN THE WHOLE WORLD” One of the reasons I love music in a live setting is the chance it affords to hear new songs. I understand that many concertgoers disagree with this sentiment, preferring instead to hear the greatest hits and other familiar album cuts […]
BRIAN VOGAN “SING A LITTLE SONG” Brian Vogan’s “Happy Valentine’s Day” is the coolest, bounciest song ever composed for the artificially sweet holiday. It and “That’s How A Pumpkin Grows” are the only two cuts from the Seattle singer-songwriter’s appropriately titled 2008 debut “Little Songs” that remain an integral part […]
If every song for grown-ups hinges it’s cred on it’s general proximity to sexual themes, failed romance, and a songwriter’s struggle with his/her religious upbringing (sometimes taking a break for a veiled political statement) then every kid’s album has it’s roots in lessons, friendship, animals, and, occasionally, the preschool drama […]
BILLY KELLY “IS THIS SOME KIND OF JOKE?” The Sound: Tongue-in-cheek pop-rock meant for singing, laughing and pondering. In the Cafeteria, They Sit With: Recess Monkey, Caspar Babypants, They Might Be Giants Best Moments: The album’s closer, “Johnny Box,” is a classic American story-song of despair, a search for purpose, […]
The Sound: Contemporary indie pop-rock with Harry Nilsson’s “The Puppy Song” & “Spaceman” as the musical template and author William Steig as a lyrical muse. In the Cafeteria, They Sit With: David Tobocman, The Jellydots Best Moments: The meaning of “Green Eleven” is a complete mystery to me, yet the […]
I reviewed the latest albums from The Not-Its!, The Okee Dokee Brothers and The Jellydots for the August issue of Time Out New York Kids Magazine. I’m particularly excited about this issue, for I’ve managed to make this one a truly national piece by featuring bands from Seattle, Texas and […]
