Hot New Releases for Cool Kids

If current trends in children’s music are any indication, kids have developed some pretty sophisticated listening habits. While high-pitched puppets singing odes to inch worms entertained children decades ago, it seems today’s crop of youngsters are enjoying many of the same sonic soundscapes their parents still appreciate (genres such as indie-rock, hip-hop and the bands featured on Yo-Gabba-Gabba). This month, a crop of talented tune-smiths is releasing records both kids and their thankful parents will enjoy listening to. Imagine that!

Justin Roberts’ seventh CD release, Jungle Gym (Carpet Square Records), is the family-friendly pop equivalent of They Might Be Giants, ELO and The Decemberists, featuring 12 original songs devoted to things like snow days, sleep-overs and the endless entertainment possibilities a cardboard box can provide. Roberts’ song-stories are warm, witty and whimsical, and Jungle Gym will more than likely inspire sing-alongs, laughter and up-on-your-feet dancing.

Hailing from a funkier quadrant of the galaxy, The Final Funktier (Monkey Mama Records), by the Seattle elementary school-teaching trio Recess Monkey, blends Star Trek-inspired sci-fi, Devo-esque jump-suits and wocka-jah-wocka rhythms into 15 wacky and wonderful space odysseys. "Jet Pack", "Moon Boots" and "Booster Seat" provide galaxies-worth of excitement, while "The Galaxy Sea" and "Sunglasses" are jaunty Brian Wilson-meets-The Apples In Stereo hybrids. The Final Funktier is truly one of the most stratospheric dance party albums you and your lil’ space monkeys will both enjoy.

Amid the minivans and mowers of their Maplewood, NJ suburb, Starfish have been creating kid-oriented anthems for years now. Their latest CD, Enter Sandbox (World Sound Music)—the title of which is indeed a wink and a nod to Metallica—is inspired by 70's super groups such as Cream, Yes and Deep Purple, but with a youth-centric spin. "Sick Day" soars with bouncy reggae rhythms, while "My Name Is ‘No’" bristles with Beastie Boys beats and Red Hot Chili Peppers funk. "Rhymes" features lyrics with words that are difficult to actually rhyme (silver, orange, purple, etc.) while "Bike" laments a stolen bicycle, only to conclude with a wonderful surprise ending. Enter Sandbox is equal parts rock, roll and groove, with just the right amount of educational lyrics crowd-surfing on top.

The Oklahoma City duo Sugar Free Allstars (SFA) blends New Orleans funk, Memphis soul, Hammond organ-drenched gospel, and elements of disco and hip-hop into wonderfully kid-friendly party punch on their new CD, Funky Fresh and Sugar Free (Wiser Music). Songs such as "Hey Now, It’s Your Birthday," "SFA Disco Dance Party" and especially the call-and-response of "Rock Awesome" invoke activity on the part of the listener, and will even induce movement in the shyest little wallflowers. The wonderfully catchy "6th Grade Band" may even inspire your child to learn how to rock while they’re still in school!

Tony King is a freelance journalist currently living and working in Sacramento. He’s written articles and reviews for several publications, including The Sacramento News and Review, Midtown Monthly and Chunklet magazine. For more of Tony’s reviews and essays, check out his blog, THE RUB.