hooray hooray- Renee and Jeremy have a new cd coming out next week. Renee and Jeremy make wonderful kids music for people of all ages. This is their fourth cd and is full of sweet covers of tunes by the Chili Peppers, Monkees, Coldplay, John Lennon, REM, Supertramp and more.
You can preview the cd here (as well as download a free tune from one of their other albums) and then pre-order the cd here
Here is Jon Izen's beautiful video for Renee and Jeremy's version of Coldplay's 'Yellow'
If you read smaller or small you probably know how much we love the music of Renee and Jeremy.
They have just released a lovely christmas song- check it out for free here or listen for it on the radio!
We have interviewed Lullatone before for Small but if you haven't yet... you really should check out this great creative group (and family) from Japan. They have lots of new free ring tones and this lovely (also free) rain drop music making app for keeping your little one busy in the waiting room. You can also pick up copies of their cd's and see how they make creative music for kids out of things they find around the house- which is a fun idea to share with your own kids.
I give Renee and Jeremy's first album 'It is a Big World' to every new-born in my life. It is lovely music for adults and kids, filled with beautiful sentiments and great melodies it is perfect for quiet time. They have since put out another album C'mon which is great for jumping around the loungeroom. YOu can listen to both albums for free on their website. Now in preparation for the new album coming out soon they havet made this sweet animation to their new single 'Share'. Share it with a little one here.
Some stills from the brilliant new Lullatones video- Experiements from around the House. The music is from the new album Elevator Music. ...Believe them- your two year old is going to love this!
If you haven't heard about the Lullatones check out there wonderful and whimsical approach to kids music and read more about what inspires them in our interview with them in the Autumn issue of Small.
Right now they are offering listeners the chance to download their albums (and pay what they want) with all proceeds going to help the Red Cross in Japan. Click here for more information.
Here's an early Autumn music mix curated by Amberly Warnke of Pied Piper Radio just for our Small Magazine readers. A beautiful soundtrack for your family featuring songs about falling leaves, acorns, apples and the changing seasons.
Enjoy!
Five Lucky readers will be picked at random and notified by email. (Please leave your email address when you post a comment!). The winner will also be posted in the blog. Our winner from last week (picked by random.org) was comment no.4- congratulations Kelly Mitchell! Please contact us with your email address!
If you are a maker, designer, illustrator, author or musician interested in participating in our Small Giveaway - email us at editor[at] smallmagazine.net.
Natalie Merchant's new album, Leave your Sleep, is lyrics interpreted from 19th and 20th century poems and nursery rhymes. I have been a big fan of Natalie Merchant and her band 10,000 Maniacs for a long time and I just love this new release that celebrates motherhood and childhood. Natalie was clearly inspired by her little one! Listen to Natalie talk more about the mystery surrounding these childhood nursery rhymes and poetry here.
Here are two of my favorites.
Maggie and Milly and Molly and May
maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach (to play one day)
and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles, and
milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;
and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles: and
may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.
For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)
it's always ourselves we find in the sea
The Sleepy Giant
My age is three hundred and seventy-two,
And I think, with the deepest regret,
How I used to pick up and voraciously chew
The dear little boys whom I met.
I’ve eaten them raw, in their holiday suits;
I’ve eaten them curried with rice;
I’ve eaten them baked, in their jackets and boots,
And found them exceedingly nice.
But now that my jaws are too weak for such fare,
I think it exceedingly rude
To do such a thing, when I’m quite well aware
Little boys do not like to be chewed.
And so I contentedly live upon eels,
And try to do nothing amiss,
And I pass all the time I can spare from my meals
In innocent slumber—like this.
Fifteen years ago when Christine and I first met, I was working in a cafe next door to her shop in Brooklyn. Two of my favorite customers were the guys from They Might Be Giants. Now they have had kids of their own they have made their already child friendly music even more fun for kids (and older the people still love it too). Every week they put out a free pod casts for kids which you can get to here. 7 days of the week (I never go to work) and High Five are classics in our house!
This Thursday They Might be Giants are playing a free show in Boston for Earth Day,.
Doors at 12. TMBG on stage at 1:30
sharp. On the
Rose Kennedy Greenway
between the Aquarium and Rowes Wharf.
Check their website for upcoming family shows in Arlington, New York, Baltimore and London.
Randy Kaplan has been one of our favorite kids performers for years. We have reviewed his cd in Small before and were really excited to hear of a string of kids shows he has planned. His live shows are great and his cd's have been in heavy rotation at our house for years. Maybe because he makes music for adults as well as kids it is easy for all ages to enjoy.
If you are in New York he has four live shows coming up. We are particularly looking forward to his show with Goat on a Boat Puppet Theater in Sag Harbor on the 17th of October. If you are not in New York you might want to check out his witty and catchy tunes on his website or find out when he is playing a venue near you.
We have loved Renee and Jeremy since we reviewed their cd 'Its A Big World' in issue 8 of Small. We found our selves listening to it all the time- even when the kids were in bed. Their music is peaceful and engaging- perfect for taking the chaos down a notch. We particularly love their title track, the lullaby 'It's a Big World Baby" and the first song 'Miracle'. You can see the charming animated video of 'Its a Big World' by clicking here or listen to all their songs on their website.
If you are in LA this Thursday (July 30th) you can check them out live at a free show at 12.15 pm
Pershing Square
532 South Olive Street
Los Angeles, California
