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Kathy's Top Ten CDs

Best of 2007!

Kids' music is like any other kind of music: It comes in virtually every style and stripe, and it varies wildly in quality. Not coincidentally, the best kids' albums of 2007 have appeal for kids and adults alike, and are suitable for listening even while the whole family is trapped together during a long car ride. Kids Corner host Kathy O'Connell chooses her favorite kids' music of the year, starting with an inventive collection by a band called Recess Monkey!

Recess MonkeyWonderstuff / Recess Monkey

A brilliant, multilayered concept album of stories and songs heavily influenced by '60s rock. If Brian Wilson had written for kids, he would have created "The Pool," a song of yearning for time to pass while waiting to jump back in the water after lunch. For more information, visit recessmonkeytown.com

candy bandCalling All Kids / The Candy Band

A nice rhythmic mix of original and classic songs, performed by punk-rock moms with candy-bar names. These women avoid cloying sweetness by sounding like real moms. For more information, visit candyband.com

Down At The Sea Hotel / Various Artists

A beautiful collection of lullabies based on a Greg Brown song, this book/CD package combines songwriters (Brown, Tom Waits, Billy Joel, Nanci Griffith) with folksingers (John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky, Guy Davis, Eliza Gilkyson) in a match made in heaven. For more information, visit lamontagnesecrete.com.

Mommy Says No! / Asylum Street Spankers

A varied mix of musical styles ranging from hard-rock screaming ("Mommy Says No!") to jazz ("Everybody Loves My Baby") to twang. As an added bonus, this CD includes one of the most disgusting songs ever ("Boogers"). For more information, visit asylumstreetspankers.com

Chickens / Buck Howdy & BB

Bird-themed cowboy twang from the leading proponent of cowboy music for kids. The friendly clarity of Grammy-nominated Howdy's voice reaches young voices with humor that never gets too silly. For more information, visit buckhowdy.com

For The Kids Three / Various Artists

For the Kids III is the third in a series that features independent artists playing a unique take on music for kids. This one includes Dar Williams, The Sippy Cups, Moby and Over the Rhine, whose song offers useful instructions on where poop goes. (Hint: It goes in the potty.) For more information, visit netwerk.com

My Green Kite / Peter Himmelman

An outstanding collection of kid-friendly music with rock leanings from the Grammy-nominated Peter Himmelman. Any album that includes the word "schmendrick" (in "My Feet") is worth finding. "My Father Is an Accountant" teaches that heroes can be found in every profession. For more information, visit peterhimmelman.com

Experience 101 / Sweet Honey In The Rock

These women perform inspiring vocal miracles. Experience...101 is aimed at a middle-school-aged audience, honoring the elders while looking toward the future. For more information, visit sweethoney.com

The Dream Jam Band / The Dream Jam Band

The freshman production by this collection of rockers offers a hint of greatness. The band sounds more tart than sweet as it laments the habit of "Jumping to Conclusions." Meanwhile, "Bike" mixes a classical melody with two-wheeled joy. For more information, visit dreamjamband.com

It's A Bam Bam Diddly / Father Goose

A solo recording by Dan Zanes' cohort, this island-influenced collection of rhythmic tunes gets silly and profound at the same time. It's a Bam Bam Diddly smartly responds to kids' natural appreciation of reggae rhythms. For more information, visit danzanes.com

The Best of 2006!

By Kathy O'Connell
2006 was a wonderful year for music that entertains the whole family. We heard new songs from old friends, made new musical friends, and learned a lot while having musical fun. With so many great cd's being produced during the year, it was hard to limit myself to ten for this list. Parents and kids can listen to any of these ten cd's alone or together as a family.

Please enjoy my personal selections for the Top 10 Kids Corner cd's of the year!

Kathy's Top Ten Releases of 2006

Trout Fishing In America

#1 MY BEST DAY
Trout Fishing In America
Nominated in the Best Musical Album for Children category in 49th annual Grammy Awards, this was recorded in front of a live audience. It captures the fun and music of a live Trout concert without having to leave your cd player. Highlights include tales of the songwriting workshops with kids that produced "An Alien in My Nose" and "My Best Day." troutmusic.com
Terri Hendrix

#2 CELEBRATE THE DIFFERENCE
Terri Hendrix
Folk meets power chords. "Nerves" has become a Kids Corner classic, veering back and forth from "be nice" to "good thing you can't read my mind." Other highlights include "Get Your Goat On" and "Celebrate the Difference," which salutes the differences among all species. terrihendrix.com
Jack Johnson & Friends

#3 CURIOUS GEORGE SOUNDTRACK
Jack Johnson & Friends
Outstanding songs like "3R's," "Jungle Gym," and "With My Own Two Hands" make this album a winner. With outstanding friends like G. Love and Ben Harper, this cd can stand with or without the movie. A sweet singer-songwriter album full of catchy tunes. "Upside Down" deserves an Oscar for Best Original Song. www.jackjohnsonmusic.com/
Justin Roberts

#4 MELTDOWN
Justin Roberts
A guy with a guitar who sings about blame on "My Brother Did It." He understands real kids' experiences like "Taking Off My Training Wheels." When "the chalkboard looks a little awk-ward," it's time to "Get Me Some Glasses." "More Than Just a Minute" looks at time and family, while "Cartwheels and Somersaults" is a great song from big brother to little brother. justinroberts.org
Dog On Fleas

#5 WHEN I GET LITTLE
Dog On Fleas
This mix of original songs in different musical genres is this underrated band's best work. Outstanding harmonies on the title song and "Give It Away" segue to the old-timey goofy "Moon Song." "Mon Pain Perdu" is a love song about French toast. dogonfleas.com
Original Cast Recording

#6 HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
Original Cast Recording
A terrific soundtrack cd that mixes traditional musical comedy form and an approach that appeals to today's kids. This hugely popular album captures the spirit of the TV movie that spawned it.
psc.disney.go.com/disneychannel
Brady Rymer

#7 EVERY DAY IS A BIRTHDAY
Brady Rymer
His "music for kids with a rock and roll heart" appeals to grownups and anyone who's ever had a birthday. Rocks from the beginning with "Rock 'N' Roll Mother Goose." "Keep Up With You" is for every parent who "needs a cup of coffee to keep up with you." bradyrymer.com
The Brothers Comstock

#8 WHAT DO YOU WANT?
The Brothers Comstock
This mix of comedy and music includes the sports anthem "Gimme the Ball" and a song about a smelly kid ("Opie O'BO"). A Dylan-esque "Ten Scoops" is a musical salute to the worst diet possible ("Ten Scoops" of sugar). "Scotty's Love Song" is about how he loves to bug his sister. www.cdbaby.com/cd/bcomstock
The Terrible Twos

#9 IF YOU EVER SEE AN OWL
The Terrible Twos
Rocker band the New Amsterdams create an imaginative album for kids. Their musical genres include a folky salute to summer friends ("Heather in the Heather"), a numbers song for little ones ("Math Stomp"), and a song for kids whose birthdays fall close to Christmas ("Caroline"). theterribletwos.net/
The Nields

#10 ALL TOGETHER SINGING IN THE KITCHEN
The Nields
A celebration of traditional folk music with the quirky Nields touch, beautifully recorded in their family kitchen. The songs they learned from their father include "Red Red Robin," "Going to the Zoo," and "The Unicorn." This is one-stop shopping for classic folk songs for kids. www.nields.com/
Teacher & The Rockbots CD Series

Honorable Mention:
Teacher & The Rockbots CD Series
This series of cds brags that "kids remember stuff when it's in a song." With "Science," "Multiplication," "America" and "World" as their topics, they combine education and electronic rock. Teachers and homeschoolers will also get use from this mix of education and music.
www.teacherandtherockbots.com/