Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Everything Is Music To Me - Jonathan Samson
The Thing That Helps Me Get Through - Michael Franti & Spearhead
Wheels On the Bus - Primate Fiasco
Battleship Chains - Hindu Love Gods
Sabotage - Beastie Boys
Do The Turnout - Deedle Deedle Dees
Pancakes! - Bramble Jam
Shake! - Flannery Brothers

No Matthew at home...yet.

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Sandy from Leverett - Bill and Ella (Spare the Rock)
One Wasn't Enough - Flannery Brothers
Speed of Love - The Hipwaders
I Meant To Do That - Jeremy Plays Guitar
K-I-D-S - Luv Clowns
Sweetest Song of All - Mel Glazer
The Impression That I Get - Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Smiles & Laughter - Modern English
Worms - Ratboy Jr. Smorgasbord
Sunglasses - Recess Monkey
History Never Repeats - Split Enz

Matthew comes home tomorrow!

Ben's Playlist - Monday, November 30, 2010

Goody Two Shoes - Adam & the Ants
Tommy Got In Trouble - The Bazillions
Sugar Hiccup - Cocteau Twins
Hi 5 Dance - Flannery Brothers
I'm Alright - Kenny Loggins
Orange - Laura Freeman
I Just Want to Have Fun - Of Montreal
Neighbors - Okee-Dokee Brothers
My Keyboard - Quiet Ones
Be Thankful For What You Got - Yo La Tengo

Ben must have siblings on the brain - he chose Flannery and Okee-Dokee Brother, the Cocteau Twins, and even Bazillions.

Ben's Playlist - Friday, November 26, 2010

Baby's Getting Up - Casper Babypants
I Wanna Be An Action Figure - Daddy A Go Go
5 O'Clock World - Dave Clark Five
Blueberry Pie - Dog on Fleas
Big Heart - Frances England
Keep Your Hands To Yourself - Georgia Satellites
Trading Squirrels - Recess Monkey
Browns Ferry Blues - Robbie Fulks
What Do You Like More? - Robin Vaughn
All My Friends Are Different - The Salteens
I Like It That Way - Sweet Honey in the Rock

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, November 25, 2010

Have You Ever - Brandi Carlile
Pink Piggie Polka Pancake Picnic - Ernie & Neal
Mule Train - Frankie Laine
Little Robot - Human Tim + Robot Tim
Squirrels - Mister G
My Brain - Mose Allison
Chag_Purim - Purim Jews
Rattle My Bones - The Suburbs
Hyper Enough - Superchunk
Rubber Biscuit - Supersuckers
Even Numbers - They Might Be Giants

Welcome Matthew Leo Cohen, who will start his own playlists around 2015.

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Dr. Worm - Jason Trachenburg
Outside Inside - Pop-Ups
It Don't Come Easy - Ringo Starr
Rich Girl - Gwen Stefani & Eve
Monster Face - Roger Day
Cookies and Milk - Frances England
Everybody's Got Their Underwear On - Billy Kelly
Love and Hope - Ozomantli
Sound of Sunshine - Michael Franti & Spearhead
Waiting on the World to Change (Live) - John Mayer
Teenage Dream (Glee Cast Version) - Glee Cast

No new little brother yet. Please check back later this week.

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, November

Where Does The Sun Go At Night? - Dorothy Collins
White Light - Wilco
Big Rock Candy Mountain - The Boogers
You be You - Butterflyfish
Happy - Dog on Fleas
Shake It Loud - Monkey Monkey Music
Church - Lyle Lovett
Mind Over Matter - Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Cookies & Milk - Royal Order of Chords and Keys
Spooky Song - Lazytown
Seven - They Might Be Giants

As he made his playlist for tomorrow morning, Ben asked, "Who's on Twitter?"

Ben's Playlist - Monday, November 23, 2010

Hello Hippopotamus - Laura Doherty
Guitar Was the Case - Mono Puff
We Go Duck - Justin Roberts
Dishes - Joe's Backyard Band
Sunglasses - Recess Monkey
Is This A Joke? - Billy Kelly
Lucy Lawcy - Keller Williams
Run Away - Weezer
Look Both Ways - Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Mac n Cheese - The Bazillions
Si Se Puede - Deedle Deedle Dees

Congratulations to all the 2010 Fids and Kamily Award winners!

Ben's Playlist - Friday, November 19, 2010

We R Who We R - Ke$ha
Forget You (Clean) - Cee Lo Green
Teenage Dream (Glee Cast Version) - Glee Cast
Use Your Words - Jeremy Plays Guitar
Time Out To Rock - The Not-Its!
Saskia Hamilton - Ben Folds & Nick Hornby
Trick or Treat - Justin Roberts
Sometimes I'll Be There - Naked Brothers Band
Let The Good Times Roll - The Cars
Calendar Girl - Neil Sedaka

Some stunning new debuts for Friday.

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, November 18, 2010

Favorite Things - John Coltrane
Alien In My Nose - Trout Fishing in America
Pedal Power - Recess Monkey
There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow - They Might Be Giants
When I'm Five - The Not-Its!
I-D-E-A - The SqueeGees
Dream City - Free Energy
I Eat Kids - Radioactive Chicken Heads
Pluto - Baby Grands
Band-Aid - Matt Clark
Wonderful World - Daddy A Go Go
My Name Is No - Starfish

Today could be a big day.

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, November 17, 2010

The Rockafeller Skank - Fatboy Slim
Shoo Lie Loo - Elizabeth Mitchell
Blueberry Pie - Dog on Fleas
When I Ripped My Pants - Spongebob Squarepants
No One Said It Would Be Easy - Cloud Cult
Sunday Morning - GMG Jam
Unicorn - Dr. Dog
Nonagon - They Might Be Giants
Xavier Xerxes Xeonphanes X - Steve Weeks

Ben's coming brother looms large in the days ahead.

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, November 16, 2010

No Cars Go - The Arcade Fire
Muriel's Hoof - Soft Boys
Hello There - Cheap Trick
Muffin Man - Ella Fitzgerald
Ruling Me - Weezer
Some More S'mores - Charity and the JAMband
Super Sonic Rocket Bike - The Bazillions
The Rhyming Circus - Ralph's World
Macaroni and Cheese - Bill Harley
Mind Over Matter - Secret Agent 23 Skidoo

Another sick day playlist for Ben.

Ben's Playlist - Monday, November 15, 2010

It Makes You Feel Good - Renee & Jeremy
White Light - Wilco
When Life Gives Me Lemons - The Boy Least Likely To
Are You Gonna Eat That? - Keith Munslow
The Climb - Miley Cyrus
Run Away - Weezer
Surfing USA - Beach Boys
Pee Keeps Our Insides Clean - Pete Yorn
I Like It That Way - Sweet Honey in the Rock
Percy on Pluto - The Nields
Have You Ever - Brandi Carlile

If it's Monday, it must be Wilco and "White Light."

Ben's Playlist - Friday, November 12, 2010

Free Your Mind - En Vogue
Where You From? - The Baby Grands
Teenage Dream - Katy Perry
Things You Want - The Hipwaders
Pink Piggie Polka Pancake Picnic - Ernie & Neal
Somebody To Love - Justin Bieber
Crow - Joe's Backyard Band
I Like It Like That - Dave Clark Five
I Go Swimming - Peter Gabriel
Be Yourself - Grenadilla
The Final Countdown - Europe

Bieber, Perry, and... Europe?

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, November 11, 2010

The Rockford Files - Mike Post
Because I Said So - Keller Williams
Don't Pass Me By - Georgia Satellites
Burn It To The Ground - Nickelback
Sing The Changes - Paul McCartney
Church - Lyle Lovett
Squirrels - Mister G
Change My Luck - The Not-Its!
Chocolate Ice Cream - King Pajama

Ben recovering from a cold with these selections.

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Quite Early Morning - Pete Seeger
Joshua's Treehouse - Starfish
One Wasn't Enough - Flannery Brothers
I Feel Like Going Home - Yo La Tengo
Wake Up Shake Up - Rolie Polie Guacamole
Even Numbers - They Might Be Giants
You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile - Dan Zanes & Friends
California Stars - Wilco
This Is Your Body - Baze And His Silly Friends
(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To - Weezer
Trading Squirrels - Recess Monkey
Invisible Man - The Breeders

Home, sick playlist for Ben this am.

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Home - Michael Franti & Spearhead
Sing About the Sun - Dog on Fleas
The Cat Came Back - Monty Harper
So What - Pink
Cookies and Milk - Frances England
Brave New World - Weezer
Imagination - Peter Himmelman
Gelt Melts - The LeeVees
Enough is a Feast - Bill Harley
Say It Loudly - The Not-Its!
Bohemian Rhadpsody - The Muppets

Let's meet the Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight.

Ben's Playlist - Monday, November 8, 2010

Green Teeth - The Zucchini Brothers
White Light - Wilco
Diving in the Deep Blue Sea - Monty Harper
Purple - Laura Freeman
Raspberry Beret - Hindu Love Gods
Collide - Howie Day
Baby Kangaroo - Joe McDermott
Time Out To Rock - The Not-Its!
Time Flies - Weezer

If this is Monday, it must be Wilco and "White Light."

Ben's Playlist - Friday, November 5, 2010

The Hebrew-Speaking Bear - Randy Kaplan
In My Room - Beach Boys
Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode
Six Months in a Leaky Boat - Split Enz
You've Got a Friend In me - Bonerama
When We Was Fab - George Harrison
Root Down - Beastie Boys
Sunglasses - Recess Monkey
The Entertainer - Scott Joplin & George Gershwin
I'm Your Moon - Jonathan Coulton

The Beastie Boys make their debut!

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, November 4, 2010

I-D-E-A - The SqueeGees
Big Heart - Frances England
Hello Hello (Good Morning) - Dustin Type
Turn Your Body Around - Monkey Monkey Music
The Great Pumpkin Roll - Jim Armenti
Oliver's Army - Elvis Costello
Somebody To Love - Justin Bieber
La La La (I Love You) - Egg
Send Me On My Way - Rusted Root
Everyone Everywhere - Baze And His Silly Friends
I Love My Mom - Dennis Caraher

Bieber returns.

Frances England's Beautiful "Mind"

Reasons to Own Your Own "Mind Of My Own"

Too often, children's music gets pigeonholed. I've written before that if I never hear another "going for a ride in the car" song, it'll be too soon. It doesn't take a mastermind to figure out that kids have more to think about. Frances England figures it out for you on her new CD, "Mind Of My Own."



The CD sounds like a time capsule from the 1970s, with tunes such as "Jacques Cousteau" and "Bicycle." Frances dissects the power of a child's imagination in "Red Balloon":

I'm a red crayon

I'm hands on

I'm a fast tricycle

I'm a sour pickle

I'm a mighty tower

I'm a cold, cold shower

I'm three years old and I grow fast.


Yet Frances England, kindie musician, was born after the birth of her first son, Liam. She contributed songs to his preschool fundraiser, which turned into her debut CD, "Fascinating Creatures" in 2007. The CD grew an Internet following and was the sole recording to win the 2007 Oppenheim Platinum Music Award. Her second CD, "Family Tree," followed thereafter and won numerous awards of its own.

"Mind Of My Own" contains 14 new songs with a gentle, creative attitude. Frances accentuates the positive, such as "Cookies and Milk" (which features guitarwork from Doug Snyder of the Jellydots):

We go together like cookies and milk.

We go together like peanut butter and jam.

Let's jam!


A good indication of Frances' appeal comes from experience in our own home. Prior to reviewing the CD, I pulled a few songs to our iTunes directory. Ben quickly identified the tunes ("It's new Frances England") and asked when I would be finished with the review, so he could add it to the pile of CDs for play in the car stereo system. He has looked at other CDs I've received and simply put them back on the desk. But "Mind of My Own" held his interest. And I even feel bad for waiting this long to compose my thoughts, when it's one of the best children's CDs of the year. Well, I'm done. I liked it. And now we'll all hear it again in the car very soon.

This Friday night, November 5, Frances will be premiering "Mind Of My Own" on Sirius XM Radio's Kids Place Live. She will play the entire CD, talk about the themes of the songs, and take listeners for a walk through San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury neighborhood. Frances speaks with a couple of musicians who played on the album to talk about their instruments, inspirations, and share some stories about making music together. The program will be broadcast nationally four times this weekend at the following times:

Friday, 9pET/6pPT

Saturday, 9aET & 5pET

Sunday, 12pET/9aPT

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, November 3, 2010

If Mama Had Four Hands - Sarah Lee Guthrie & Family
Saskia Hamilton - Ben Folds & Nick Hornby
The Race Is On Again - Yo La Tengo
California Stars - Wilco
Hyper Enough - Superchunk
Love Story - Taylor Swift
Run Away - Weezer
Don't Pass Me By - Georgia Satellites
I Wanna Be An Action Figure - Daddy A Go Go
Cows - The Suburbs

Fun fact about Ben's playlist musician of the day: Taylor Swift is twice Ben's age.

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Banana Pancakes - Jack Johnson
Hey Soul Sister - Train
Shake in the Middle - Kaiser George
Baby (Feat. Ludacris) - Justin Bieber
Battleship Chains - Hindu Love Gods
California Gurls - Katey Perry (Feat. Snoop Dogg)
Roundy Round - Monty Harper
Mac n Cheese - The Bazillions
Macaroni and Cheese - Bill Harley

Election day adult fodder.