Monday, June 28, 2021

The Lucky Band C's a New Generation

Note: It seemed like a dozen children's music performers all released new music on June 25. I am staggering the reviews – literally and figuratively – as I listen and write about them. Courage, everybody!

Latin Grammy winners the Lucky Band are back with new music for Generation C. What is that, you may well ask? You've heard of Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Z. But did you know that your kids are part of the next round – with the "C" originally slated for things such as creation, curation, connection, and community. With the advent of COVID, they will be known for coming of age during the modern pandemic. "Generation C" is also the first song on CRAYON KIDS, the new collection from the Lucky Band. 

Post-coronavirus life and a return to normalcy are the key themes of CRAYON KIDS. We can't ignore that remote education happened (and virtually killed the concept of "snow days" in the northeast). Kids should get back to enjoying their childhoods, and the Lucky Band is on the case, with songs like "Sabado," a ska tune about weekend activities and "Dinomite," about a dinosaur from out of space (shades of "Eep Opp Ork Aah Ahh").

Between the pandemic and social unrest (bandleader Diaz found himself unhappily involved in a police incident), the band managed to produce an exceptionally life-affirming album. Distances melted away via Zoom as frequent collaborator Michael Farkas (based in New York's Hudson Valley) helped craft the arrangements for CRAYON KIDS.

The band covers a lot of ground in only nine tracks. Diaz and frontwoman Alisha Gaddis sing groovy harmony on "Dedos (Fingers)," a Spanish Dick Dale/twanging surf guitar tune. The frisky jive "Hey You!" finds Diaz prepping to eat his weight in snacks and junk food. The title track refers to city kids (of all crayon colors) as they traverse their surroundings with the familiarity of people many times their age, as Diaz channels a family-friendly bilingual Lou Reed. The SoCal soft rock ballad, "Better Together" closes the album with San Francisco's Frances England guesting with her trademark laidback vocals.

There's a spate of bilingual children's recording artists doing their best to integrate audiences from coast to coast. The Lucky Band and Twinkle on the West Coast are proponents of this (not new) movement. With CRAYON KIDS, the Lucky Band welcomes youngsters back into the larger world with a dance beat and hooks that don't stop. Diaz enthusiastically shows plenty of reasons to venerate his generation. 

CRAYON KIDS is available from the Lucky Band's website, Amazon, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Here is a video for the song "Dinomite":

Thursday, June 24, 2021

Dilly Dallies Bring the Fun to Weirdness

It's all about timing. The Dilly Dallies know their youngest listeners probably won't get the significance of their latest release, DO YOU THINK I'M WEIRD, coming out in the middle of Pride Month. But it's important to note that "being weird" is a hallmark for many members of the LBGTQ community, many of whom have toddlers and tykes of their own. As they sing on the title track, "I don’t really care if you think I’m weird, It’s not like I suddenly have no ears."

The Dilly Dallies are comprised of Steve Slater and Jenn Ekman. Professional drummer/stay-at-home dad Steve performs with four San Francisco Bay Area bands and wears many hats working as a music instructor. Stay-at-home mom Jenn is a singer and stage actor with more than 25 productions under her belt. Steve and Jenn dubbed themselves the Dilly Dallies as an acknowledgement of the curiosity of children (including their own), who tend to dawdle, observe, and generally dilly dally as they investigate the world around them. Their radio show is also broadcast at Alameda Community Radio, where they go over topics contributed by young radio listeners.

The dozen songs on DO YOU THINK I'M WEIRD celebrate the spirit of individuality and positivity, which are important to every children's development. You can also find lyrics and chords on their website. "Boring Human" discusses how we don't possess the traits of other species (such as "I wish I was a penguin/ I’d survive in the freezing cold"). "Fictional World of Excitement" encourages kids to be spontaneous and creative. "It's Wonderful Being Short" gives a whole list of reasons to ignore anyone who body shames kids who have yet to go through growth spurts. But the message of inclusion also allows room for silliness, such as "Chuck":

I’m a chuck – A chicken and a duck.
A product of pure luck.
I’m a Chuck.
And everywhere I go, people want to know, what’s a Chuck.

Deep down, the Dilly Dallies realize that everyone feels weird now and then. DO YOU THINK I'M WEIRD asks and answers its own question, with a healthy dose of parental love. On "Let Me Breathe You In,' Jenn sings an ode to children born and unborn, "I loved you before I even met you, and you learned the sound of my heartbeat, I'll try to see the world through your eyes." That's a truth we could all learn a little something about. In fact, take a little pride this month in your own personal growth.

DO YOU THINK I'M WEIRD is available from the Dilly Dallies' website, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Here is the video for the band's song, "I Want To Pet an Ant":

Thursday, June 17, 2021

Andy Z, Baze Show Love for Dads And Other People

A children's musician with love on his mind is Andy Z (Andreas Zamenes). The numbers "1 4 3" hold special significance for Andy. Having grown up as part of the generation that cherished Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Andy appreciated Fred Rogers' messages of love and inclusion. He read an article about the interpretation of 143 being messaging shorthand for "I love you" and resolved to write a simple song sharing Mister Rogers' simple philosophy. Why? Because you should always take advantage of an opportunity to tell people how you feel, pandemic or not. The song is being released in the "sweet spot" between Mothers' Day and Fathers' Day, two of the most important people in any person's life. 

Listen and download "1 4 3" from SpotifyPandoraApple Music, and Amazon.

Here is the video for "1 4 3":


When Maggie Smith was interviewed on 60 Minutes a few years ago, she delivered one quote (paraphrasing someone else) that resonated with me. Smith said, "Getting old means you have breakfast every 10 minutes." Baze and His Silly Friends celebrate the accelerated pace of parenting on their new track, "Where Does the Time Go?" The song recounts how life keeps moving, even as we make our own plans. The lead part is sung by bass player James Goodwin, with support from Baze (Marc Bazerman), dummer Jeff Pizzi, and former Stylistics piano player Steve Myerson. The video features family footage of all of the bands' children, doing what comes naturally to all kids at the infant through toddler stages of life. As Steve Miller recounted, time keeps slipping into the future. We all just need to strap in for the ride of our lives.

"Where Does The Time Go?" is available at Amazon, Apple Music, and Spotify.

Here is a video for "Where Does the Time Go":

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

All Are Welcome in Carrie Ferguson's Grumpytime Club

Kids are sponges for information. Their receptors are brand new and open to all concepts, which is why virulent ideas like racism and antisemitism are taught, not inherited. Musician Carrie Ferguson (no relation to Red Yarn/Andy Furgeson) timed the release of her new album, THE GRUMPYTIME CLUB to coincide with "inclusion month" for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride. As a queer/gender nonconforming artist, Ferguson hopes to open ears by fostering dialogue about acceptance, using melodies and catchy lyrics that bring parents and their children into one blended audience.

Five years ago, Bob Schneider released THE L, a kid's music album with tracks he'd been recording with his son over the entire course of the youngster's life, from four years old to pre-teenage years. Ferguson ups the ante on THE GRUMPYTIME CLUB. "Tavi's Song" was written nearly 20 years ago to celebrate the birth of Tavi, her best friend's son. Now Tavi (and his brother, Aza) both play instruments and sing backups on the emotionally-charged song and other tracks on the album. Aza also gets his own sweet piano ballad "Aza's Song" on the album, with the refrain, "Never forget, you were made from love."

While Ferguson has been writing and releasing family-friendly music for a decade, THE GRUMPYTIME CLUB serves as a set of gentle, decisive messages. As social justice warriors are demanding their place on the world stage, Ferguson's songs teach welcoming and inclusive messages (accepting feelings, celebrating differences, and loving yourself exactly as you are). "Lend Me Your Glasses" talks about seeing what the world can see through other people's eyes (and lives). Album-closer "Hope Parade" talks euphemistically about "people dressed in colors with different color flags," clearly addressing the various causes and protests of our shared pandemic year. "The Best Way To Be" targets self-image and feeling good about yourself:

So I went to the mirror and smiled back at my face
Took a deep breath and said "This is my place."
And I'm not afraid to be me
'cause I'm the only one I know how to be
And it's plain to see
That the best way to be is to just be me

Messages are important but the music also has to stand on its own merits. Ferguson confidently conveys a bucolic whimsy of "The Puppy Song (You and I)" and a mirthful klezmer feel on "Mishy Mashy Mushy Mooshy Moo." The rocking "Do It Again" will have kids waving their arms and kicking their feet in the car seats, as well as demanding "play it again." On THE GRUMPTYTIME CLUB, Ferguson builds on her experiences and years of instructing children to create songs filled with depth, passion, poignancy, and social significance. She provides choruses for kids to sing along and join the growing "Hope Parade." Ferguson has opened the doors of THE GRUMPYTIME CLUB and is eager to find receptive admirers. 

THE GRUMPYTIME CLUB is available from Carrie Ferguson's website, Amazon, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Here is the video for the song "Cat and Piggy":

Monday, June 14, 2021

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Reality In Motion – Tame Impala
Sweet Child of Mine – Renee & Jeremy (feat. Renee Stahl & Jeremy Toback)
Winter Bird / When Winter Comes – Paul McCartney
It's a Miracle – Dog On Fleas
Anything Can Be A Hat – Ratboy Jr.
Cars for the Stars – Jack Forman

Renee & Jeremy's Gentle Rock For All Folks

I am haunted by gentle acoustic music from Renee Stahl and Jeremy Toback (Renee & Jeremy). Their deceptively simple, singable melodies will sweep you away and induce thoughts of "where were you when you first heard..." a particular tune. While Renee has recorded several CDs "....with friends," WHOLE LOTTA LOVE is her first full collaboration with Jeremy in nine years. You wonder where the time has gone, as there is a timeless spirit to the select selections, including standard bearer "Here Comes the Sun" and modern classic "Roam" (from the B-52s).

The pandemic has brought Renee & Jeremy full circle. They first worked together a decade ago on a song to celebrate the birth of Renee's (and her husband Paul's) son, Miles. Subsequently, they took their favorites and slimmed them into to sparse, kid-friendly arrangements that can be enjoyed by the whole family. The full thunderous Guns 'N Roses "Sweet Child O'Mine" isn't exactly age-appropriate for the under-three diaper set. With the steady hand of longtime producer Rich Jacques, Renee & Jeremy turn the anthem into a dreamy, hummable lullaby. Fancy that, Slash.

In the 1960s, the folk movement was all about rediscovering precious, decades-old material and presenting it as originally conceived to audiences beginning to embrace rock and roll. Fifty years on, Renee & Jeremy spin that concept to present "what if" ethereal, gossamer re-imaginings of songs by Led Zeppelin (the title track), Sly and the Family Stone ("Everyday People"), and the Pixies ("Where Is My Mind").

During the song selection process, Jeremy was intrigued when Renee and producer Rich suggested 'Whole Lotta Love.' "The Zeppelin version is so blatantly sexual," he recalled. "I really doubted that it was possible to transform and make it into a sweet family friendly love song... Now it’s one of my absolute favorite things we’ve ever done."

Rich brought INXS's 'Don’t Change' into the mix during pre-production discussions. "I always loved the INXS original growing up, but just wasn't sure if we could make it meaningful, R&J style," Jeremy explained. But once the duo played it, they transformed a romantic anthem into a quiet, moving call for kids of all ages to simply be themselves. "Rich came up with that Leonard Cohen-esque arpeggio part while we were recording and it became a template for the rest of the record, in terms of emotional tone and textural spareness," he added.

'Sweet Child O’ Mine' was the result of fan suggestions through Instagram. "I'm still a little amazed by how heartbreakingly touching it turned out," Jeremy said. "Renee really touched on something deep with her vocal." The rendition evocatively sums up who Renee & Jeremy are and what they want to do. "Our goal is not only to give comfort to actual children, but to the children inside all of us, who still need that nurturing and support," he affirmed.

Renee admitted she wasn’t familiar at all with 'Where Is My Mind' but said, "We truly had a circe of trust, combed through a long list of curated songs, and tried it out. "Some songs we thought we were completely sure of, until we tried them in the room," Renee said. "On paper, songs can feel so different until you add voice and vibe." 

Considering Jeremy's grunge rock origins (bassist for the band Brad which featured Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard), the soft-rock, melodic recordings of Renee & Jeremy feel like an acoustic "time-out" for the West Coast-based duo. But maybe not. What's more welcoming to young audiences – loud, ominous yowling or gentle, inviting easy-to-remember, call-and-response songs. The B-52s wrote "Roam" to make people dance. This duo revisited "Roam" as a gateway to music as a voyage towards respect and mindfulness. Renee & Jeremy put a whole lotta love into WHOLE LOTTA LOVE. 

WHOLE LOTTA LOVE is available from Renee and Jeremy's website, Amazon, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Here is the video for the song "Here and Now":

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Ben's Playlist - Monday, June 14, 2021

'Cause I'm A Man – Tame Impala
One Of The Boys – Huey Lewis & The News
Helicopter Leaves – Ants Ants Ants
Lo/Hi  – The Black Keys
The Beginning – Jack Forman
Watermelon Sugar – Harry Styles

Thursday, June 10, 2021

Ben's Playlist - Friday, June 11, 2021

Remind Me Why I Love You Again – Huey Lewis & The News
I Just Wanna Shine – John Wicks|James King|Fitz & The Tantrums|Jeremy Ruzumna|Joseph Karnes|Noelle Scaggs|Michael Fitzpatrick
La Brea Tar Pits – Weezer
Shine A Little Light – The Black Keys
Golden – Harry Styles
Doppelganger – Dog On Fleas

Jenn Cleary Sings the Sustainability Blues

If there was ever a time to sing the blues, it was during our shared pandemic year. Contrary to popular belief, the blues are not exclusively gloomy or unhappy. Blues is a song style that can convey many positive sentiments, such as family, environment, and community. Leading the 2021 blues brigade is Boulder, Colorado-based Jenn Cleary, with her first children's release, ALL TOGETHER NOW!

Cleary's journey to children's music took a circuitous path that went through Nepal, India, and Tibet. Making a difference on that side of the planet, she founded and ran a non-profit that promoted locally sustainable health and economic sufficiency programs in those countries. During that time, Cleary became acquainted with Dorje Dolma, a girl raised by nomadic yak herders in Nepal who needed life-saving surgeries. Cleary brought Dorje to America and subsequently adopted her. After college, Dorje went to work in a preschool and the duo cowrote the song, "Families Of All Kinds," based on Dorje's firsthand experiences. Dorje also contributed the cover artwork, "Healing Heart," for ALL TOGETHER NOW! (For more about Dorje's journey, you can read her book, Yak Girl: Growing Up in the Remote Dolpo Region of Nepal.)

During the past two decades, Jenn Cleary has released three adult-oriented blues CDs and performed around the world, including at the Sundance Film Festival and Colorado Rockies games. Her playlist always included a handful of infectious, kid-friendly tunes, leading her to develop ALL TOGETHER NOW! for family audiences. Cleary shares flights of fantasy on songs like "Dinosaur Friend" and "Bubbles." Similar to Tom Chapin's "This Pretty Planet," Cleary mixes social consciousness with traditional family interests. An avid beekeeper, the pollinating creatures make appearances on several tunes, most prominently on "My Sisters And Me" about a beehive working in harmony. The theme is crystal clear in numbers like "Clean Water," Love Right Now," and "Backyard Farm" (her zydeco variation on "Old MacDonald").  

Having traveled extensively and helped families in far-flung countries, Cleary doesn't break a sweat singing about the disparity of families. What makes a family different doesn't make it any less relevant as a family unit, she points out on "Families of All Kinds." That also goes for the animal kingdom, on "Our Wild Family." Thanks to technology, the pandemic showed kids that their concerns are no different from other children around the world. On ALL TOGETHER NOW!, Cleary celebrates the amazing variety of universal values that surround and sustain our civilization. That's clear cause for upbeat blues, sunny skies, and honey bees.

ALL TOGETHER NOW! is available from Jenn Cleary's website, Amazon, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Here is a video for Jenn's song "Those Boys":

Tuesday, June 08, 2021

Bilingual Happiness and Hope From Sonia de los Santos

Flowers are not the only beautiful things blooming this spring. En masse, children's artists used the 2020 pandemic year to expand their networks and create positive, forward-thinking music. Those recordings are now exploding like La Tomatina (a festival in Buñol, Spain where close to 30,000 people gather every summer to collect overripe tomatoes and throw them at each other). Putting aside whether or not you enjoy tomatoes, you will sway and dance to ESPERANZA, the third collection of tunes from Mexican-American singer-songwriter Sonia de los Santos.

Homebound, locked down, and quarantined in New Jersey during the early days of the pandemic, Sonia livestreamed concerts and counted the days until she could visit family living south of the border. Sonia also recorded segments for SiriusXM Kids Place Live called ¿Que Pasa, Sonia? featuring her favorite Spanish-language and bilingual songs about friendship, food, travel, and more.

Sonia eventually traveled back to Mexico. In the following months, she reflected on the literal, physical, and spiritual journeys that 2020 put her through, as well as the changes in the surrounding world. Sonia found comfort in the simple comforts of home, happiness, and – above all – the spirit of hope. ESPARANZA arrives in 12 new songs that proclaim those values, merging folk traditions with Mexican rhythms including salsa, bullerengue, cumbia, and a touch of funk. I mentioned networking – Sonia also found ways to incorporate 29 singers, bandmates, and other musicians into this release.

The ebulient title track translates into "Hope" and young audiences are encouraged to find and explore the things that got through the pandemic and continue to inspire them. With “Quiero Que Nueva York Sea Mi Casa (I Want New York To Be My Home)," Sonia pumps up the beat to match the 24/7 vibe and ferocity of New York City. The track is also perfectly timed with the upcoming release of the film version of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway play, In The Heights:

In Nueva York you can find sounds from all over the world
The Caribbean is alive with its people and their songs
You can hear them in the street
Dancing all over the Bronx
The bodega in Washington Heights
Everybody is sharing love

On "This Land Is Also Mine," Sonia remains upbeat in the face of rising racism and fear of "the other," deftly addressing the twin issues of immigration and citizenship. Many have taken the same path that she did. "If you were in my shoes I bet you’d understand," Sonia points out. Perhaps, eternally optimistic. Other standout tracks are the dance-tastic "¡Fiesta, Fiesta!" and  “Fan-dan-go,” which touts the fun and festivity of being part of a community (locally and globally).

The face of children's music is evolving. While it once encompassed mostly white faces (Raffi, Laurie Berkner, Dan Zanes), we now have a multi-cultural coalition that demands to be heard, respected, and embraced. Sonia de los Santos offers children a friendly figurative hug (social distancing still in effect), a strong, singular voice, and plenty of esperanza.

ESPERANZA is available from Sonia de los Santos's website, Amazon, Spotify, and Apple Music

Here is a video for the song "Esperanza":

Thursday, June 03, 2021

Ben's Playlist - Friday, June 4, 2021

Whole Lotta Love – Renee & Jeremy (feat. Renee Stahl & Jeremy Toback)
Here Comes The Rain – Weezer
I Am There For You – Huey Lewis & The News
Buenos Dias – The Lucky Band
White Whale – Kepi Ghoulie
Village d'Ãtoile – Dog On Fleas

'Wiggles+ You' on Hellosaurus: A Chat With Lachy Wiggle

The ubiquitous nature of devices in our lives became clear during the pandemic. It was also unfortunate good timing for Hellosaurus. The award-winning platform for children's content transition kids from passive observers to active participants through original programming, such as Tim Kubart's The Birthday Show. This week, Hellosaurus announced the launch of The Wiggles + You, an exclusive interactive series featuring the renowned Australia-based performers, who recently celebrated their milestone 30th anniversary.

The Wiggles: Lachy, Anthony, Emma, and Simon
According to Hellosaurus founder James Ruben (former head of product for HQ Trivia), the platform makes interaction a critical part of the story through its proprietary technology, combining traditional gaming engineering with streaming video. “What would have required an entire engineering team in the past, can now be done directly by a creator, such as the Wiggles," Ruben explains.

For 30 years, The Wiggles have used technology to find new ways to connect with literally generations of fans. The partnership with Hellosaurus helps children learn through on-screen activities with all four Wiggles – original icon Anthony, plus Simon, Emma, and purple Wiggle Lachlan "Lachy" Gillespie.

The Hellosaurus invitation came at an opportune time, as the Wiggles had to cancel tour dates due to COVID protocols. "It was it was a weird year for everyone, but it gave us a chance to to do things like this, which have been so much fun," Lachy says. "You know, never, ever waste a crisis. We do really hope that everyone loves it. James is so musical about Hellosaurus that our whole team was very excited to talk to them. It's an exciting project. The Wiggles + You uses a brand new brand new technology that takes what we do as the Wiggles to a whole new scale."

The Wiggles + You features the quartet in six episodes, taking kids on epic playdates with their favorite Wiggle – on a silly safari, a fancy tea party, a detective day, an airport adventure, and more. The episodes use problem-solving skills and creative thinking to collaborate alongside The Wiggles. Children respond and react in real time by drawing, building, solving, and helping the performers along the way. 

"In each episode, children play a main role in moving the stories forward. For example, they must wake up Lachy before the flight takes off and the whole gang flies the plane to go meet Dorothy," James explains. Through their experiences, children develop parasocial relationships with The Wiggles, who engage as trusted influencers. "Kids can imagine, pretend, and play in lots of different roles, fostering curiosity and developing confidence," he adds.

Lachy Wiggle as seen on The Wiggles + You
The Wiggles are in the forefront of promoting diversity and positive values. The supporting cast in each of the six The Wiggles + You stories is comprised of all female characters. To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the group released a collection featuring the new, inclusive song, "We're All Fruit Salad." As Lachy points out, "It's always about explaining a concept in a way that the child understands...every company, you know, across the world is doing doing the same things now."

Anthony Wiggle and an American friend crafted "We're All Fruit Salad" for the commemorative CD. "The song came together and we got our friends from all over the world to be a part of it," Lachy says. "That turned out really nicely and we're actually performing that show live during the set at the moment. "It's an exciting time for and one of Anthony's biggest strengths is the fact that he is always attempting and always changing." 

As the world reopens, the Wiggles find themselves back on the road. "We did a wonderful two weeks in New Zealand and it was our biggest tour ever, actually, of the country," Lachy says. "And wow, we got through the whole it was like nothing's happened over there. It was quite amazing to see full audiences." The group is about to start shows in Western Australia that were postponed last year due to the pandemic. 

In addition to the new series, The Wiggles have also licensed ten of their iconic music videos to be transformed into interactive experiences for kids. Children will participate in new immersive segments that promote positivity, friendship, and cooperation, right on their touchscreen. All six episodes of The Wiggles + You as well as the ten iconic music videos are available today exclusively on the Hellosaurus app, which can be downloaded on the App Store. Get a free 14-day trial of Hellosaurus by clicking here.

"Our act keeps moving and the Wiggles keep adapting with new ways to connect with children," Lachy says. "It's so exciting for the Wiggles. We've never done something like Hellosaurus before and we really hope that the families love it."

Here is a preview video about The Wiggles+ YOU:


Tuesday, June 01, 2021

Inside Elliott Park's Mouth

Contrary of the title of his new family music EP, Elliott Park is not feeling down in THE MOUTH. Coming out of the pandemic, Park has all his ducks in the row. He recently signed with kids-only 8 Lb Gorilla Records, which has released Park's second collection of tunes featuring the Nashville-based artist and his three teenage daughters, Anna (18), Autumn (16), and April (14).

The seven tracks on THE MOUTH run the gamut from a mock protest rock anthem ("Silent Letters") to folksy duet ("Lemon Pie" with April) to Johnny Cash homage ("I've Watched Everything"). In the last song, Park comically laments needing an MRI because his remote control got stuck in his grip due to compulsive television habits. "I've got an LED tan 'cause I've watched everything," he reports, including:

Star Trek, Love Boat, Howdy Doody, Gunsmoke
Muppet Show, Twilight Zone, every single episode
Full House, Mighty Mouse, Super Bowl, Columbo
SpongeBob, Fraggle Rock, TeleTubbies, Fargo
Mr. Rogers, Barney, Bob the Builder, Dawson's Creek
Mod Squad, HeeHaw, Peppa Pig, Shawn the Sheep

The title track is an ode to the control that "The Mouth" leverages over the rest of the body. The heart may want a kiss and the stomach might be hungry, but the buck stops at the face's point of entry. However the mouth is also responsible for saying "I love you," Park reminds listeners. "Silent Letters" declares the time has come to bring full pronunciation to words like "IS-land" and "Ton-GUE." It's the perfect track for anyone who has inadvertently misread or spoken a word due to phonetic uncertainty. 

Elliott Park's kids' music straddles the fertile divide between the country and kindie genres. His family jam band entertains your kids without insulting your intelligence. Expect positive word of mouth to spread his praises. 

THE MOUTH is available from Elliott Park's website, Amazon, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Here is a video for the song "The Mouth":