Elliott Park's Family Sound

Remarkable children's music draws families together; parents introducing their offspring to previously unheard genres, tempos, and performers. It's also a way for musicians to work with their own progeny. Nashville's Elliott Park is the latest in this long tradition. His latest self-explanatory release, SONGS WITH MY DAUGHTERS, aptly describes its contents. Off the top of my head, I can think of two recent musicians who incorporated their kids into their recordings and performances – Lucy Kalantari's son Darius plays cello on her CD and Jim Dague's son played drums for his band, ScribbleMonster.

Elliott used his coronavirus quarantine to creative SONGS WITH MY DAUGHTERS, twelve acoustic tracks with his teenage daughters Anna (18), Autumn (16), and April (14). The trio have popped up on previous songs as background vocals. As they grew into separate, more fully-formed personalities, Elliott decided to bring them into the forefront and showcase their abilities. 

Back in late March, the Park family went for a drive and his daughters began singing in the backseat. Their harmonies turned into the mashup, “Blue Skies Over the Rainbow,” which is included on this collection (and see the video below). The spunky “To The Moon and Back,” features a duet between Anna and her dad. “Rock Paper Scissors” sounds like it was discovered from the archives of some 1940s radio show, but it's a family original. Same with the sprightly "Cricket's Ball":

You're too big if you're too tall
Well, that's okay you can watch it all
Through the old knothole in the tool shed wall

Inspired by this article in TIME magazine, Elliott was moved to use his talents draw attention to current trends to engage social change. All streaming and sales proceeds for the song "Follow" are being donated to a foundation tasked with helping promote teen suicide awareness and prevention. 

Elliott's songs have a gentle, genial quality and his daughters' blended harmonies fit in perfectly with those sensibilities, with a side order of quirkiness, such as the bob-your-head "Orange Jello." Words of wisdom and encouragement are the theme of "Bloom." With three girls on the verge of college and emancipation, Elliott may be preparing for an imminent empty nest with the uplifting "Set Me Free." In the meantime, this 31-minute assemblage of SONGS WITH MY DAUGHTERS could be the start of something big for the Park family.

SONGS WITH MY DAUGHTERS is available from Elliott Park's website, Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon.

Here is the video for "Blue Skies Over the Rainbow":

Quick Hits: New Music from ScribbleMonster and Uncle Dox

As the leaves begin to crinkle and brown, ready for their descent from the trees, children's music artists' focus turns as well. Indeed, I can report on new songs from Uncle Dox and the long-absent ScribbleMonster.

It's been a while since ScribbleJim and ScribbleJayne released new material, but the band has turned to children's books in the break (three to date), and continued their live performances. And apparently there's a Greatest Hits compilation coming in 2020. In the meantime, here's "Amazing Brain," their power-pop, positive-values ode to using your noodle and not taking yourself for granted.

Take a listen now at Soundcloud. And find their catalog now on Amazon Music. 

Uncle Dox has issued "Laser Beam Eyes," a 1980s rap throwback with sound effects that will satisfy all video game players (from two generations). And there's more to come in the near future.

You can find "Laser Beam Eyes" on Soundcloud, Spotify, Bandcamp, and Facebook.

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, May 7, 2015

Animal Kingdom – Key Wilde And Mr. Clarke
Dad Is Takin' a Nap – Keith Munslow
Diamonds – Rihanna
I'm a Shark (I Rock, I Swim) – ScribbleMonster
I'm Not the Sharpest Tool – Dean Jones
Metaphor  – The Alphabeticians
Size Of The Problem – Tom Chapin
The Start of Things  – Alison Faith Levy
Turned Out – Paul McCartney

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Archaeology – Danny Weinkauf
Banana Pudding – Sugar Free Allstars
Big Green Party Machine – David Heatley
Bird in an Airplane Suit – Caspar Babypants
Germs – Joanie Leeds And The Nightlights
How Great Can This Day Be – Lori Henriques
I'm a Shark (I Rock, I Swim) – ScribbleMonster
Kings & Queens – The Hipwaders
Something I Need – OneRepublic

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Pendulum – Pearl Jam
Domino Town  – Dean Jones
I'm a Shark (I Rock, I Swim) – ScribbleMonster
Bonsai – Billy Kelly and the Blah Blah Blahs
Like I'm Gonna Lose You – Meghan Trainor Feat. John Legend
Diamonds – Rihanna
Road Trip – In The Nick Of Time
Steal My Girl – One Direction

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Extraordinary – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
Word Crimes – Weird Al Yankovic
Buzzcut Season – Lorde
Life In Color – OneRepublic
Foolish Father – Weezer
The Way We Gets Down – Mista Cookie Jar & the Chocolate Chips
I'm a Shark (I Rock, I Swim) – ScribbleMonster

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, January 1, 2015

Batteries Not Included – Recess Monkey
It Suits You – Gustafer Yellowgold
Iko Iko – Father Goose
If I Could Fly – Riff Rockit
I'm a Shark (I Rock, I Swim)  – ScribbleMonster
Fill It Up – Josh And The Jamtones
Nobody's Business – Rihanna Feat. Chris Brown
Closer To You  – Michael Franti & Spearhead

Ben's Playlist - Friday, December 19, 2014

The Girl With the Squirrel in Her Hat – Caspar Babypants
Potted Plant Guy – David Heatley
Bionic (feat. Shiz & Lady Asha) – Father Goose
Backyard – Riff Rockit
Robots From The 4th Dimension – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Banana Pudding – Sugar Free Allstars
I'm a Shark (I Rock, I Swim) – ScribbleMonster
Domino Town – Dean Jones
Can We Buy a New Car (So I Can Have a Balloon) – Eric Herman

Eric Herman Blasts Off With Spaced-Out Comedy for Kids

If you've ever wanted to see a joke die a horrible death, tell it to a child. Because of their remarkably delicate built-in BS monitors, most kids respond to awful comedy like normal people act when they encounter bill collectors – smile awkwardly and back-pedal furiously.

The good news about Eric Herman's first comedy album for kids, THE INCREDIBLY SPACED-OUT ADVENTURES OF JUPITER JACKSON, is that it passes the BS monitor test. There was stuff that went over our kids' heads but they mostly enjoyed the sketches, ads, and end-of-CD songs.

First the premise: Satellite station XYZPDQ (funded mostly by Healthy Grains, the makers of Super Sugary Sugar Flakes) is running its regular slate of programming. There's a news report ("ELECTRICAL STORM" has odd audio drop-outs that serve as an opportunity for listeners to devise MAD LIBS), a game show ("THE MATH GAME") which will confound your expectations, and an NPR-style talk show ("ARCHAEOLOGY HOUR") that goes off the rails from the first caller.

The title track is a sci-fi battle between Jupiter Jackson and his arch-nemesis, Max Mullet. In reality, it sounds like two kids running around a shopping mall. But that could just be my adult perspective. Jupiter and Max, incidentally, are voiced by Trout Fishing in America (Keith Grimwood and Ezra Idlet). Kindie musician Roger Day also surfaces in ELECTRICAL STORM in a cameo as the Mayor. I would be remiss if I didn't mention MONSTER LEAGUE BASEBALL and how it crams an endless array of puns and ghoulish jokes into one 10-minute routine. Invite Dracula and aliens to "Who's On First" and you wind up with MONSTER LEAGUE BASEBALL.

With more than 50 million YouTube views, Eric obviously has tapped into something primal that kids understand. While many children's musicians have attempted to work comedy into their recordings (ScribbleMonster comes to mind), Eric has chosen the obvious but riskier route of presenting the comedy UPFRONT (with a couple of comic songs as an encore). In that respect, JUPITER JACKSON is a success. Whether he can further cultivate his audience and develop "children's comedy recordings" into more than a niche category may be the most incredibly spaced-out adventure of 2015.

THE INCREDIBLY SPACED-OUT ADVENTURES OF JUPITER JACKSON is available from Eric Herman's website, CDBABY, Amazon, and iTunes.

Here is the video for the sketch, MONSTER LEAGUE BASEBALL:

Ben's Playlist - Friday, November 21, 2014

First Day of School  – Ethan Rossiter And The Jamberries
Shutterbug – Recess Monkey
Just a Normal Day  – Lesley and the Flying Foxes
Lucky Penny  – The Whirlygigs
I'm a Shark (I Rock, I Swim)  – ScribbleMonster
Alligator Get-Together  – Key Wilde And Mr. Clarke
Bird in an Airplane Suit  – Caspar Babypants
Road Trip  – In The Nick Of Time
Smile in My Heart  – Suzi Shelton

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, November 12, 2014

I Must Be a Genius – Dog On Fleas
Till There Was You – Lucky Diaz And The Family Jam Band
Shine – Elizabeth Mitchell & Dan Zanes
Only Girl (In The World) – Rihanna
Can We Buy a New Car (So I Can Have a Balloon) – Eric Herman
Music – Alex & The Kaleidoscope Band
Shakin' Up The Pollen – ScribbleMonster
Hippo Dance – Key Wilde And Mr. Clarke

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, October 16, 2014

Start Of The End – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Glass Bottom Boat – Jason Didner And The Jungle Gym
Let The Records Play – Pearl Jam
Music – Alex & The Kaleidoscope Band
Copycat – Bill Harley And Keith Munslow
I'm a Shark (I Rock, I Swim) – ScribbleMonster
Manatee – The Whizpops!
Up Periscope – Recess Monkey
Thingamajig – Lucky Diaz And The Family Jam Band

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Puppet Playground – The Pop Ups
You Can Do This – Hullabaloo
A Million Ways to Play – Eric Herman
Recess – Justin Roberts
Throw Me Something Mister  – Jazzy Ash
Shakin' Up The Pollen – ScribbleMonster
Continental Geography – Astrograss
Cumbe – Crosspulse Percussion Ensemble
Domino Town – Dean Jones

Ben's Playlist - Monday, September 8, 2014

Shine – Elizabeth Mitchell & Dan Zanes
Sirens – Pearl Jam
Blink Of An Eye – Frances England
We Can't Stop – Miley Cyrus
I'm a Shark (I Rock, I Swim) –  ScribbleMonster
What's That Sound? – Recess Monkey
Luna Y Lucero – Sonia De Los Santos

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Crayola Doesn't Make a Color for Your Eyes – Kristin Andreassen
Cheese World – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Grandpa Is A Time Machine – Recess Monkey
Everybody Out There  – Paul McCartney
Earn It – Hullabaloo
Shakin' Up The Pollen – ScribbleMonster
Fart Like a Pirate – Papa Crow
BroOKlyn – Mil's Trills
Don't Stop – 5 Seconds of Summer

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Start Of The End – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Time to Dream – Randy Kaplan
Mr Wolf – The Short Films
I'm a Shark (I Rock, I Swim) – ScribbleMonster
Me and My Brand New Haircut – Billy Kelly and the Blah Blah Blahs
Bionic (feat. Shiz & Lady Asha) – Father Goose
Early Days – Paul McCartney
Lighter Feathers – Dean Jones
Be a Little Angel – Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Ben – Zee Avi
Tonight – Princess Katie & Racer Steve
No, No, No – The Little Rockers Band
Potted Plant Guy –  David Heatley
Music – Alex & The Kaleidoscope Band
Freak Out – Astrograss
We Can't Stop  – Miley Cyrus
Liza Jane  –  Jr. Madness
Raise Your Hand – The Not-Its!
Shakin' Up The Pollen – ScribbleMonster

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, May 22, 2014

Little Things – One Direction
Earn It –Hullabaloo
Upside Down – Ratboy Jr.
Kids in America –The Muffs
My Daddy's Record Collection – Sugar Free Allstars
I'm a Shark (I Rock, I Swim) – ScribbleMonster
Mooshpie  – The Whirlygigs
Just a Normal Day – Lesley and the Flying Foxes
So Funny I Forgot to Laugh – Randy Kaplan
Show Me A Sign – Michael Franti & Spearhead

Ben's Playlist - Friday, April 18, 2014

Peaceful – Cat Doorman
Delicious – Orange Sherbert
Blink Of An Eye – Frances England
Changes – David Bowie
Show Me What You're Feeling – Tom Chapin
Turned Out – Paul McCartney
Otis – Justin Roberts
Our Love Fits – Danny Weinkauf
Constant Sorrow (feat. Dan Zanes & Coolie Ranx) – Father Goose
I'm a Shark (I Rock, I Swim) – ScribbleMonster

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Paper Moon – Laura Doherty
Ride In My Little Red Wagon – Willie & The Wheel
Sing-A-Long Song – Lloyd H. Miller
I Got This! – Princess Katie & Racer Steve
My Secret Robot – Justin Roberts
I Am the Wind – Underbirds
Me Time – Chibi Kodama
Heart Attack – One Direction
Just Not Me – The Hipwaders
I'm a Shark (I Rock, I Swim) – ScribbleMonster