Friday Free-for-All # 6

Our sixth quick overview of recent kids' music:

Astrograss, Let Me Stay Up All Night

Brooklyn's purveyors of bluegrass for kids finally release their first full-length CD. Their specialty in concert is putting Shel Silverstein lyrics to bluegrass music, and on this CD, although there are no Shel poems, Astrograss display their influences openly and proudly, including the lyrical playfullness of Silverstein and the wit of John Hartford, grandfather of "newgrass". Great covers of "Drunken Sailor" and Oh! Susanna", along with over a dozen originals. Wonderful fun!


Joe McDermott, Everybody Plays Air Guitar

The fourth kids' CD from Austin, Texas-based McDermott continues his string of pop rock hits for the little ones. Dig the powerpop title track and the doo-wop rewrite of "I've Been Workin' on the Railroad". And this is one busy guy: Along with recording children's tunes, McDermott scores video games and educational DVDs, and often performs his songs live with the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Rock on!