January 10, 2005
Kids Music Review: Dan Zanes
filed under: Dadditudes
Rocket Ship Beach - Dan Zanes and Friends
This is the album that has resulted in Max referring to all music as "DAN!" or if he's particularly excited, "DANNNN-NUH!" while pointing at the cd player and jumping up and down. It's a loose and jangly collection of mostly traditional and standard songs (Polly Wolly Doodle, Over the Rainbow, Sunny Side of the Street) with 2 originals thrown in for good measure. Dan Zanes is a Brooklyn staple, beloved of children and their would-be-hipster parents alike - and an ex-member of the Del Fuegos (immortalized by Juliana Hatfield's song My Sister).
I highly recommend it - after at least 150 listens in the last 3 months we're only gently sick of it. Guest spots by Suzanne Vega, Cheryl Crow, G.E. Smith and the amazing Rankin' Don (who plays Father Goose on my - I mean, uh, Max's - favorite tracks). Zanes describes his musical style as "loose and instinctual," and it is in spades - unassuming, rag-a-tag, fun stuff. If you have a kid within a year of Max's age, you've probably already seen his "House Party" on Noggin, which gives you an idea of the flavor - but these songs are less simplistic and more satisfying.
Other Dan Zanes albums (most of which we'll be ordering today, since even the best album does get worn a bit thin after several hundred listens):
