Category Archives: Music

Check It Out: Caspar Babypants – Here I Am!

Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews by

Here I Am!  Not me, but the name of the debut album of this awesome band.  Please note that since it’s release in 2009 there have been 3 more releases in less than 4 years.  Two of them released in the same year.  I would say that is pretty awesome but what is even more awesome is that Chris Ballew, the man behind the music, is the former lead singer of “Presidents of the United States of America.”  Yes, those people.  Yes, that song “Lump.”  Regardless of how you felt about Presidents (I was a fan!) you can’t deny their propensity to produce a catchy tune or two.  Well, Ballew has moved into the Kindie arena and it seems to be a beautiful fit.

The songs that Caspar has produced up to this point are catchy, soulful and filled with fun.  Some of the songs are originals and others are beautifully revised.  Here I Am was released back in 2009 and I chose to review this album first because my 3yr old has requested it every time we have gotten into the car for the past couple of months.  Yes, months.  But, we have the other albums and so I do try to sneak in some of their other classics which is always met with a breath of excitement to the tune of “Oh, this song is on here yay!”

So, get on over to their site and check out their sound.  You can listen to samples from each album as well as buy the CD or individual tracks directly from their site.

Here are some videos from this release, just to whet your appetite (these can also be found on the site as well).

Caspar Babypants – The Island Hop


Caspar Babypants – Bug in the Cuff


Caspar Babypants – Baby Bear

Check It Out: Mr. Ray – The Classroom Collection – Best Of…

Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews by

This morning was another gloomy one  with nothing but clouds and promise of rain.  Yuck.  I hate those mornings.  I like a bit of sunshine with my coffee and busy toddler.  As usual, we went to turn on music and I was instantly racking my brains for some good music that we haven’t listened to a million times over.  I decided to browse around for some new music and came across Mr. Ray’s Best Of….The Classroom Collection.  Presto!  It was just the right amount of happy that we needed to get the morning started.  Mr. Ray has a very catchy way of hooking you into bobbing up down and snapping.  His songs are more than catchy and speak to important themes such as sharing, waiting your turn, cleaning up and using your manners (which is a dub inspired tune reminding our children to say ‘please’).  And, for those passionate about acronyms (I will never forget the Every Good Boy Does Fine acronym from my piano lesson days) there is a tune about a boy named Roy G Biv whose name stands for the colors of the rainbow of course.  And who doesn’t love learning about a rainbow.  You and your child will love bopping up and down and maybe even skipping to Mr. Ray’s infectious kindie (that’s Indie + Kids) grooves.

Bio: A jersey rocker turned kindie rocker when he was invited to perform for kids at his wife’s preschool.  After performing a couple of songs for the kids, he instantly became Mr. Ray.  Mr. Ray has an extensive rock bio including playing and touring with Meatloaf, playing with Springsteen and Bon Jovi, and even getting to play for the United Nations in NYC.  His passion for the last several years has been playing for kids under the age of 8 and has been loving it.

This just might be a case where I end up stealing from my daughter’s music chest.

You can find Mr. Ray here
You can listen to clips here