Archives for July 6, 2014

Declaring 2014 The Year of the Weird!, award-winning “King of Kid Hop,” Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, has created a supercharged summertime double header — a new album and a new picture book-with-audio — both inspired by the wild and creative spirit of kids.  Skidoo’s fourth album, The Perfect Quirk, is set for release on June 24.  On that same day, his premier literary work, Weirdo Calhoun and the Odd Men Out, will have its “soft” release.

We received this CD to review and this really is Hip Hop for the whole family to enjoy! Such fun tunes that both kids and parents will like! 

The Perfect Quirk, a raucous celebration of originality and the quirkiness of being a kid in this crazy awesome world, is the ideal soundtrack for living room dance parties or a summer vacation on the road less traveled. The tunes are classic hip hop spiced with Motown, reggae, club thump, blues, and the occasional pirate shanty, each one aimed at the quirky soul of the funky family.

As the proud dad of an amazing daughter who gets down to the beat of her own drum, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo knows the parent’s perspective.  As a kid who grew up feeling different and strange before realizing that nobody’s normal, he eventually discovered the need to accept your funky self.  And as a music lover who found gateways to his own understanding on CDs and cassettes, he understands his Secret Mission.

Skidoo explains, “The word ‘weird’ derives from the Old English ‘wyrd,’ which translates as ‘destiny’ or ‘fate.’  I hope this album will help kids realize that their quirks are their own funky destinies, meant to be lived to their potential.  Oh yeah, and I hope it makes ’em dance like they’re crazy!”

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo’s approach to music has always been eccentric and eclectic, and The Perfect Quirk is no exception.  From the combination of Miami bass sounds with Afropop and steel drums on “You’re It” to a rave-sounding dance track about pillow fights to a song written from the song’s own perspective, Skidoo thoroughly embraces the Weird.

Highlights on this party rocker include the Motown flavored “Unwind,” the klezmer/gypsy swing/pirate shanty/polka hop “Imaginary Friend,” and the straight up hip hop “3 Pointed Back,” featuring the world’s quirkiest guest rappers, Skidoo’s daughter MC Fireworks and Adam Strange.  Recess Monkey’s Jack Forman contributes a picture perfect boxing announcer voiceover to “Pillowfight Pillowfort,” and The Verve Pipe’s Craig Griffithdeftly weaves his blues harmonica throughout “PJs All Day.” 

With five #1 hits on Sirius/XM global radio, a track on the 2012 GRAMMY winning children’s recording, and gigs from basketball courts in the Bronx to stages at the Smithsonian, Lollapalooza, and the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo is a standout star on the indie family music scene.  The Washington Post praised his “compelling rhythms and stories, the messages are all positive.  23 leaves parents skeptical of the genre powerless to resist.”  Enthused Today.com, “Secret Agent 23 Skidoo has married the compex beats of hip hop with the magical world of kids.”

Previous Secret Agent 23 Skidoo recordings include Make Believers(2012, NAPPA Gold Award, USA TODAY Best of the Year List, Fids & Kamily winner), Underground Playground (2010, USA TODAY Best of the Year List, Fids & Kamily winner), and Easy (2008, Fids & Kamily winner).

The Perfect Quirk is available at amazon.com, iTunes,www.secretagent23skidoo.com, and at independent retail outlets throughout the country.

Self Disclosure: I received a Free CD to review and feature. Photo Credit/press release info: Secret Agent 23 Skidoo.

Get ready to shake your caderas and sing and learn español with ¡Sabor! Spanish Learning Songs, a fantastic new collection of Spanish language songs from Whistlefritz, producers of the award-winning Spanish immersion CDs Cha, Cha, Cha and ¡A Bailar! (Let’s Dance).

This eagerly-awaited follow-up CD – arriving September 9, 2014 just in time for National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 –  Oct. 15) — is a lively, interactive (emphasis on the word active!) playlist of 15 original songs and family favorites performed in Spanish by internationally beloved singer-songwriter Jorge Anaya and keyboardist Didier Prossaird. ¡Sabor! introduces children to Spanish vocabulary for words and phrases that children use everyday.  The CD is a fun-filled fusion of musical styles – from cumbia and calypso to salsa and merengue – that gets the whole family moving, dancing and having a blast!

“Nothing brings a family together quite like music. And to be learning Spanish at the same time … what could be better?” says Anaya.  “Great rhythms and upbeat songs create an energy that’s contagious and gets kids on their feet every time.  In the Spanish-speaking world when people hear great music they yell ‘Sabor!  So, get ready to dance, learn Spanish and shout ‘Sabor!’”

Recommended for children of all ages, ¡Sabor! retails for $14.99 and is available on iTunes.  Each CD comes with a translation guide.  Whistlefritz CDs for kids have won top honors from such prestigious children’s media organizations as Parents’ Choice Foundation; KIDS FIRST!, Mom’s Choice Awards, The National Parenting Center, NAPPA, Mr. Dad and Dr. Toy’s 10 Best Educational Products and 100 Best Children’s Products.

We received a CD to review and this CD is such a fun way to learn Spanish! I love that it is great for children of all ages! It has to be one of the most fun ways to learn Spanish!  You will also feel like dancing and singing along!

Also available are Spanish for Kids and French for Kids CDs and DVDs. For more information and to purchase, visit www.whistlefritz.com.

About Whistlefritz:

Founded in 2006, Whistlefritz was borne out of a mom’s passion to teach her children Spanish.  Motivated by research showing that early childhood was the best time to learn a language, Whistlefritz’s founder Heidi Stock set out on a mission to assemble high-quality teaching materials for her children.  Not finding what she wanted, she created a line of engaging, playful, live-action Spanish immersion programs for her own children and kids everywhere. Whistlefritz is a trusted name in language learning entertainment, working with schools and parents across the United States and internationally to do one thing:  create entertaining and educational programs to inspire children to want to learn a new language. For more information and to order Whistlefritz products, please visit www.whistlefritz.com.

Self Disclosure: A FREE CD was received to facilitate this feature review but any opinions expressed are honest and truthful.