“You can’t fake the mojo.” Musicians worth their salt will tell you that, and it is never more apparent thanwhen an “adult musician” tries to tinker half-heartedly with the younger genre.
But two new releases reaffirm that there is, in fact, good (educating, entertaining) kids’ music coming out this year.
One is a concept album featuring a guitar-slinging, singing monkey who tries to overcome his disillusionment with fame and get back to the joy of making music for its own sake.
The other is a collection of pop/rock tunes by yet another in a long line of 30-something guys with acoustic guitars, but from the first listen this comes across as music from the heart—which can’t be said for the majority of artists who fit that description.
The Ballad of Phineas McBoof is a high-production affair featuring crafty lyrics that tell the story of a journey to strange lands. This cartoon-colored Odyssey shows how Phineas learns about other creatures’ love of music. He comes to appreciate the attributes of a musical ensemble, from a hippopotamus’s bottom-thumping bass lines to a friendly robot’s techno remixes. This all serves to bring him back to his senses and start playing again, as he realizes we each have a song to contribute to the great symphony of life.
Doctor Noize, a.k.a. Cory Cullinan, is adept at composing complex, layered songs that use music to reinforce the emotional theme. He alludes to everything from The Beatles to Beethoven (and even a bit of the theme from “Jaws”). All in all, this is a fun audio story that your kids will enjoy over and again.
Roger Day’s got mojo to spare, and on Dream Big he’s not faking anything. “From his first job as a camp counselor to his current jam-packed concert and recording schedule,” reads his own publicity, “Roger Day has been writing and performing smart, interactive music that encourages kids to sing loud, jump high, and dream big.”
I believe that’s the first time I’ve used an artist’s promotional words in a non-mocking way, and here’s why: It’s true. You can tell from just one listen that this guy “gets it”—and the camp counselor bit is illuminating.
The songs have energy, spark and honesty that speak of someone who has spent lots of time with kids and knows how to engage them.
The lyrics of the title track tell kids that they “get one life—you gotta dream big!” And what’s possible when you dream big? “If you want to turn your enemy into your friend…we’re gonna make sure hope never ends.”
Roger Day is someone whose ideas I’d be happy to hear my own child learn and spout. I can’t say that about the majority of what’s on the market these days.

Richmond writer, musician and teacher Joseph W. Cates bought his daughter a guitar before she was born.