08/16/2012

Michael Berick

Acclaimed family musician Elizabeth Mitchell, who covered Guthrie tunes in the past, has assembled an album of wee Woody Guthrie tunes (including some of her earlier recordings).

By Elizabeth Mitchell

$11.99, www.folksway.si.edu

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Woody Guthrie’s birth and there have been a number of tributes to the music legend. While Guthrie is best known as a folk singer, he also wrote many songs for children. Acclaimed family musician Elizabeth Mitchell, who covered Guthrie tunes in the past, has assembled an album of these wee Woody tunes (including some of her earlier recordings).

A longtime Guthrie admirer, Mitchell offers a loving salute to his music on this disc. She includes her renditions of Guthrie classics “This Land Is Your Land,” “Why, Oh Why?,” and “Riding In My Car,” as well as wonderfully charming versions of “Little Sugar,” “One Day Old” and “Bling Blang.” She keeps the music simple but slips in nice little touches like Caribbean rhythms in “Sleepy Eyes,” Buddy Holly-esque guitar picking on “Who’s My Pretty Little Baby” and the subtle use of exotic instruments such as the balafon and the ngoni. While Guthrie’s reputation is for politically charged folk tunes, this disc, filled with whimsical, heartfelt songs, reminds listeners of his lighter side. Little Seed offers big time musical enjoyment for the whole family.  

Michael also recommends …

Little Turtles, Davy Andrews; $11, www.davyandrews.com

The New York City-based musician/comedian has created a thoroughly endearing little album with Little Turtles. It’s a highly lo-fi affair with Andrews doing almost all of the playing and singing, but he displays a really nice sense of child-like humor and laidback hooks on this 19-track disc. Particularly memorable are the cleverly constructed “My Backpack,” the poignant “A Sad Song About Being Sad” and the sci-fi salute “Star Wars Is The Greatest.”

It’s Love, Matt and Ellen; $12.97, www.ellenandmatt.net

The local duo returns with a sophomore effort that is truly lovely. Matt and Ellen Kennedy are equally adept at rocking out (the Matt-sung “Tickle Bug”) and being gentle (the Ellen-sung “Sleepover,” which brought the ’70s hit “Precious And Few” to my mind). The title track stands out as a catchy pop rocker with “Teddy Bear” and “Your Body Is A Zoo” also being memorable numbers. It’s Love – its good.

Sing Loud!, Melissa Green; $12.99, www.melissagreenmusic.com

The popular L.A.-based entertainer delivers her most musically mature album with her fourth effort. The dozen songs on Sing Loud! offer an impressive set of music that will appeal to the whole family, not just her normal preschool crowd. The title track is a hooky pop tune, Brooke Shields appears on a cover of the Go-Gos’ “We Got The Beat” and a new version of Green’s own “4 Nickels And A Dime.”