Cool Mom Picks

Achtung Baby!

Classic. Soothing. Lullabies. Brisa's selection of music for children is easy on the ears and ranges from Mozart to Elvis. We're especially digging the Beatles for babies as well as the Brisa Lullaby Wiegendorfer.

Also included in Brisa's collection are Beethoven for Babies and Vivaldi, so you can rock by day and rest by night. Brisa's specialty Cd's are mainly sold in European boutiques and online so check out the Brisa baby catalog for complete listings and make your pickendorfer.

Nothing spells rock and relaxation like German compilation Cd's that come in stylish tin cases.

-Rebecca

Now You Can Save Your Singing for the Shower

If you are one of those moms who’d love to take your kid to music class but dreads singing in front of anyone except yourself in the bathroom mirror, then the Music Everywhere dvd is the perfect solution for you. Created by Boston husband and wife team Adam and Tricia, this refreshingly un-slick dvd provides an informal introduction to music literacy for children up to three years old.

While at first glance it looks a bit like that OTHER series of dvds, Music Everywhere is completely different in that it teaches as much as it entertains (thereby giving you a 28 minute break so you can enjoy your own music, you know - stuff that doesn't involve dancing frogs and flying elephants...). I'm not surprised that my 20-month old (a certified mommy-music class junkie) was engrossed by the great music, colorful scenery, and cast of kids singing along.

It really is just like being in a music class, only with green screen. Which means that even if you do enjoy weekly music classes, Music Everywhere can be a great substitute when the runny noses and sore throats keep you home.

Receive 20% off and free shipping when you use the code COOLMOMPICKS

~ Kristen

Whip it good. And that's an order, young man.

When word got out a few months ago that the Evil Mouse Empire was releasing an album of Devo songs performed by kids, many of my hipster brethren and I were dismayed. Personally I had visions of a KidzBoppian reworking of some of the most influential American rock music. Luckily, after hearing Dev2.0, I'm sold. Not only is it true to the spirit of v1.0, but it also acts as an extension of the original Spudboys' aesthetic of De-Evolution.

So buy this album. It’s catchy, it’s funny, it’s weird. We can debate the merits of selling out and corporate control of art some other time (Swiff it good, anyone?). But this is music that will entertain and challenge your kids--and undoubtedly a lot of parents--and can potentially open up some new horizons for them.

And watching little kids dance to Devo songs is funny.

This review excerpted from a full review at The Lovely Mrs. Davis Tells You What to Think.

Lullabies for EMOmmies

Music is very important to us here at Cool Mom Picks Headquarters, even more important, rock-a-bye'ing our babies to sleep with style.

The Innocence Mission's newest record, "Now the Day is Over", is a collection of classics and original songs that appeals to music-appreciating parents as well as their spawn.

I have been a fan of The Innocence Mission since purchasing Birds of my Neighborhood in 1999 and am still crazy about every song they produce. "Now the Day is Over" is a collection of lullabies, both standard and original that  Karen Peris (vocalist, pianist) and her husband, Don Peris (guitarist) sing to their children. Disc includes Mancini's "Moon River", Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World", Edelweiss, Over the Rainbow and other melodies perfect for sleepy-heads and turning wakey-heads into (ahem) sleepy-heads.

Portions of the proceeds benefit orphaned children in Africa so besides being an essential in your child's lulla-brary you can rest easy knowing your cash is going somewhere other than Disney's pocket (cough. Baby Einstein. Cough.)

Listen to a sample here. Buy here. Sweet dreams.

-Rebecca

Around The World in 39 Minutes

Call me crazy, but I think if I hear another cheesy kid's song belted by an extremely happy male and female duo, I may just lose my lunch. I'm not sure what makes us think that kids like to listen to purple dinosaurs and four men in matching shirts when it's perfectly obvious that if they'll listen to that stuff, they'll probably listen to anything. So, why not choose something that is pleasing to our own ears and doesn't talk about trains, bikes, and fruit salad? With that in mind, I decided to try out Putamayo's World Playground: A Musical Adventure for Kids CD. After listening to the various child-appropriate yet adult-friendly popular and traditional songs from Africa, Greece, Cuba, and more, it is now a permanent fixture in our cd player. It's obvious that Putamayo, who is well-known for their top-notch world music collections, had the interest of both parent and child in mind when choosing the songs for this compilation. Heck, I don't remember the last time I was happy to hear my daughter ask for her music. Eat that Captain Feathersword. 

~ Kristen