The Fids and Kamily Awards were announced on Saturday!  I think the eleven winners and twelve honorable mentions geniuinely represent the best in children’s and family music from past year.  (Okay, I haven’t actually heard three of them, but the other twenty are pretty good.)  You can see the full list of winners and other nominated albums on the Fids and Kamily website.

If I were clever, I’d nonchalantly segue into the fact that I was a judge this year…   (stares at nails) “Oh, I suppose that is my name on the list under judges…” (coughs)  …but I’m not clever, so I’ll just tell you how excited and honored I was that Stefan Shepherd, Bill Childs, and Gwyneth Butera asked me to submit my favorites.

So, what was on my best-of list for the year?  I’ll tell you, with a little bit of a qualifier:  These are what I consider the top-quality children’s/family albums on the year.  They aren’t my personal favorites—I’m saving that list for a big reveal sometime in December.

1. Field Trip by Recess Monkey (F&K #3)
2. Dizzy by Lunch Money (F&K #2)
3. Here Comes Science by They Might Be Giants (F&K #1)
4. Here I Am! by Caspar Babypants (F&K honorable mention)
5. Family Time by Ziggy Marley (F&K #4/tie)
6. Dragonfly by Johnny Bregar (F&K honorable mention)
7. Beautiful World by Dog on Fleas (F&K honorable mention)
8. Happy Accidents by Billy Jonas (F&K #8)
9. My Trampoline by Peter Himmelman (F&K #4/tie)
10. We Are the Not-Its! by the Not-Its (F&K #11)

Those top three, especially, are must haves for every collection.  They’d make excellent holiday gifts, too.  Just sayin’.

[ Posted in » Music Review Channel ]