Indie Children's rock

24 MP3 Songs
KIDS/FAMILY: Children's Pop, ROCK: Modern Rock



Details:
Treasure Chest was conceived and put together in less than two weeks as a fund raiser for Pearl Swanson, one of the Ethiopian twin girls adopted by Eric Swanson and his wife Patty Sobczak. Pearl has been diagnosed with a rare heart disorder and spent extensive time in Children's Hospital. The full story can be found at: www.caringbridge.org/visit/pearlswanson.

Eric is a well known recording engineer in Duluth, Minnesota with credits including Low, The Crash Test Dummies,Haley Bonar and Duluth Does Dylan. The local music community turned out in force to help out and the result is a delightful indy rock take on a children's record with tracks ranging from traditional kid's songs to quirky originals to soothing lullabies. This is a CD kids will like but adults will also enjoy.

All proceeds from the sale of this disc go to help Pearl and her family with their medical expenses.

Here's the review from one of the local papers:

CD Review: Duluthâs music community bands together for baby Pearl Matthew R. Perrine Budgeteer News - 12/14/2006

Pearl Swansonâs benefit album, âTreasure Chest,â is a remarkable affair. The fact that the compilation even exists is a testament to the kind of musicians that live and work among us.

It was conceived and put together in less than two weeks for Swanson, an adopted 8-month-old Ethiopian girl diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart).

Not only does the record showcase the regionâs finest musicians, but it avoids the traditional pitfalls of hastily produced benefit discs.

Instead of relying on studio scraps and assorted B-side fodder, âTreasure Chestâ favors new, quality recordings.

The album opens subtly with yet another infallible folk musing from Charlie Parr.

âGreen Rocky Road,â on which heâs joined by his wife, Emily, seamlessly segues into Brother Georgeâs dreamy âBrother Johnâ and the Little Black Booksâ relaxed cover of âCamp Grenada.â

Although that songâs opening lines (âHello muddah / Hello faddahâ) traditionally incite immediate and disgusted boos from yours truly, the Booksâ reading is somehow enjoyable.

The same goes for most of the album.

Save for a few songs, the artists on âTreasure Chestâ accomplish the feat of writing childrenâs songs without stooping to levels that make older listeners groan.

Craig Minowa, for instance, could have easily struck out with a song title like âDream Music for Little Wizards,â but his meandering instrumental has just the right amount of sentimentality to work (given the context of the album).

Some artists donât have to worry about the weepy factor, though.

Boy Girl Boy Girlâs take on âKnick Knack Paddy Wackâ is just fun.

Although the liner notes suggest the song was recorded at the Play Pen by Tom Fabjance, its carefree nature hints of a cover-up.

If I were a betting man, Iâd have to say it was recorded sometime in the â60s ⦠a â60s that never existed outside of beach blanket parties filmed exclusively for the silver screen.

Similarly indicative of talent from a parallel universe, Bothâs Greg Cougar Conley lets loose with âBilly Bumblebee,â a drum machine-fueled ditty thatâs alternately nonsensical and wholly addicting.

Not only is it the albumâs highlight, but one just has to ask, âWhere has this guy been hiding?â

And, perhaps most importantly, âWhy isnât he featured more prominently on my MP3 playerâs Pixies-dominated playlists?â

Other notables include the Black-eyed Snakesâ casual, heartfelt âMama Knows What the Baby Wants,â Starfireâs sparse, no-frills âTwinkle Twinkle Little Starâ and the Gallowsâ winning run-through of âRainbow Connection.â

Although itâs hard not to think about Kermit the Frog each time that song is covered, Marc Gartman and his cohorts have managed to pull off one of the most sincere moments ever put to tape.

No small feat, but surely neither was putting together this album.

âTreasure Chestâ is available at www.pearl.perfectduluthday.com