If there’s love at first listen, The Pop Ups’ Appetite for Construction has been Number One in my heart for most of this remarkable musical year. I expanded my Top Favorites list to 20 to accommodate the wealth of outstanding music for families. Think of every title on this list as the No. 2 CD of 2014. It was a very good year.
- Appetite for Construction — The Pop Ups: Songs about stuff set to an ’80s beat.
- If We Must We Must — The Good Ms Padgett: Clever lyrics that never get cutesy.
- Good Egg — Joanie Leeds: Energetic rock makes you feel like a band member.
- Night Lights — Zee Avi: Brilliant reimagining of classic rock as lullabies.
- Raise Your Hand — The Not-Its: The band matures into ’80s-based rhythms.
- Animal Tales — Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke: The new gold standard for animal-themed albums.
- The Perfect Quirk — Secret Agent 23 Skidoo: The hiphop genius of kindie celebrates our collective weirdness.
- Home — Jazzy Ash: Like a trip to New Orleans with a native.
- Through the Woods — The Okee Dokee Brothers: The bluegrass adventure continues through the Appalachian Trail.
- Wired — Recess Monkey: Technocentric themes with brilliant Beatles-influenced melodies.
- Build It Back Again — Billy Jonas: Inspiring, never preachy harmonies around the theme of renewal.
- Shy Kid Blues — Hullabaloo: Hopeful tunes showing a depth of feeling that isn’t always expressed.
- Year-Round Sounds — The Hipwaders: A calendar-free holiday CD.
- American Heroes 4 — Jonathan Sprout: Bringing American history to new audiences by focusing on personal stories.
- Uno, Dos, Tres con Andres — Andres Salguero: Expressing universal themes through personal narrative.
- The Bossy E — Mister G: Infectious fun with language and learning.
- Aqui Alla — Lucky Diaz & the Family Jam Band: Spanish-language rhythmic brilliance.
- Wishing Well — Nick Bayard: Intelligent, original folkie family tunes.
- Follow Me — Little Miss Ann: A little woman’s big voice that pleases little ears.
- Love Songs for My Baby — Alex Mitnick: Heartfelt tunes inspired by his son’s birth.
Kathy O’Connell is a contributing writer to MetroKids and host of Kids Corner, weekdays 7-8pm on WXPN 88.5 FM.
