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EDUCATED KID review by DJ Pusspuss (SF Bay Times), July 19th, 2007 It’s
no surprise to me that children’s and kid’s music is being lifted from the banal to the beautific. Kids are supremely
networked and informed to the hip, the lame, the cool and even before the computers changed modern living children knew when
they were being talked down to. In same spirit of completely wonderful, whimsical and musically gifted treats for the young
set is the Bay Area-based Hipwaders pulling off some brilliantly fun and surprisingly hip songs extolling touchstones of childlike
glee including art cars and dinosaurs. With Devo influences the post-mod-rock trio lays some serious grooves and invokes the
best spirits of They Might be Giants, Schoolhouse Rocks and The Beatles’ veiled odes to decadence that were so brilliant
no one cared what they were about. The Hipwaders are on a great path to immortality if they throw down some trippy videos
of kids taking over the world and start building post-modern parables that speak to children of all ages and can be reinterpreted
on multiple cultural and spiritual levels. Indeed we all might be hip-deep soon. My picks: “Educated Kid,” “The
History of Declan Rae,” “Song of The Paleo Pirates,” “Art Car,” “Cat In A Bathysphere,”
“Geometry” and “Aidan’s Train.”  |
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HEAR
IT, LOVE IT, SHARE IT That's math I can handle! The
Hipwaders, a band comprised of exactly what I mentioned in the title, have developed a really fun rock and roll sound
geared to kids. Their songs aren't the same-old, same-old you hear in a lot of children's music, and each song has a contemporary
feel to it along with inventive lyrics and storyline. It fits right into the "get up and dance" category and once
again, the beat is catchy enough for my young son to enjoy. Extra points for The Hipwaders for capturing the attention of
toddlers! That's not all - they've received a number of Parent's Choice Awards and are featured on XM Kids radio.
To me the sign of a successful children's album is when I, as the parent, find myself refusing to leave the house without
the CD in the car, and searching every CD player in the house to find where I last had it on. At this rate, I'm gonna need
5 copies of each of their CDs so I can have one ready at all times or I'll never be on time to anything ever again.
What I really wanna know, though, is how did they get their name?? |
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WHAT'S HOT FOR TOTS 8.28.07
My favorite place to listen to music is at an outdoor concert. The energy
of the crowd invokes the passion of the artists which really generates enthusiasm in me. When you hear of a summer evening
concert, grab the kids, your cooler and blanket and head for the park. If you are in the California Bay Area make a date to
hear the wonderful three-man band, The Hipwaders.
This trio comprised of Tito Uquillas,
Chris Blubaugh and Nick Baca has the great sound heard only from gifted musicians. It is original, wholesome music with
a message that is not preachy. The lyrics are witty and cool; everyday subjects take on a hip twist.
I just
love "Dewey Decimal System" - talk about a spirited journey in the library! Another great tune, "Geometry"
has a great educational and philosophical twist (The shapes I'm in, the shapes I see…its geometry. Some of my
friends think I am a square…I am what I am). How sweet is "Little Baby Brother" (I know it's hard to share,
baby brother, cause I've been there…I'll love you forever. You've got a big brother in me). Another of my favorites,
"You've Got to Move" (Everybody shake…everybody twist, everybody hop, now STOP) was the best cardio workout
I have had in a long time.
If you cannot attend a concert simply order The Hipwaters new CD, Educated Kid. Just spread your blanket, grab your kids and rock in the comfort of your home!
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Here at MarinMommies.com we're constantly on the lookout for great kids' music, and, as always we're always
happy when we find something that doesn't make us lose the will to live. So we were especially pleased when a copy of The
Hipwaders' just-released CD, Educated Kid, landed on our desk at Marin Mommies Corporate World Headquarters (AKA the kitchen
table). The Hipwaders, based in the East Bay, are an award-winning band comprised of two paramedics, guitarist/lead vocalist
Tito Uquillas and bass player/vocalist Chris Blubaugh, and a high school art teacher, drummer/vocalist Nick Baca. Educated
Kid offers up catchy songs with a variety of different styles that will make just about anyone in the family happy. Many of
the songs are reminiscent of 1960s British Invasion-style classics, while there are obvious nods to other genres like '80s
techno and early rock-and-roll. Mostly they're fun! The Hipwaders in fact made music for adults before focusing on children's
music starting in 2003, so their tunes are energetic and catchy, and their lyrics, while obviously written to be kid-friendly,
are humorous and witty enough to be enjoyed on equal terms by adults. Favorite tracks from Educated Kid in our house
include "Little Baby Brother", "Art Car" (featuring Godzilla!), and of course "Song of the Paleo
Pirates", which features both dinosaurs and pirates and thus is nominated for Coolest Children's Song Ever. |
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