Have You Heard the Pop Ups New CD Release, Radio Jungle? If Not, You Are Missing Out... (Review and Giveaway)

Closed. Congrats to Amy W.

Summary:

The Pop Ups (Jason Rabinowitz and Jacob Stein) have won critical acclaim for their stage show “PASTA: A Pop Ups Puppet Musical,” which has enjoyed successful runs in New York and Los Angeles, as well as the fall 2011 Yo Gabba Gabba Live Tour.  PASTA! is an educational and comic musical adventure through the magical land of Brooklyn.  With the audience’s help, The Pop Ups search for the ingredients to make the best (locally sourced) pasta sauce ever. The kid and adult-friendly show features colorful puppetry (created by puppeteers from The Muppet Show, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Dinosaur Rock).

 

The Pop Ups’ first release Outside Voices took the “kindie rock” world by surprise when it was released in 2010. Critics raved, Sirius-XM Kids Place Live added songs in heavy rotation, and the disc was recognized with a National Association of Parenting Publications Award (NAPPA) for best music, was on the ballot to be nominated for a GRAMMY, and made the Top Ten of 2010 lists from The Washington Post, Time Out New York Kids, The Fids and Kamily critics’ poll, kids’ entertainment bloggers Out with The Kids and Zooglobble, and more.
 

Radio Jungle is an even more polished, sonically cohesive and approachable collection of songs, with themes ranging from where “Bananas” come from, to the artistic potential presented by a “Box of Crayons.” Teachable moments abound, as in the phonemic “Elephants” and the bouncy counting song “Math Rock.” Clearly, The Pop Ups have not forgotten the wonder and sheer excitement of childhood, as evident in their song “Connect the Stars,” and their exuberance and musical prowess shine with every track. Sirius-XM's Kids Place Live and other kids' radio shows across the nation have already started spinning these songs in heavy rotation.

My Thoughts:

It wasn't until I received a copy of this CD that I became familiar and an instant fan of the kiddie rock band, The Pop Ups.  Like I have said in previous blog posts, I love finding new music for children, to enjoy during car rides to the grandparents house, or to play in the house and dance to with Savannah.  This CD has become an instant favorite in our house, with its catchy songs and rock feel.  I have found myself listening to this CD when Savannah is not around, as it really gets you moving and bopping your head.  Savannah is a fan of Box of Crayons and Banana, while I enjoy Math Rock, which teaches children how to count and Color Wheel, which introduces colors to young children.  

As soon as I put this CD on, either in the house or in the car, Savannah begin to bop her head from side to side, and mumbles, like she is singing along.  You should see the dance moves we have created for these playful songs - they are priceless.  I especially love how Savannah kicks her feet up, as I count along to Math Rock.

In addition to this new CD release on April 3rds, the Pop Ups will be touring this Spring and Summer.  Too bad they are not coming to a town near us, as I know Savannah would love to go and see them perform her favorite songs from Radio Jungle in person.  And, I know her father would love to see them too, as he ended up taking my car the other day to work, and listened to this CD in its entirety on the drive home.  At first, he wasn't listening to the words, and only grooving to the beat, so he didn't know it was a children's CD.  Then, when he finally heard Banana play, he learned it was one of Savannah's CD's.  When he arrived home that night, he told me how he learned where bananas came from and was singing the Math Rock song to Savannah, who began to put her fingers up as he counted.  So, as you can see, this new CD, from the Pop Ups will be enjoyed by both children and parents.  It is a great CD to listen to together, and dance along to.  We sure to get our daily workout from dancing to each of these playful songs from the Pop Ups!

---GIVEAWAY---

One lucky reader will win a copy of Radio Jungle thanks to the Pop Ups.  To enter, please complete the mandatory entry, and then as many extra entries as you like.  Make sure you include your email address with each comment, so that I can contact you if you win.  Good luck!

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Head on over to Facebook and "Like" The Pop Ups fan page.  Then, leave a comment on their wall, letting them Inspired by Savannah sent you, and that you are looking forward to their new CD release in April.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

(Please leave separate entries for each, along with your email address)

1) Subscribe to my blog via email (1 entry)

2) Follow me on Facebook (1 entry)

3) Vote for Inspired by Savannah on Startup Nations 2012 Leading Moms Competition --You can vote one time per day (2 entries)

4) Enter any of my other giveaways, leaving a comment with the name of the giveaway (1entry per giveaway entered)

5) Blog about this giveaway. It must include a link to this specific post, as well as a link to my blog, http://www.inspiredbysavannah.com. (In your comment, please leave a link directly to your post – 3 Entries)

6) Follow me on Twitter (1entry)

7) Tweet about this giveaway (1 entry per tweet, per day; please include link to tweet in comment below)

Enter to #win the Pop Ups new CD Radio Jungle for Kids @rmccoy1234 http://www.inspiredbysavannah.com/ #giveaway (Ends 4/8)

8) Vote for me on picket fence blogs (See button on right side of blog -- One entry per vote, per day; Note: You can only your one vote per day on ONE giveaway; duplicate comments on other giveaways on the same day with be void)

9) Add to a Giveaway Linky site (5 entries)

Open to US residents only -- NO PO BOXES. Giveaway ends on April 8, 2012 at 11:59PM EST. I will then use Random.org to choose a winner. Winner will have 48 hrs. to respond to my email to claim prize. If I don't hear back from selected winner, I will draw another winner.

About the Pop Ups:

THE POP UPS believe that everyone loves hot beats and great songs and that people of any age respond to music written without compromise.

OUTSIDE VOICES began as a personal challenge for two Brooklyn musicians. Looking to make something that their friends could enjoy with their young families, the duo decided to write and record the album in a week in their bedroom studio. Calling themselves THE POP UPS, they began to distribute demos to friends. After an overwhelming positive initial response from parents and kids, they decided to self release the new record and OUTSIDE VOICES was born.

OUTSIDE VOICES tells musical tales of whimsy and childhood adventure in a range of influences from 80’s synth-pop, to reggae dancehall, indie-pop, classic soul, garage psychedelia, and club-ready beats. It’s an alphabetic journey through New York’s synth-beat subway trains, a balloon ride over Prospect Park, a big wheel rally down your childhood block. You can learn to draw an ape with shapes, the names of over 40 dif¬ferent pastas, and the difference between indoor and outdoor voices.

THE POP UPS are veteran kids rockers JACOB STEIN (6 years and counting as the creator and driving force behind Tribeca’s break out BIM BOM MUSICFEST class) and JASON RABINOWITZ (auteur of indie-pop sensation THE BLOODSUGARS, and co-writer/producer of 3 LITTLE MAESTROS albums). The duo has built a high-energy live act around the songs that includes live-drawing, dance-beats, large-scale puppets, guitar riffs, and rocking interactive dance numbers that catapult kids out of their seats guarantee a good time for everyone.

The duo was fortunate enough to catch the ear of acclaimed MULTIPLE-GRAMMY WINNING children’s musicians CATHY FINK and MARCY MARXER who agreed to to lend their voices to the record. Being steeped in Brooklyn’s community of uber-talented musicians didn’t hurt either. SLAVIC SOUL PARTY’s BEN HOLMES, and OLD TIME MUSKETRY’s ADAM SCHNEIT also agreed to lend their horns.

THE POP UPS represent the peak of the new wave in children’s music. Dedicated to educating, engaging, and enlightening through imaginative musical fun, and guaranteed not to embarrass you if the songs come up on shuffle in public; you and your family are sure to enjoy THE POP UPS musical odyssey.

Disclosure:  I was sent a copy of this DVD from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  The views above are mine and mine alone.