We’re big fans of the happy world of Mike Park in this house – his solo album is compulsory when we’re on a long journey (and it’s a great short album which needs playing at least five times in a row). Fun Fun Records is his label, where bands like Play Date release their music. As well as this is the offshoot Asian Man Records, which has two new releases coming up from Koo Koo Kanga Roo and Happy Wags.
Mike Park’s view on his releases is a great one – “After being subjected to mounds of kids music, I thought there’s got to be a better alternative than this cookie cutter stuff. My hope is that FUN FUN RECORDS will be an alternative for parents looking for more than just your run of the mill children’s music” – oh yes, and it really is too.
Let me tell you a bit about each album…
Happy Wags is Jesse Wagner the frontman of the largely popular “dirty reggae” band, The Aggrolites.
After the huge success of The Aggrolites’ “Banana” on Yo Gabba Gabba in 2007 (which has also been covered by Dinosaur Jr – hunt it down on YouTube), Jesse often found himself thinking about ideas for a full-length album for kids. With some rare down time at home between non-stop tours he picked up his acoustic guitar and started coming up with rhythms and hooks for potential songs. The eventual result was a collection of songs, some reflecting his reggae roots, and others venturing into punk rock, country, even funky 1980’s-style R&B.
Tracklisting
1.The Lion, the Snake and the Monkey
2.Use Your Words
3.Don’t Touch the Buttons
4.Pee Pee in the Potty
5.They Wanna Play
6.Adding Numbers
7.Firefighters (featuring Mike McColgan)
8.Learning Like the Animals
9.Baby Dean
Happy Wags’ self-titled debut CD will be available June 24th 2014.
Happy Wags can be found on Facebook here
Koo Koo Kanga Roo love having a big ol’ dance party. One night you can see them performing with Yo Gabba Gabba and then the next night with Dillinger Four. You might have seen them on tour with Frank Turner and The Smith Street Band or your kids might have told you about this crazy band that played their school cafeteria. Regardless of the age, KOO KOO are all about FUN.
“Whoopty Whoop” is the band’s debut release with Fun Fun Records/Asian Man Records. Songs about Fanny Packs and pizza might sound trivial, but once you hear the groove it will hook you in immediately and the body will follow suit with dance moves you never knew you had. Oh, and a few earworms.
“I thought it was strange that a children’s music band was on tour with Frank Turner, but when I saw them live I understood how genius the band was and it all made sense” – MIKE PARK (label head Asian Man/Fun Fun)
Tracklisting
1.All I Eat Is Pizza
2.Fanny Pack
3.The Coolest Person
4.POGO
5.Get Yo Body Moving
6.Shake It Well (feat. P.O.S.)
7.I Like Cake
8.Left 2 Right
9.Unibrow
10.Superheroes Unite
‘Whoopty Whoop’ is out on May 13th on CD and digital with vinyl following June 24th.
Koo Koo Kanga Roo’s official site is here, and they can be found on Facebook here.
Asian Man Records site is here too, Fun Fun Records are over here, and they can all be found on Facebook.
We were provided with a free download of Koo Koo Kanga Roo and Happy Wags to help spread the word – all opinions are our own!