Putumayo Kids “Australian Playground” (CD, All Ages)

Australian Playground Out May 31st!

Ahhh…yes. Putumayo Kids put out a new album and it is about….Australia! Yippee! It is one continent I have yet to go but one I think I would love. One day we shall meet, but until then I like to learn about the culture, acquire and attempt to play a didgeridoo and do silly things like name my cat Mr. ‘Sydney’ Meowmer (I had planned to attend film school in Sydney but it fell through with funding, so back to work for me.)

So who are the Putumayo Kids?

Well, basically they are an awesome children’s record label that introduces children to other cultures through music from around the world. Their playground albums are songs that are carefully selected to be songs kids in that country/continent would actually sing on the playground. Get it? Yeah! Because of that the lyrics are super child-friendly and Putumayo Kids backs up the authenticity of their albums through their exceptional international artists.

If you read my blog you would know that our family loves the Putumayo Kids music (see my past reviews of their albums here and here) and love to see what culture or cultures their newest album focuses on and this time it is AUSTRALIA! Crash hot (that is the right slang term there now, right?)!

Track Listing

The NEO and Garrangali – Marrtjina (Let’s Go)
Seaman Dan – Mango Rain
Joe Hall and The Treehouse Band – Loose Change
Garrangali – Mirri
Bob Brown – Give Me A Home Among The Gumtrees
Don Spencer – Kangaroo (The Super Marsupial)
Rosie Burgess – Random Acts
The Band of the South Australia Police – The Road to Gundagai
Kamerunga – Seisia
Lazy Harry – Waltzing Matilda

Our Thoughts: Brooke, the preschooler, thought this was a fun and ‘bouncy’ album. I think her favorite is the Kangaroo song since she kept asking me to repeat it and try to teach her how to whistle (which is part of the song.) She was already familiar with Waltzing Matilda,”the unofficial national anthem of Australia”, and loved Lazy Harry’s version which does a wonderful job at this old classic folk, or as they call it in Australia, a ‘bush ballad’. I think my personal favorite is ‘Mango Rain’ which is a wonderful stripped down ukulele ditty and learned it was a term used to describe the pre-monsoon rainfall. Our youngest, Brie, also seems to have a favorite, too, the first song called ‘Marrtjina’ which means ‘let’s go’ in the Aboriginal Yonlgu language of E. Australia. The song (from what I gather so far) is about a fun journey to a hidden water hole. With its chill vibe and sweet tunes, this is the perfect album as background music for a lazy day where you kick back and have fun with the family!

Show on SiriusXM Kids! “The World Playground with Putumayo” is on SiriusXM Kids on Sundays at 10 am EST for one full hour.

Charity! Putumayo will contribute 1% of its sales to the Australian Children’s Music Foundation which changes young lives through music by providing tuition and instruments to disadvantaged children in Australia.

Putumayo Kids “Australian Playground” (CD, All Ages)

www.putumayokids.com

List Price: $ 14.98