The Musical Indoctrination of our Infant Daughter

Grunge-head daughter?

2009-09-28T09:02:00.000-07:00

In the car today, Emilia was in quite the good mood, so I thought I would play some music for her. On a whim, I put in Nirvana's 1991 "Smells Like Teen Spirit." If you don't know this song, you were obviously either too old, or too young to be into music in the early 1990s.

In any case, when the little rhythm guitar riff started up she immediately began waving her hands quickly and yapping in excitement. Obviously, she knew that some classic rock was about to ensue. I got a kick out of this. To make things even better, when the drums and everything came in, she started (I'm not joking here) headbanging to the beat. She was totally rocking out! Ahhh . . . I don't know if I have ever been so proud of my little girl.

For a trip down memory lane (circa 1991), enjoy the video below. Honestly, this might be the most important rock song of the last few decades. It brought the horror of 1980s hair bands to a crashing end. Hallelujah!

Vampire Weekend

2008-09-07T18:19:00.001-07:00

I think Emmie's new favorite band is Vampire Weekend. She really liked the song Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa and A-Punk. Below is a video for A-Punk. It is one of Julianne's favorite videos.

Who needs a Pacifier when you have Band of Horses

2008-08-28T17:11:00.000-07:00

Today, I laid Emilia down by the stereo and put in Band of Horses' debut LP, Everything all the Time. She seemed to like it well enough. However, later in the day I was in the car with her, waiting to pick up Julianne. Emmie was mighty hungry and just wouldn't stop fussing. On random shuffle, my iPod offered up "Marry Song" from the band's latest, Cease to Begin. There must have been something about those folksy South Carolina-meets-Seattle harmonies, because she immediately stopped crying and was quite content for the rest of the song. How nice! I reccomend you download the song, its great . . . at least Emilia thinks so.

Here they are singing it live.

Fleet Foxes, The Magical Mystery Tour and Fables of the Reconstruction

2008-08-25T09:32:00.000-07:00

There are 3 albums to report today.

Emmie was a bit crabby this morning, so I laid her down in front of the record player and put in Fleet Foxes' self titled album, Fleet Foxes. She immediately quieted down. In particular, she liked the song Tiger Mountain Peasant Song.
Next we turned back the clock to 1985 with R.E.M.'s junior release (senior if you count Chronic Town), Fables of the Reconstruction. This was one of the first actual CDs that I ever bought. I had some cassettes, but this was among the first CDs.
Last, before Julianne got home and I headed off to work, we tried out The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour. I'm becoming increasingly confident in saying that this was the Beatles' best album. Just check out the track listing! With the exception of Blue Jay Way, an ok, but not standout track, the entire album is unbelievable. Surprisingly, Emmie seemed to really like I am the Walrus. I'm not sure what this says about her yet-to-be-seen personality. Nonsensical lyrics for a nonsensical baby? Perhaps.

Welcome to the Blog

2008-08-25T09:25:00.000-07:00

My wife and I are both avid music aficionados, at least we'd like to think so. Also, we both play multiple instruments and for years I have wasted away many an hour writing music. In hopes of getting music deep into the bones and soul of our 9 week old daughter, we like to have something playing in the background quite a bit. I thought it would be fun to chronicle her reaction to the different music we play for her. If you keep track, you just might find some new music for yourself in the process. Enjoy.