One’s a “reformed” rock ‘n’ roller. The other, a group of popular puppets. What do they have in common?
Both Dan Zanes (formerly of the Del Fuegos) and the Muppets have new albums out.
We’ve given them a few spins to see what they sound like.
DAN ZANES
“Night Time!”
Festival Five Records
The newest family-friendly work from Dan Zanes and Friends is an eclectic delight, featuring folk, roots, West Indian, traditional, rap and other music.
While the 16 toe-tappers here are slower than the ones on Zanes’ previous “Rocket Ship Beach” and “Family Dance,” the tempo fits the “Night Time!” title. There’s also “Pay Me My Money Down,” a Caribbean-lilted ditty your kids are sure to sing when you owe them back allowance.
This time around, Zanes’ friends include Aimee Mann on the Zanes-penned album-opener, “Night Owl, a lullaby,” and Dar Williams on “Wild Mountain Thyme.” Lou Reed does a remarkable “What a Wonderful World” in which he and Zanes alternate verses, followed by some gentle Spanish/English rapping from the Rubi Theater Company.
But it’s Zanes’ usual pals – the Rubi company, mountain-voiced Barbara Brousal, the West Indian Sandy Girls and Father Goose, whose voice is ragged and funny when he harmonizes with Zanes on “Side by Side” – who make the the whole effort sound like a big party at some old country house up in the hills. (Zanes lives in Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill, after all.)
After spinning this disc – listening to a Leadbelly-inspired tune here, and a rousing “Down by the Riverside,” there – you may just want to join the band.
THE MUPPETS
“The Muppet Show: Music, Mayhem and More: the 25th Anniversary Collection”
Rhino
If you’re mad for the Muppets, this 27-track, 25th anniversary celebration is for you. If not, it’s not easy shelling out the green for it.
Split almost evenly between the TV show and a number of Muppet movies, the collection starts, natch, with the lively “Muppet Show Theme.” Other musical highlights include the catchy nonsense song “Mahna Mahna,” Kermit’s opus, “Bein’ Green,” Miss Piggy crooning “What Now My Love?,” and a swinging, finger-snapping duet by Fozzy Bear and Scooter on Randy Newman’s “Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear.”
The film soundtrack selections include a rollicking “Can You Picture That,” performed by Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem (and by Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher). There are also soaring, Broadway-style love songs with the Fred and Ginger of animal puppet movies – Kermit and Miss Piggy.
Now and then, a few typically goofy Muppet comedy bits offer a break from the music.
Younger kids will enjoy the Muppets’ familiarity, while older ones (adults, too) might just feel a little nostalgic.