OWTK NCAA Kid's Music Tournament - Brady Rymer vs. Stardust Lullaby

Today we head back to the Singin' in the Rain Region for the #1 seed's first round game. Brady Rymer, one of the star's of the kid's music scene, is taking on an upstart double disc set of lullabies from Gene and Cher Kosner.

(1) Brady Rymer "Here Comes Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could"
I've been listened to and enjoying the fantastic new Brady Rymer disc "The Little Band That Could" for the past few weeks yet when I try to tell others about this record, words continue to fail me. I haven't the slightest clue how to describe the band's straightforward, not-quite classic but certainly not pop-rock sound...so this should be one hell of a review!
What keeps coming to mind, even as a recoil in horror, is Hootie and the Blowfish. Yeah, I know....fairly pedestrian sounding. The thing is, Rymer and his Band That Certainly Can do sound a lot like a mid-nineties mellow rock band that could have been seen gigging at parties, playing the ESPY awards pre-show and appearing on stage at the Peach Pit in a 90210 episode...and you know what? None of that should be seen as a negative...and yes, I'm as surprised as you about that!

This album marks my introduction to Rymer's music so I'm not 100% sure what his records sounded like before he brought his live band into the studio. I can tell you that there are a few gems on this disc, namely "Road Trip", "Pie" and the absolutely charming "One True You" a song that will surely make a parent, especially a new one, tear up a bit. "One True You" should be the runaway favorite for the most used kid's digital picture slideshow background music, should Soundscan ever develop the ability (or need) to track such a thing.

To be perfectly honest, it surprises me how much I enjoy this record. Having my musical roots in sounds far more discordant and, to many around me, stranger than the thirteen mellow gold tunes on "Here Comes Brady Rymer and The Little Band That Could" I would not have thought that this disc would have been able to stick but it certainly has. That fact speaks volumes about the power of obviously-passionate, well-written and well-performed music to transcend musical boundaries and resonate with individuals and, in this case, families. With that said, Rymer and his band have done something pretty remarkable on this album. "Here Comes Brady Rymer and The Little Band That Could" is a wonderfully classy rock-n-roll album for kids and is destined to be included on many year-end Best-Of lists.

Check out Brady's video for "I Found It" from the 2004 CD from the same name:

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(6) Gene & Cher Klosner "Stardust Lullaby Collection"
The Stardust Lullaby Collection is a double disc set of sweet and timeless lullabies for babies and young toddlers. The collection is strong throughout but is especially good at the top of the first disc (where a gorgeous version of "Wynken, Blynken and Nod" can be heard)...which is important for parents as those are the tunes you'll be hearing while you put your little one down each evening. Stardust is the product of brother/sister duo Cher and Gene Klosner. Cher has a lovely voice and is the primary vocalist on this set of 42 tunes (half instrumental versions of the songs allowing moms and dads to "take the mic" and sing to their children themselves...a sort of crib-side lullaby karaoke). Amazingly enough, the Klosner's and their Stardust 2xCD was featured on MSNBC's "The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch".

Listen to samples of every single song (all 42 of 'em!) here.

Check out the splashy Stardust Lullaby website for some cool extras, including a neat trio of games for kids to play while listening to this soothing music.

Vote for either Brady Rymer or Stardust Lullaby by midnight ET on Wednesday 3/26. Your comments will help decide the winner. Everyone that leaves a comment during the Tournament will have a chance to win the Final Four CDs. Comment on as many "games" as you wish, including the "Very Helpful Songs" vs. "Mr. Oscat Says..." and Thaddeus Rex vs. Gunnar Madsen contests, and increase your odds of winning. Thanks!