Music does so many good things for us that it is only natural to want to share music with our kids. But after a while the "regular" kid's music can start to drive some adults to distraction. Luckily there are some great CD's that put a whole different spin on the idea of kid's tunes. Jam Toast is one of those CD's that will get the whole family rocking. It combines the catchy beat and energetic rhythms of punk rock, but avoids the sometimes raunchy lyrics. To add to the fun, the CD was produced by a man named Michael McKinnon, who recorded the songs with his two young sons. Earlier this month I had a chance to ask Michael a few questions about Jam Toast:
Have you recorded other music prior to Jam Toast? What is your musical background?I "sang" in my first hardcore punk band in the late 1980s, and then in another in the early 1990s. That was enormous fun—lots of yelling, lots of jumping around. For the last couple years, I've been in Gert, a band that write and records together "online." Jam Toast is my first effort aimed at kids.
Do you have plans for future recordings of this style?Without a doubt, Jam Toast is the most fun I've had writing and recording. It was a blast, largely because I got to do it with my kids. There are definitely plans for another Jam Toast album.
What prompted you to record kid's punk tunes?I've always loved punk, and have always listened to it with my boys. Punk has great messages for kids—be yourself and stand up for what you believe in are two. But as my kids got older—they're now 4 and 8—the language became an issue. They started picking out words and themes that weren't appropriate for them. I thought, wouldn't it be great if there was an entire punk record that was safe for kids? That was my goal—to make a really fun, energetic album that celebrated the best of punk rock and kids.
Do you write your own lyrics?Yes, I wrote all Jam Toast songs. Early on, I considered including some covers, but that would have defeated the purpose. I wanted Jam Toast to give kids and parents a break from the kids' tunes they were used to.
Do you sell the CD anywhere other than on your website?The CD is only for sale at the Jam Toast website—unless you see me on the street, of course.
Were your kids as enthused about helping out on this recording as they sound?They were, and that's what made it so much fun. I'd ask them what they wanted songs to be about, and they had great ideas. My 4-year-old loves his sandbox; thus My Sandbox Rocks! which he counts off with a Ramonesesque "My sandbox rocks! 1-2-3-4!" They were always eager to rock the mic, as we say, and they're proud of the songs they're part of. I think they'd seen me singing in the studio so many times that they just jumped at the chance to try it.
Do you know who has been purchasing your CD (what countries they are from, are they parents, teachers, daycare providers, etc)?Most of the sales are from the U.S. and Canada, with one from Australia. My son's pre-school teacher is Jam Toast's biggest fan, I think; she plays the CD for the class daily and sports a Jam Toast poster on the classroom wall. I think generally it's parents looking for a break from the Wheels on the Bus.
Where did you record the CD?"Silly grown-ups, punk is for kids" was recorded in my home studio. It was great; I could work on it late at night or when my son was napping, for example, and record the boys' parts whenever they were in the mood.
