This is the eighth year of the Fids and Kamily Music Poll (http://www.fidsandkamily.com/), and this year Justin Roberts was the lucky winner -- his album Recess was voted the best kids and family album of the year (and his album Lullaby placed number 10). It topped another list of outstanding releases from familiar names and newcomers, too.
You can listen to selections from the top 13 by streaming this week's Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child.
The Top 13 albums of 2013 are (in order):
1. Justin Roberts - Recess
2. Frances England - Blink of an Eye
3. Alastair Moock - Singing Our Way Through-Songs for the World's Bravest Kids
4. Dan Zanes and Elizabeth Mitchell - Turn Turn Turn
5. Shine and the Moonbeams - Shine and the Moonbeams
6. Recess Monkey - Deep Sea Diver
7. The Not-Its! - Kidquake
8. Dean Jones - When the World Was New
9. Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke - Pleased to Meet You
10. Justin Roberts - Lullaby
11. Lori Henriques - The World Is A Curious Place to Live
12. Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band - Fantastico!
13. Lloyd H. Miller - S.S. Brooklyn
Honorable Mentions (unranked next ten):
Bill Harley & Keith Munslow - It's Not Fair To Me
Caspar Babypants - I Found You!
Cat Doorman - Songbook
Heidi Swedberg and The Sukey Jump Band - My Cup of Tea
Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights - Bandwagon
Mister G - ABC Fiesta
Paul Spring - Home of Song
Tim and the Space Cadets - Anthems for Adventure
The Verve Pipe - Are We There Yet?
Trout Fishing in America - Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers
In addition to these 23 CDs, there were another 32 albums receiving at least one vote, making a total of 55 albums receiving one or more votes from the Poll's 27 judges.
Among them were a dozen debut albums -- from artists that had not previously released family-oriented music. The top six debuts (unranked) were:
Cat Doorman - Songbook
Crosspulse Percussion Ensemble - I Like Everything About You, Yes I Do!
The Ohmies - Morning Wish Garden
Paul Spring - Home of Song
Shine and the Moonbeams - Shine and the Moonbeams
The Watson Twins - Pioneer Lane
The Fids and Kamily Poll is the first compilation of year-end kids and family music "best of" lists from critics, writers, radio programmers, and others involved in the music industry. The poll was launched in 2006 and was inspired by the Village Voice’s long-running “Pazz and Jop” music poll.
