The Jam: Kimya Dawson’s Alphabutt
Take everyone’s (un/)favorite irreverent indie folk singer. Add kazoos, blocks and xylophones. Hold on to outlandish, less-than-sung lyrics. Mix in infantile, mildy foul words. Serve with a grain of salt.
Tastes a lot like: Bubblegum Jam- Tastes okay when you’re ten but it’s still hard to swallow.
I have enjoyed Kimya’s music career. She has carved out entire quirky niche for herself and I have defended her to no end. I respect people who find ways to express themselves, even if they are not conventionally talented. From the Moldy Peaches to her solo albums, I have always found her to be simply insightful. Alphabutt is also very… quirky. Yes, it is pure Dawson- cheeky, crude, obscure. Unfortunately, this is not a quirkiness I embrace. You may be saying, “Yeah, but it’s a children’s album.” Well, YEAH, I GET IT. But even looking at it as a children’s album, if I had children, I don’t think I would play this for them. Children already have enough bullshit coming out of their mouths without Kimya telling them B is Butt, C is for Cat Butt, D is for Doo-Doo, E is for Elephant do-do, F is for Fart, G is for Gorilla Fart. When she is not talking like a four year old, she is talking about things that are inconsequential for four year olds- for example in “Sunbeams and Some Beans”:
“I do what I do because there is a need
And a hunger created by corporate greed.
See, there is a surplus of food in this country
And no body should ever go to sleep hungry.”
Yes, that is AN EXCELLENT thing to tell children. I don’t disagree that the message is important and children should be taught to appreciate what we have. Children also should know about the student loans and finding their passions, but at the same time, she turns around and dumbs the children down with things like:
“Pee-pee in the potty,
starts as milk from mommy,
then that goes through your body
and then you make a pee-pee.”
The target audience for this album is blurred. Two year olds? Eight year olds? I can’t decipher it.
Strangely enough, the album is meeting some great reviews. Granted, it has some classically charming Kimya tracks such as “I Love You Sweet Baby” as she coos about her day with her daughter. But for the most part, I really don’t get it.
I’ve been listening to Alphabutt around the clock for weeks now, and singing the songs to my daughter, who enjoys their off-kilter, jangly humor even though she’s too small to get the words yet.
- from BoingBoing.net
From Pitchfork (HA) to Rolling Stone, they all seem to enjoy it. I imagine they are young, hip, parents who drink red wine and listen to Radiohead on vinyl after tucking their bundles of joy away for the night in their Ikea Hermelin crib. Not twenty-two year old whiskey slammers with compulsions for late nights in seedy Los Angeles lounges lusting after musicians and witticisms.
I will say I support Alphabutt over Telletubbies and Barney any day.
But my vote is to stick to Sesame Street.
