By JJ MARSHALL, JR./Designated Contributor
Do you have kids? Are you looking for ways to spend time with your family that doesn’t involve staring at a screen? Since becoming an uncle, I’ve started looking at music differently. I love picking out songs and records that my nephew Henry will enjoy. One of our favorite new activities is putting on a record and playing Race to the Treasure, a board game where you have to piece together a maze to get treasure before being eaten by ogres. With that in mind, I’ve compiled some family-friendly albums for you and yours to enjoy together.
The War on Drugs – A Deeper Understanding (link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdowyvdK8Qk&list=PLR9RV1gShL9f_zdjMN3Xof2KB_RWSgLdM)
If you like: Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart
Lost in a Dream, the previous album to A Deeper Understanding, works just fine in this regard as well, but A Deeper Understanding is a bit more dynamic as a whole. This pop-country gem has been on repeat since it came out last summer. There are moments of pure bliss on songs “In Chains” and “Nothing to Find.” Mellow out with the lazy, drifting “Thinking of a Place.” If you like guitars, strap in. Front-man Adam Granduciel loves those twangy, ringing open chords, and he can’t help but create a spacy, dreamy vibe that runs through the entire album.
Kurt Vile and Courtney Barnett – Lotta Sea Lice (link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KNsBCf34fQ&list=PLEHMho1MOihGtUYqRXJJ5_TDplOFDW73P)
If you like: Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Wilco
Kurt Vile is a former member of the War on Drugs, but he left the band a few albums ago to make his mark on alternative music under his own moniker. Where Granduciel is meticulous and epic, Vile is fun and weird. Teamed with Australian singer/songwriter Barnett, they have crafted a light, catchy album full of sing-alongs. My nephew absolutely adores “Blue Cheese,” a nonsensical song about, well, blue cheese. You can find numerous videos of the pair performing the album in its entirety, but I love how the album sounds on its own.
Broken Social Scene – Hug of Thunder (link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mKhwEopVc0)
If you like: ELO, Lorde, Bob Seger
BSS is one of my favorite bands, one of my friends’ favorite bands, and is a family favorite. It’s the band that my mom always asks “Who is that?” On their first record in years, the band shines by playing to its diversity. No two songs sound alike. The acoustic, droning “Skyline” will be stuck in your head for weeks. The anthemic “Protest Song” will make you stand up and pump your fist. Stars’ Amy Millan, Metric’s Emily Haines, and Feist all return to give brightness and levity to the otherwise sausage-heavy Scene. This is the record to put on when the world feels out of control and you are a little down about it.
Alvvays – Antisocialites (link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1n72aCdwdU&list=PLZqsyBiYZFQ18jd6yFr-eqZGZD5QuF88O)
If you like: the Bangles, Stars, Go-Gos
Alvvays make great pop-rock music. Every song is catchy, but this album works best when listened to in order. Yes, every song sounds like a single, but lead singer Molly Rankin’s hushed vocals smooth it all into an easy listening experience that rewards you with something different each time. The standouts are “Plimsoll Punks” and “Dreams Tonight.” If you dig those songs, you will love this dynamic album. My favorite is “Not My Baby,” a song I played out so quickly that I had to put the record away for a while so I could continue to enjoy it. It’s not the most creative stuff you’ve ever heard, but Antisocialites is a great pick for a get together or playing board games with your nephew.
