Educated Kid

The Hipwaders | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 4, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: self-released
• ASIN: B000TXNFV4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #376,763 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Turn Up The Radio

2. Little Baby Brother

3. Educated Kid

4. The History of Declan Rae

5. Dewey Decimal System

6. Song of the Paleo Pirates

7. Geometry

8. Aidan's Train

9. Art Car

10. You've Got To Move

11. Speed of Love

12. Cat in a Bathysphere

13. Stuffed Animal Boy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, January 8, 2008

By 

Z Recommends "zrecs.com" (Texas, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Educated Kid (Audio CD)

The Hipwaders' sophomore effort gets more out of jangly, hook-infused power pop than almost any other children's album we've heard in years, and it has the confidence of a songwriter (Tito Uquillas) who can to take in elements of other genres and make them his own in a band that hasn't lost its edge or power to surprise. From predictably-structured songs like "Art Car" and "Little Baby Brother" to intricately constructed and variably-paced songs like "The History of Declan Rae," the Hipwaders make making great music sound easy. Their knack for setting great pop hooks into a surprising tapestry of sound is apparent in the chanting funk chorus of "Dewey Decimal System" ("Dewey Dewey Dewey Dewey Dewey Decimal System Dewey"), the harmonized bopping on "Little Baby Brother," and almost everywhere else you turn.

But the music is just part of it; their perspective has a freshness that is rare in a genre that emphasizes beat and melody first, then sentiment and humor, and rarely offers anything like insight. This is an album many adults will quickly fall in love with for its sideways glances at a variety of topics, and Uquillas manages to pack information into songs without a whiff of "learning." "The History of Declan Rae" is a "history" of a young child which passes through all of the major ages of Earth's history, "and then came you"; and yes, "Dewey Decimal System" does teach you the ten major categories of the Dewey Decimal System. The album's title track is an anthem against restrictive definitions of talent, education, and achievement that just might change a ten-year-old's life.

Top Tracks: Little Baby Brother / Educated Kid / The History of Declan Rae / Dewey Decimal System / Song of the Paleo Pirates / You've Got To Move / Stuffed Animal Boy

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Hip Hipwaders, September 18, 2007

By 

North Idaho Dad "chalkhorse" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Educated Kid (Audio CD)

The Hipwaders found themselves at the forefront of hip children's music last month when they were invited to play at Kidzapalooza, the kids' music festival that is a part of the larger Lollapalooza concert held in Chicago.

It's easy to see why they caught the attention of organizers. The Hipwaders make instantly irresistible pop-rock tunes in a style that ranges from early 80's Elvis Costello to the 21st century power pop of the Candy Butchers. They mesh their influences into a consistently appealing sound.

Their second CD, Educated Kid, was released this week. It's even better than their first.

Singer Tito Uquillas puts a fresh spin on a few classic subjects, like dinosaurs, siblings, math, toys, and animals. He has a unique and pleasing voice that my kids both immediately recognized when I first played the CD for them. Some of the lyrics border on, gasp, educational, but are always imaginative and fun. We're all well versed on the Dewey Decimal System now after listening to The Hipwaders' funky take on the subject.

Both my kids say there's not a bad song on the disc. A definite must-have for kids of all ages.