Ten years ago, Californian art-rock outfit The Small Dinosaurs released an album with twelve remarkable Household Songs, which they now follow up with thirteen quirky Dad Songs. Paul Smaldino (vocals, guitars, harmonica), Brian Gogineni (bass, backing vocals, mellotron), Trent Schreiner (piano, keyboards, backing vocals) and Jimmy Qaqundah (drums, percussion, backing vocals) deliver uplifting alternative rock in which influences from alt-country, ska and power pop are intertwined. It may be music that should appeal to the whole family, with lyrics about parenthood, cats and breakfast that even the little ones will be able to sing along to, but at the same time it’s played so nicely loose and infectious that we like to give it a place among the more serious music here. The knowledge that the main songwriter in everyday life is a scientist who recently wrote a book about modeling social behavior makes the wordplay about Muffins, Poached Eggs and The Floor Is Lava even more fun. But how do I get No I Want Mama out of my head?
Dad Songs, recorded and produced by Jamie Hill, is out now digitally (self-released).
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