Moock Music | Press

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The Boston Globe:
"A Tom Waits for your tots, a Woody Guthrie for your progeny"

Time Out New York Kids:
"A musical descendant of Woody Guthrie, Moock refreshes the classic brand of acoustic folk with a zany sense of humor."

National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA):
"Moock’s wonderful knack for filling catchy ditties with humorous lyrics will bring a smile to your face."

The Boston Herald:
"Singer Alastair Moock’s live show is half Appalachian hootenanny, half honky-tonk jam session. It’s also totally kid-friendly… [with] an indie sensibility hip parents dig."

Sing Out!:
"Moock has settled nicely into the role of a folkie raconteur, exploring the American vernacular from swing to blues to Appalachian mountain music and fitting each genre to the timeless themes of his lyrics. Those styles also fit perfectly with Alastair's voice, which is pitched somewhere between a rasp and growl: this is a voice made for vintage-sounding Americana."

Awards and Praise for These Are My Friends

2012 Parents' Choice Awards Silver Honor
2011 National Parents Publishing Awards (NAPPA) Gold Honor
2011 Mr. Dad Seal of Approval
Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child Best of 2011
Time Out New York Best Kids' Albums of 2011 (Honorable Mention)
Fids & Kamily Music Awards Best of 2011 (Honorable Mention)

Scott Alarik, Music Writer, Boston Globe and Sing Out!:
"These real-life family songs are as sweetly satisfying as a mouthful of caramel, sung in an affable leap-froggy baritone, but they’re not confections. They examine the real struggles of childhood, nighttime fears, drowsy mornings, grown-ups who don’t get it and the quest for who we really are in this world, as crucial at six as it is at sixty."

School Library Journal:
"Alastair Moock’s follow-up to A Cow Says Moock offers fourteen more fun family songs, each with a folksy-country twist... Fabulous family fare.

National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA):
"Moock’s wonderful knack for filling catchy ditties with humorous lyrics will bring a smile to your face... His backwards alphabet/nursery rhyme mash-up 'CBAs And A Twinkle Baa' is award-worthy on its own." A 2011 Gold Award Winner

Parents' Choice Foundation:
"With wit and warmth, gravel-voiced folk artist Alastair Moock more than matches the zany charm of his first entertaining family album, 'A Cow Says Moock,' with this second foray into the genre... [Moock is] not only a fine musician, he's an observant dad whose songs clearly come from the heart." A 2012 Silver Award Winner

Mr.Dad.com:
"Children's musicians have a tough job: they have to produce songs that can keep kids entertained without putting the parents to sleep or making them run screaming out of the room. Alastair Moock's second family music release strikes the perfect balance. The lyrics are fun for the kids, the music is sophisticated to keep dad engaged, and the combination will get both generations up off the couch and dancing." 2011 Mr. Dad Seal of Approval

Time Out New York Kids:
"A musical descendant of Woody Guthrie, Moock refreshes the classic brand of acoustic folk with a zany sense of humor as seen on songs about a mixed-up alphabet ('CBAs'), being a curious toddler ('Three Like Me') and harvesting your own veggie garden ('Didn’t Know What I Was Missing')." Time Out New York Best Kids' Albums of 2011 (Honorable Mention)

Midwest Book Review:
"Alastair Moock and a wealth of associates present These Are My Friends, a children's album brimming with fourteen energetic songs that kids and parents can sing and dance along to. The occasional classic tune is mixed in amid the rousing original ditties offering wryly humorous lyrics and buoyantly dynamic rhythms, resulting in a music album that is first and foremost about fun."

Stefan Shepherd, Zooglobble:
"On These Are My Friends, Alastair Moock provides fresh folk for fresh folk, a worthy 21st-century successor to Woody Guthrie's music. It's a solid album Woody would dig. Recommended."

Bill Childs, Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child:
"Alastair Moock's CD is the musical equivalent of a big semi-raucous family reunion — people laughing, singing, and, above all, having fun. The persistent sense of joy can sometimes make it so you don't notice that, musically, it's about as good as family music gets, with killer guest artists and Moock's rich voice as the rock-solid center."

Jeff Bogle, Out With the Kids:
"As welcoming as a big old bear hug, as comfortable as your grandma's hand-me-down quilt, and as memorable as the smell of freshly baked cookies, These Are My Friends is handcrafted American roots music sharply focused on the wonderment of early childhood... I love this album."

Amber Bobnar, Boston Children's Music:
"Alastair's music celebrates what's truly important: spending time with family and friends. And what I love most is that all are welcome. His songs embrace all families and even the most unusual playmates... like paperclips and french fries."

Dadnabbit:
"This week heralds the return of Boston folk veteran Alastair Moock, whose debut kindie record, A Cow Says Moock, earned a slew of awards and rave reviews. Alastair’s follow-up, These Are My Friends, expands upon the promise of its predecessor, weaving a parade of special guests through a collection of vibrant originals and judiciously chosen covers." Read the full interview here

Mom's Life Made Easy:
"These Are My Friends is destined to be a HUGE hit! No, I won't sugar coat it — put it on your must- have list... I love the Country-Rockified vibe, and the lyrics are so original that I find myself wanting to listen to each song over and over until I get them down... He has created an album that not only is funny and enjoyable for adults to listen to, but also relates completely to young children (especially preschoolers)." Read the full article here

Kid Independent:
"Okay folks, get ready for some creative country rhythms from Boston folk musician Alastair Moock. Twanging guitars, fancy fiddlin' and boot scootin' beats are the order of the day... mash that up with giggle-worthy lyrics and Alastairs cowboy-esque vocals and you've got yourself a heapin' helpin' of good old fashioned family fun!" Read the full article here

A Nation of Moms:
"Alastair Moock is a performer with a sense of humor. This collection of songs will have you and your children dancing and singing along, if you can stop giggling! These Are My Friends some classics, some mixed up classics and some new songs that will tickle your funny bone and delight your children!" Read the full article here

Cool Mom Picks:
"Alastair Moock's [voice is] gritty and down to earth, with lyrics full of winks and knee slaps. Which makes his new album great fun... Throughout the 13 1/2 song-CD, I can just imagine Alastair happily strumming his six-string as he sings to his pint-sized audience. I suspect there will be more than a few adults who will be tapping their toes to his brand of folk as well." Read the full article here

Minivan Blues:
"Alastair Moock is happiness in a CD, goodness in surround sound. We all love the Moockman."

Colorado babies:
"With a stellar guest singer lineup, and invoking a wide range of American folk traditions, this album has the gravitas of an instant classic."

Read the press release here

Awards and Praise for A Cow Says Moock:

2010 National Parents Publishing Awards (NAPPA) Gold Honor
2010 Parents' Choice Recommended
A 2009 Boston Children's Music Favorite Album of the Year
A 2009 Iguana Music Fund Grant Winner

Parents' Choice:
"An ebullient debut children's album from respected folk musician Alastair Moock. Inspired by his toddler twin daughters, Moock offers dad-savvy empathy, humor and warmth delivered in his trademark gravel rasp and foot-stomping, American roots music instrumentation."

NAPPA (National Parenting Publications Awards):
"Intelligent, high-energy folk-rock with serious pop! Moock's distinctive voice gives pause to rejoice over songs about a loving 'Two Mommies' family or a new take on 'Belly Buttons.' How about joining in on 'Spaghetti in My Shoes?' You have to be there, so... be there!"

School Library Journal:
"The seven original tunes and four covers are right up Moock's alley — folksy ditties that tell a story or describe a feeling via his gravelly voice with laid-back accompaniment. The backup band and vocalists add just the right finishing touch, whether in the form of a harmonious chorus, lap steel guitar, harmonica solo, or solo guitar picking... Moock hits the mark every time with this one"

Midwest Book Review:
"Alastair Moock, now the proud father of twin daughters, presents A Cow Says Moock, his first music album for children... The songs are a blend of silly fun and wholehearted love for America's wondrous musical heritage. A joyful music CD great for car trips, children's parties, or just plain fun, enthusiastically recommended..."

Sing Out!:
"An impressive artist who has garnered much praise over the past 15 years playing festivals, concerts and coffeehouses, Alastair found his 'inner child' to put together a total blast of a children's CD, one with groove. It's something the parents will reach for as well, because they'll be craving it for themselves... With lots of humor, conscious intention, and great musicianship and presentation, A Cow Says Moock warrants the respect of anyone who listens to this CD. And it's also just total fun." Full review here

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